Ayya Vaikundar

A social and religious reformer, revolutionist

Ayya Vaikundar, lived in the Princely Kingdom of Travancore in Kerala. He was the first Indian to lead a movement called “Samathwa Samajam” in 1836.

Story behind his name Sampoorana Thevan

                His parents found him still after birth. It was after sometime his soul entered his body and his body started showing signs of life. So his followers call him Sampoorana Thevan.

Early life – Spiritual transformation

                His parents named him, Mudisoodum Perumal. But as the lower castes were not allowed to own such names, they had to rename him as Muthukutty. Muthukutty was a diehard devotee of Lord Vishnu.

At the age of 24, he suffered from a deadly disease. His parents took him to a lot of temples. Finally, at Thiruchendur, Muthukutty was asked to take a dip in the holy sea. When he did so, he disappeared. After a few days of unsuccessful searching, hope of finding Muthukutty weakened.

                But his mother was adamant that her son would return and she sat facing the sea. And after some days, Muthukutty did come back from the sea. Overwhelmed with joy, she ran towards his son, but he stopped her. He said that he was no more her son.

This place became the rallying point of his followers. They erected a temple there.

Imprisonment

                Those days, lower caste people were not allowed to enter temple and were also not allowed to participate in the street promenade of lord.

                Once during a chariot promenade, Vaikundar along with his followers captured the chariot thread to pull the chariot along with the high caste. When the King Swathi Thirunal,  came to know about this, he sent Vaikundar to jail. After some days, he was asked to leave the jail, but Ayya refused to leave. He said that he would leave only when he wishes to do so.

                On March 3 1839, ayya Vaikundar returned to Swamithoppu from jail. This day is still celebrated as “Masi Procession”

Ayya’s fight for the women (permission to wear blouses)

                This part of the century showed cruelty to women, especially to Nadar community women. Lower caste women were not allowed to cover their breasts and were not allowed to wear clothes below their knee. Once a Ayya follower, a lady wore blouse to the market. The upper caste cruel men started to tear her blouse and captured her chain. From this day, the market was called as “Thali aruthan Chandai”.

 This made ayya Vaikundar furious. He started country wide revolt in Travancore against this. Violent fights started between the high caste and low caste men. Finally the government made a law that the low caste ladies can wear blouses, but no shawls.

Ayya’s revolt for farmers

                In those days, tax was collected both for trees and land. Ayya fought against the heavy tax system. He organised a rally along with the farmers from Nanchi nadu (as it was the store house of paddy then) to Travancore

He spent most of his lifetime in Swamithoppu. He organised “Sama Panthi Bhojan” which means equal food for all castes.

There were five disciple close to Ayya and were called as “Pancha Pndavas”

They were

·         Milady Sivathanu (Dharmar)

·         Kailasapura Pandaram (Bheem)

·         Pillayara Kudiruppu Arjunan (Arjuna)

·         Thamarakulam Harigopalan (Sahadevan)

·         Kulachal Subbaiyan (Nakulan)

Ayya attained Nirvana on June 2, 1851, as he had pre - told.

Start your IAS Preparation today itself 
  Author: Subhashini Rajendran, a freelance writer. She writes at
http://www.durofy.com/author/subhashini_rajendran/