Sree
Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal was a
Hindu sage and social reformer.
Chattampi Swamikal was born on 25 August 1853 at Kollur, a
suburban village of Thiruvananthapuram in Southern Travancore.
His father was Vasudeva Sharma, a Namboothiri,
from Mavelikkara and mother Nangamma a woman from Kollur.
His childhood name was Ayyappan. But he was called by his pet name Kunjan by all and so was later
known as Kunjan Pillai.
While learning at the ‘Patasala’ of Pettayil Raman
Pillai asan, he was deputed as the ‘Chattampi’
(monitor) of the class. So later he came to be known as ‘Chattambi Swamikal’.
He denounced the orthodox interpretation of Hindu
texts citing sources from the Vedas.
Swamikal believed that the different religions
are different paths leading to the same place.
He promoted vegetarianism and professed
non-violence (Ahimsa).
The place where Chattambi Swamikal acquired self
realization Vadaveeswaram a village in in Tamil Nadu.
At Aniyoor Temple near Vamanapuram Chattampi
Swami met another young man Nanu Asan who was in search of spiritual guidance.
By then Swami was well versed in yoga and spiritual
matters and their meeting proved to be the start of a profound and
cherished companionship, although the two were of different temperaments.
They lived and travelled for many months together.
Later Swamikal took Nanu Asan, to his guru Thykkattu Ayyavu.
It was with Chattampi Swamikal that Narayana Guru
made his first trip to Aruvippuram, which was chosen as Narayana Guru’s
abode for meditation and spiritual activities.
Later Swami met Neelakanta Theerthapada a great
Sanskri Scholar and Theerthapada Pramahamsa who established an ashram and
also Theerthapada System for the line of snayasins following Swami’s
teachings and methods.
Bodheswaran, Perunnelli Krishnan Vaidhyan, Velutheri
Kesavan Vaidhyan, Kumbalath Sanku Pillai etc were grihastha disciples of Chattambi
Swamikal.
He attained mahasamadhi on 5th August 1924 at
Panmana in Kollam district.
Mortal remains of Chattampi Swamikal were enshrined
at his Samadhistanam at Panmana. This site is today called Panmana Ashramam
(Kollam district).
Vedadhikara Niroopanam, Prachina Malayalam,Adwaitha
Chintha Paddhathi, Moksha Pradeepa Khandanam etc. are famous works of
Chattambi Swamikal.
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