Sree Chattambi Swamikal

Sree Chattambi Swamikal

A great scholar, social Reformer

Parama Bhattara Sree Chattampi Swamikal, lived in Kerala. He was born in Kollur, Trivandrum. His parents named him Ayyapan and called him Kunjan.

 He belonged to a lower caste though he was born to a Nair Brahmin (high caste that dominated Kerala in those days) father. There was this vague custom in those days. The eldest Brahmin Nair can marry a Brahmin girl. But the other sons have to marry a Nair girl. The husband and wife cannot live together. The wife and her kids were not allowed inside the house of the father. The children had to be brought up by the mother.

Reason behind his name Chattampi

                Kunjan was a child genius. He was restricted from education as his mother was from a lower caste.
He was very interested to learn. His interest made him overhear lessons in schools. One fine day, he was seen overhearing and his uncle admitted him to a traditional school, called the Jnanaprajagaram started by Raman Pillai. He learnt Sanskrit with full interest and was made the CHATTAMPI (Class monitor) of his class. And then on he was called as Chattampi!

                He then spent a long period under a Christian priest learning Christian meditation and philosophy. Later he lived with an old Muslim and became well versed in the religion too. This made him realise that the basic concepts of all religions are the same. Its the people fighting against each other for unnecessary social evils and superstitions.

Meeting with Swami Vivekananda

                Kunjan Pillai met Swami Vivekananda in ernakulam. They spoke in Sanskrit. Swami Vivekanda asked Swamikal to unfold the meaning of CHINMUDRA. A  mudra formed by joining the thumb and fore finger. Chattampi Swami explained that the mudra elevates the one meditating to a higher level of consciousness.

Swamikal – The man of miracles

                His followers believed that he had commanding power over the elements of nature, fire, land, water, sky, and air.

                The miracle of feast for dogs

                                Once, Swami was invited for dinner by one of his disciples. He agreed on one condition that he would like to bring some of his followers along with him. The disciple was overwhelmed. To his shock, Swamiji entered his house with a set of stray dogs. Dinner was served for Swmiji and for the dogs in banana leaf with complete dignity and dedication. The dogs had their food in a highly disciplined way and left the house taking the leaves. Later, they just disappeared.

Swamikal was the master of following arts

Ø  Grammar

Ø  Veda

Ø  Astrology

Ø  Yoga

Ø  Ayurveda

Ø  Tarka shastra

Ø  Tantra Vidya

Ø  Sanskrit

Ø  Tamil

Ø  English

Major Disciples

                His greatest disciples were Narayana Guru and Neelakanta Theerthapada. Neelakanta Theerthapada died in 1921 and Swamiji installed a Sivalinga above his Samadhi Peeta. It is the only temple consecrated by him.

The following are the books written by Swamikal

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Author: Subhashini Rajendran, a freelance writer. She writes at
http://www.durofy.com/author/subhashini_rajendran/