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| Chattampi Swamigal (1853 - 1924) |
Swamigal lived an ordinary life in his early days and haven’t hesitated to take up various jobs like document writing, Accountant and even as a head-load worker in order to take care of his Mother.
As he evolved in to an enlightened Rishi, Swamiji’s only valuables in this world were the dhoti he wore, a pot and an Iron ring.
He guided a generation who was slipping into Adharma with his speeches and he was instrumental in controlling the widespread Conversion taking place in South Kerala to Christianity. His book Kristhumatha Chedanam still stands out as a masterpiece in refuting Christianity.
Swamiji revived a generation not only spiritually but also from Social evils like untouchability and thus made an impact not only on Nair community but across the state of Kerala.
He was also one of the first who argued that learning knowledge is every one's birth right and thus Vedas the supreme knowledge of the Hindus should be learnt by each and every one – as the Vedas itself advocates so.
Early Life
Swamikal was born in 1853 at Kollur, Thiruvananthapuram. His was born to a brahmin Vasudeva Sharma and Nangamma Pillai a nair by caste. Though christened Ayyappan, he was known by his pet name Kunjan. Among his ancestors were reputed scholars, reversed saints and great siddhas.
Kunjan was a child prodigy. As his parents were not able to provide him formal education, he learned letters and words from children of his neighbourhood who attended schools. Also he learned Sanskrit by overhearing the classes at a Brahmin house nearby. Knowing his thirst for learning an uncle took him to the traditional school conducted by Pettayil Raman Pillai Asan, a renowned scholar and writer who taught him without any fee. It was there that he earned the name Chattampi on account of his assignment as the monitor of the class.
As the burden of supporting his starving mother fell on him, Kunjan Pillai took to many manual jobs. For a period he served as a labourer carrying building materials for the construction of Government Secretariat building at that time in Trivandrum. For some time he worked as a document writer and also as an advocate's clerk. He wrote and stood first in a test for clerical posts in Government Secretariat Trivandrum conducted by Sir T Madhava Rao the then Divan of Travancore State. But he left the job after a short stint as it curtailed his freedom and prevented his wanderings for spiritual exploitations and research.
Even from his childhood Swamikal used to immerse himself in japa and meditation. He was a regular visitor to many temples. Once an aged Sannyasi, who appeared near an Ayyappa temple where Kunjan used to do odd jobs, initiated him into Bala Subramaniya Mantra and assured him that it would give him every thing he wished for. Kunjan attained divine powers by reciting the Mantra lakhs of times and was known as Shanmukhadasan at that time. After days of chanting, austerity and penance as advised by Subramanhya, he felt himself and appeared to others a different man. Henceforth he tended toward the life of a sannyasin. Later he himself revealed that he had initiated his sannyasi disciples into this potential mantra and found it effective.
Evolving Period
In the 1870s when Raman Pillai was still in his teens, he started a scholarly group named 'Jnanaprajagaram' with experts on different subjects with progressive attitude which served as a meeting place for many scholars of that time and facilitated Kunjan to acquaint himself with many great men. He could learn Tamil from Swaminatha Desikar and philosophy from Professor Manonmaniyam Sundaram Pillai during his participation in 'Jnanaprajagaram'. Kunjan Pillai was also introduced into the science of yoga by the Thycaud Ayyavu Swamikal a scholar and yogi who also used to give lectures at 'Jnanaprajagaram'.
In one of the Philosophical Conferences organised annually by the Travancore Kings at the Palace complex adjacent to Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple Kunjan Pillai met Subba Jatapadikal from Kalladaikurichin in Southern Tamil Nadu; a renowned teacher well versed in Tarka, Vyakarana, Mimasa, and Vedanta. Both were impressed by the other and Kunjan's wish to learn at Kalladaikurichin under him was granted.
He spent many years learning under Subba Jatapadikal. There he acquired deep and extensive mastery of all sastras in Tamil and Sanskrit. He also learned Siddha medicine, music, and martial arts. During this period he was greatly influenced by the works of Kodakanallur Sundara Swamikal a great Advaitin. He later translated his work Nijananda Vilasam containing the cream of Vedanta into simple Malayalam to guide spiritual aspirants.
Like Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa who for some fixed time practiced tenets of Christianity and Islam under guidance, Kunjan Pillai. After completing his studies under Subba Jatapadikal he spent long periods of learning under a Christian priest. In a secluded church in Southern Tamil Nadu assisting the priest he learned Christian meditation and learned Christian Religion and philosophy. Later he lived with an old Muslim well versed in Quran and Sufi mysticism who taught him the main tenet of Islam. Kunjan acquired proficiency reading Qur'an in the traditional way. These days revealed to him that the basic concepts of all religions are the same.
Kunjan's Self Realization by an Avadhoota
At the end of is wanderings and quest Kunjan was lead to self realization by an avadhoota Siddha whom he met at a wayside in Vadaveeswaram a village near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu sometime in 1881, with whom he lived for many months in the forests without any contact with the outside world. It is believed that this avaduta belonged to the line of immortal masters of Southern India who knew the scientific art for realising God. Kunjan encountered the Avadhoota as an old beggar on the side of the road picking food off banana-leaf plates which had been tossed out on the street for the cows to eat after a feast. He was sharing the leftovers with a pack of village dogs. Some boys started throwing stones at the old man, but he paid them no mind. Convinced he had encountered no ordinary beggar, Kunjan approached the man, who immediately fled into the forest outside the village.Kunjan followed him to a hilltop, where the old man disappeared. The exhausted Kunjan fell asleep on the spot.
When he woke in the morning, his head was in the lap of the beggar. Kunjan later recalled that the man said, “My dear son, you have already traveled far along the way of truth.” They lived off what they could find in the forest while the old man taught him the way to God realization. After just a few days, the old man left Kunjan to meditate upon what he had been taught. The old man never returned; but from that short experience, Kunjan was a changed person. He had achieved nirvikalpa samadhi and become a jivanmukti, one who is liberated from rebirth
He returned to Kerala as a great scholar and saint. He was just 28 years old.
A Crusader for Social Reforms
Yes it is a fact that Sannyasins sacrifice everything for attaining Self-realization, but Chattampi Swamigal lived among the people to fulfill their obligation to society. Swamikal travelled extensively in Kerala to eradicate the evil customs and practices rampant in society. His vast Vedantic knowledge helped him much in dispelling the ignorance prevalent among the people. He questioned the legitimacy of the supposed supremacy of the upper caste Hindus and strove to cure them of their superstitious beliefs and customs. He disliked casteism. He stayed and dined with untouchables inviting the wrath of his own orthodox community. Through his sannyasi disciples, household disciples and literary works, he put into practice what he preached. Swamikal is considered the foremost crusader who brought about incredible transformation in the religio-spiritual and socio-cultural atmosphere of Kerala. He was the guiding star to those who fought to bring about spiritual renaissance and social resurgence in this country.
