History Inspiration - Chattampi Swami Inspiration - Mannath Padmanabhan

Current Managing Committee Founder Managing Committee Previous Managing Committees Current Mahila Vedi Previous Mahila Vedi

Membership Community Development Directory

President

Talent Development Employment Assistance Medical Assistance Marriage Help Post Death Ritual Assistance Programme Committee Member Mobilization Resource Mobilization Publicity and Public Relation

Mannam Jayanti 2023 & Silver Jubilee Mannam Jayanti 2021Charity 2019 Matrimonial Meet 2018 Annual Day 2018 Annual Day 2017 Annual Day 2016 Onam 2015 Annual Day 2015 Annual Day 2014 Annual Day 2013 Previous Annual Days Onam 2013 Onam 2012 Previous Onams Mélange Medical Camp 2013

CHATTAMPI SWAMI: THE FORERUNNER OF REFORMATION IN KERALA
Rema Harikumar

Shri Vidyadhiraja Chattampi Swami Thiruvadikal was one of the most worshipped spiritual leaders of our country. Chattampi Swamikal was born on Chingam 11, 1029 in a Nair family known as Ulloorcode, near Kollur Mutt in Kannanmoola, Thiruvananthapuram.

Parents called him by the name Ayyappan, but he was known by his pet name Kunjan. Severe poverty prevented his family from providing him with formal education, but he learnt Tamil and Sanskrit from his school going friends and by overhearing the Sanskrit classes conducted at a Brahmin house where his mother and he did some odd jobs. He became disciple of pundit and scholar Subh Jatapathikal. He travelled throughout south India and attained knowledge in different languages and religions. On return, he obtained expert training in the art of Yoga from Atmananda Kumara Velu.

"Here I met a remarkable man", wrote Swami Vivekananda when he met Chattampi Swamikal at Ernakulam. He made this remark on hearing the clarifications on Chinmudra from Chattampi Swamikal. Pracheena Malayalam is a precious research as far as the Nair community is concerned. Swamikal refutes the fabricated story that Kerala was a land gifted to Brahmins by Parasurama. He established that Nairs were the leaders of the people and Kerala was not a gifted land of Brahmins but Brahmins migrated to Kerala and took possession of the land and property of Nairs and gradually made them their dependence. Swamiji lived a life of austerity and was indifferent to wealth.

Vedadhikara Niroopanam proves that Vedas are not monopoly of Brahmins, but all Hindus alike can verse it. These two writings contributed for the social progress of Kerala by breaking the supremacy of Brahmins and by doing away with the superstitious beliefs and customs in the society. It also contributed much for the social reforms of Sree Narayana Guru. He fought against casteism and other evil customs and practices that were dominant in Kerala of his time. He stayed and dined at houses of people belonging to all castes including the untouchables. He was a saint without the saffron, a saint who attained divine knowledge without performing thapas, a friend of the world who loved all creations alike, a great philosopher who pioneered the social relations without being a part of it, a famous scholar who had no formal education, an expert who built up his knowledge out of experience, a social reformer who succeeded in establishing cordial relations between different communities and a learned intelctual genius of our times. He is said to have taught Yoga to Shri Narayana Guru.

Swamiji attained Maha Samadhi on May 5, 1924. His mortal remains were enshrined at his samadhisanaam at Panmana. Today it is known as Panmana Ashram, which is a center for social service and spiritual practices.