Chattampi Swamikal (b:1853 - d:1925) was one of Kerala’s famed social reform activists and learned men. Chattampi Swamikal worked in parallel with his contemporary and soul mate Sree Narayana Guru to bring social equality to an otherwise heavily ritualistic and caste ridden Hindu society that prevailed around the late 19th and early 20th centuries across the present-day Kerala (erstwhile princely states of Travancore, Tirukochi and Malabar).

Chattampi Swamikal encouraged the Nair community to resist Brahmin hegemony in religion, administrative services and society. Swamikal also worked for the emancipation of Nair women from the clutches of Namboodiri Brahmin exploitation and encouraged women to come the forefront of society in respectable roles. He said that the enslavement of woman is a manifestation of male arrogance. Swamikal encouraged vegetarianism and professed non-violence (Ahimsa). He was open to learning other religions and authored several literary works on spirituality and the history of language.

Chattampi Swamikal was known by different names through his intellectually and spiritually enriched life. Swamiji’s original name is said to have been Ayyappan, although he was later known as Kunjan Pilla and also as Shanmughadasan. In later life his formal name as a respected sage was Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal.

Early Life

Swamiji’s father was Vasudeva Sarma and mother Manga Devi of Ullukod tharavad of Kollur village in southern Travancore. It is said that in his youth Kunjan Pilla even took to manual labour as a brick worker and also later worked as document writer in Neyyattinkara town, near the present-day city of Thiruvananthapuram.

The young Kunjan Pilla trained yoga under his guru Thykattu Ayyavu. He was later a disciple of Perunnalli Krishnan Vaidyar, a renowned scholar and physician of Central Travancore. When under the scholarship of Perunnalli Krishnan Vaidyar, Kunjan Pilla earned the name Chattampi on account of his assignment as the monitor of the class. Chattampi Kunjan Pilla also gained the name Shanmukhadasan on account of his deep devotion to Lord Subramanya.

Soul mate of Nanoo Asan

It was at Perunnalli Krishnan Vaidyar’s gurukulam that Chattampi Kunjan Pilla first met the young Nanoo Asan (later known as Sree Narayana Guru). By then Chattampi Kunjan Pilla 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. In those days Nanoo Asan was a soft-spoken introvert and Chattampi Kunjan Pilla an outspoken extrovert. When around 1884 Nanoo Asan was searching for a guru to teach him advanced yoga, Chattampi Swamikal took Nanoo Asan to his guru Thykkattu Ayyavu.

Later Nanoo Asan and Chattampi Swamikal travelled together to many places in their quest for truth and spiritual knowledge. 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 activity. Chattampi Swamikal however did not stay there for long, although the two maintained their contacts, respect and regard for each other.

Maha Samadhi

Prior to his Maha Samadhi (renunciation of the mortal body), Chattampi Swamikal was seriously ill and bedridden for a period of thirteen months. After Swamikal went into Maha Samadhi in 1925, his mortal remains were enshrined at his Samadhistanam at Panmana near Kollam. The site is today called Panmana Ashramam, which is an centre for social service and spiritual practices.

Literary works of Chattampi Swamikal

Chattampi Swamikal had authored books and literary interpretations as follows:

• Adibhasha
• Advaithachintapaddhati
• Bhasha Padma Purana Abhiprayam
• Chirsthumatha Saram
• Christhumathachedanam
• Devarchha Padhadhiyoude Upodhkhadam
• Devei Manasa Pooja Sthothram (Interpretation)
• Jeeva Karunnya Niroopanam
• Jeevakarunyanirupanam
• Keralathile Desa Namangal
• Malayalathile Chila Sthana Namangal
• Mokshapradipakhandanam
• Nijanandha Vilasom
• Praacheena Malayalam
• Pranavavum Sankhya Dersanavum
• Prapanchathil Sthree Purashanmarkkulla Sthanam
• Sarvamatha Samarasyam
• Srichakrapoojakalpam
• Vedadhikara Nirupanam

External Links

http://www.panmanaashram.com/default.asp