Ananda Theerthan(1905-1987)

Swami Ananda Theerthan, originally named Ananda Shenoy, was born on 2 January 1905 in an affluent Gowda Saraswatha Brahmin family of Tellicherry. His father Ramachandra Shenoy was a port conservator at Tellicherry. Ramachandra Shenoy was a prominent figure of the Gowda Saraswatha community. He was president of the managing committee of the Narasimha temple in Tellicherry. His renowned and sincere service as a port officer got respect and honour of the government at many times.

He assumed his new name at Sarada temple at Sivagiri in 1928. He was close to Sree Narayana Guru and worked against casteism. He entered temples with Harijans and bathed in public ponds to protest against casteism. He established Sree Narayana School in Payyannur in 1931. He promoted inter caste-marriage through the Jathinashini Sabha, founded in 1933. He died in 1987.

Karumban Daivathan(1880-1927)

• The propagator of Dalit revolutionary leader. He was born in Aranmula The childhood name was Naduvathamman.
• He began to revolution against feudalism through the dioceses. It is said that the social revolution calling for the first time in Kerala is Karumban daivathan.
• He has served as the main ancestor of Ayyankali. In 1917 the Karumban established the Hindu pulaya Samaj
• He joined Sree Moolam Praja Sabha in 1915. For ten years he was member of  Praja Sabha . He introduced and implemented ideas such as the Lumasan grand system and Dalit colony for Dalit students
• Daivathan died on April 15, 1927

Vagbhatananda (1885 -1939)

Vagbhatananda was a social reformer in British India. He was the founder of the Atma Vidya Sangham, which was fundamentally a group of professionals and intellectuals who sought change, and also the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society.

Vagbhatananda was born on 27th April, 1885 in Patyam village that lies between Kuthuparamba and Thalassery, in Kannur District. The village looked rich with inner vibrations of Kerala’s cultural tradition as well as with natural beauty. He was given the name V. K. Gurukkal and was of the Thiyya community. He was educated in the traditional gurukul system, through which he gained a proficiency in scriptures and philosophy. Following this, according to the historian K. K. N. Kurup, he travelled widely to propagate “the teachings of universal non-duality for a better and egalitarian society.” His oratorical abilities led to him being given the name of Vagbhatananda by Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi.

At some time after 1898, Vagbhatananda founded a school teaching Sanskrit in Calicut, where he also took interest in the work of the Brahma Samaj that had been founded there that year by Ayyathan Gopalan.

In 1920, Vagbhatananda founded the Atmavidya Sangham, whose principles he outlined in an Advaita treatise titled Atmavidya. Unlike the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP), which had been established by Narayana Guru and was significant around the same time, the Atmavidya Sangham comprised mostly professional and intellectual people and it had a more secular approach to reform. It was instrumental in advancing the development of class organisation among peasants of the region, spreading Marxist–Leninist ideas as a counter to the overbearing feudal and religiously orthodox establishment. Vagbhatananda himself criticised both economic exploitation and the role of foreign governments in supporting it.

Vagbhatananda, who was married, died in October 1939. The significance of the Atmavidya Sangham declined after his death, being superseded by other secular-oriented reform groups such as the Karshaka Sangham that adopted its agenda. However, it was still active in the 1980s.

Brahmananda Sivayogi(1852 - 1929)

Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi was a seer and a social reformer from the state of Kerala. He was instrumental in the establishment of Ananda Maha Sabha and Anandamatham. Right from the childhood, he was an atheist. Hence, he denounced idol worships and all forms of religions. According to him, the ultimate aim of the activities of all human beings should be to get the Ultimate Bliss or Paramanandam. The movement he spearheaded during the Kerala Renaissance period is considered as the golden period in Kerala history. His original name was Govindan Kutty. 

Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi was born as Govindan Kutty on August 26, 1852. He was born into an aristocratic Nair family. His parents were Nani Amma of Karat Nair family and Kunjikrishna Menon of Vellengi Ravanyaram. His birthplace was Nenmara in the Palaghat district of Kerala. As per the custom that was prevalent in the state, Govindan Kutty was staying with his mother Nani Amma and his father used to make occasional visits to him. In the formative years of his life, he was brought up in the orthodox way. In the early morning, he used to take the bath and visit the worship chamber in the house for prayers. As a child, Govindan Kutty was totally ignorant about the activities undertaken by him at his home. He was merely following the instructions given by the elders in the family.

As a child, Govindan Kutty was watching the customs and rituals with disbelief. Inquisitive mind in him could not comprehend the irrational behavior of the society around him. He asked himself how people get segregated along the lines of caste and color when they are made of the same blood, bone and flesh. This fundamental question was troubling his mind. He started to think about the rationality of these customs. After thinking about this over a period of time, he realized that there was no rationality behind the observance of such customs and rituals. This realization was the starting point of the rationalist in him.

Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi passed away on 10^th September 1929.

Thycaud Ayya(1814 -1909)

  

       The original name of Thycaud Ayya was Subbarayan. He was born in 1814 in Nakalapuram. He was the guru of Chattampi Swamikal, Sri Narayana Guru and Ayyankali. He was a Yogi cum Family man. Ayya Swamikal started inter-dining (Panthibhojanam) in Kerala during 19^th century. He argued that any Yogi could install idols in temples, which inspired Sreenarayana Guru to install idols of Siva.“Oru jathy, oru matham, oru Daivom” (“Intha ulakathile orae oru jathy than, Orae oru matham than, orae oru kadavul than”) is the Malayalam translation of Ayyaswamy’s teaching. Sri Narayana Guru popularized the slogan.  His grandfather Hrishikesan and his father Muthukumaran were great yogis and were migrated to Tamilnadu from Pampumkadu in Malabar during Tipu Sultan’s aggression.  Lord Subramanya was their family deity. At the age of 12, Subbarayan received spiritual initiation from two Tamil Saints, Sachidananda Maharaj and Sri Chitti Paradeshi who used to visit Subbarayans family frequently.When he was 16, the Saints took him with them to Burma, Singapore, Penang and Africa.During this period Subbaraya acquired and practiced yogic techniques of high order. Returning home after 3 years he continued yogic practices, often entering the state of “Nirvikalpa Samadhi”.  Gradually he acquired the Ashtasidhies or divine powers including that of astral travel, but his Gurus strictly warned him not to use them to gain material advantage.  At the age of 27, in accordance with his Guru’s wishes Swamikal visited Kodungalloor Devi temple in Kerala and from there he toured Travancore.The Mother Goddess appeared in her “Poorna swaroopam” before Ayya at Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram, where he destined to spend the remaining part of his life.Swathy Thirunal, the then Maharaja of Travancore, heard about the spiritual eminence of Ayya, invited him to his palace and became his disciple.Swamikal visited Sri Vaikunda Padar of Nagarcoil (Swami thoppu) and visited the famous Maruthwamalai. When his father left to Kasi, Subbarayan had to look after the family.To obey his Guru, Ayya married Kamalammal from Kollam and the couple had three sons and two daughters.However Ayya continued his spiritual practices while living the married life. Ayya was a great scholar in Tamil and gained good proficiency in English. He used to deliver spiritual discourses at the “Ashtapathana Sabha” in Chennai. Ayya was supplying goods to military camp in Chennai, where he came in contact with the Mess Secretary Mc Gregor who learned Tamil and Yoga from Ayya.  During the reign of Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal, Mc Gregor became the Resident of Travancore .He appointed Ayya as the Manager of his Residency in Thycaud.  From 1873 up to a week before his Mahasmadhi on 20th July 1909 Ayya continued in the post. People respectfully called him “Superintend Ayya”Swamikal kept strict discipline in work and was extremely punctual. At his residence he spent most of his time in meditation and in initiating and instructing his disciples in spiritual practices. Ayya used to deliver lectures on Bhakthi, Yoga and Vedanta in Jnanaprakasha Sabha at Petta, during which leading literary, social and spiritual personalities in and around Thiruvananthapuram used to meet Ayya Guru.Swamikal with the help of Manonmaneeyam Sundaram Pillai, the first MA holder of Travancore, founded the famous “Saiva Prakasha Sabha” of Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram.

         Thycaud Ayya passed away in 1909.

Chattambi Swamikal(1853 - 1924)

Sri.Vidyadhiraja Chattambi Swami Thiruvadikal was one of the most worshipped spiritual leaders of our country.  Chattambi Swamikal was born on August 25, 1853 in a nair family known as Ulloorcode, near Kollur Mutt in Kannanmool, Thiruvananthapuram.  Vasudeva Sharma (Anandasharma) was his father and Thirunanga mother.  Parents called him by name Ayyappan, but he was known by per name ‘Kunjan’.  He could not join a school for his studies due to the poor condition of his family.  He overheard teaching of the ‘Asan’ from the Kollur Athiyar Mutt and knowing this he was Athiyar Mutt and knowing this he was permitted to sit inside the classroom.  He studied Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil languages from this ‘Asan School’. He supervised the class and therefore, he came to be known as ‘Chattambi’, which means ‘monitor’. After his education, he practiced document writing as a job.  He was also served as an Accountant in the Government Secretariat.He learnt the art of ‘Hat yoga’ from Thaikkattu Ayyavu, a Tamil Pandit and hat-yogi. He also learnt Tamil vedic works from Pandit Swaminatha Desika.  He became a disciple of the famous pandit and scholar Subha Jatapathikal.  He traveled thoughout South India and attained knowledge in different languages and religions.  On return, he obtained expert training in the art of yoga from Admananda Swamikal.

Pracheena Malayalam, Vedadhikara Niroopanam, Sree chakkra Poojakalpam, Khristumatha Niroopanam, Jeevakarunya Niroopanam, Adibhasha etc. were the main works of Swamikal.

Pracheena Malayalam is a precious research thesis as far as the Nair community is concerned. Swamikal refutes the fabricated story that Kerala was a gifted land of Brahmins by Parasurama.  He strongly refutes this story through valid and authoritative documents and through realistic vision.  This book is the authoritative history of Kerala and that of the Nair community.  He established that Nairs were the leaders of the people.  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 dependents.  The book also reveals that Nairs were the early inhabitants and rulers of Kerala and they excelled themselves in warfare, physical strengthy, weaponry and cleanliness.  The foreign travelers in early times who visited Kerala made made special mention about the lorships and war tactics of Nairs.  The seventh chapter of Pracheena Malayalam contains quotations of this type of versions. 

The Vedadhikara Niroopanam proves that Vedas are not the monopoly of Brahmins, but all Hindus alike can verse it.  He established that even Sudras had the right to learn Vedas as knowledge is essential to all people like food and water and that no body has the right to deny them. 

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 society. It also contributed much for the social reforms of Sree Narayana Guru.

Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai remarked that Sri.Vidhyadhiraja Chattambi Swamikal was a multi-faced personality.  He was a saint ithout the saffron, a saint who attained divine knowledge without performing Thapass (lonely prayer in jungle), a friend of the world who loved all creations alike, great philosopher who pioneered the social relations without being a part of it, a famous scholar who had no higher education, an expert who built up his knowledge out of his experience, a social reformer who succeeded in establishing cordial relations between different communities and a learned intellectual genius of our times. 

Shankaracharya (AD 788 - 820)

One of the greatest philosophers of India, Adi Shankaracharya founded the Advaita Vedanta, which is one of the sub-schools of Vedanta. Adi Shankaracharya whole-heartedly believed in the concept of the Vedas but at the same time advocated against the rituals and religious practices that were over exaggerated. On a closer introspection of the life history of Sri Sankaracharya, we find that he also started the monastic order known as Dashanami and the Shanmata convention of worship. Given here is Adi Shankaracharya biography, which will give you valuable insight into the life of this great poet and philosopher. 

Born in a simple Brahmin family approximately in the 8th century A.D in Kaladi, Kerala, he was named as Shankara and is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is said that Shankaracharya's mother Aryamba had a vision that Lord himself told her that he would incarnate in the form of her first-born child. Right from childhood he showed a penchant towards spiritual knowledge. He could easily recite the Puranas and the Epics and mastered the Vedas during his early years in Gurukul. Adi Shankara's teachings were thoroughly adopted by his disciples later on. 

Right from childhood, Shankaracharya was interested in Sanyasa and wanted to lead a meaningful life detached from the worldly pleasures. Once, while taking a bath in Purna River, Shankaracharya was attacked by a crocodile. Though his mother wanted to rescue him, she could not and was helpless. Seeing the haplessness of his mother, he asked her permission for letting him renounce the world. She was left with no choice but to agree. As soon as he recited the mantra, the crocodile left him. Shankaracharya began his life as an ascetic from then on. He proceeded towards further down south of India in search of a Guru. 

One fine day on the banks of River Narmada he met a man named Govinda Bhagavatpada. Since Shankaracharya was much learned about the Vedas and the Puranas, Govinda Bhagavatpada agreed to be his Guru for attaining spiritual knowledge. Under his tutelage, Shankaracharya gained expertise in different forms of Yoga that included Hatha, Raja and Jnana yoga. He then received the knowledge of Brahma. Thereafter he was known as Adi Shankaracharya whose sole purpose of life was to spread the teachings of Brahma Sutras all over the world. 

Adi Sankaracharya believed in the philosophy of "non-dualism". He believed in the fact that every individual has a divine existence, which can be identified with the Supreme cosmic power. Though bodies are diverse, the soul is one. The moment someone believes that the concept of life is finite; they are discarding an entirely higher and different dimension of life and knowledge. Self-realization is the key to attain Moksha and connect with God. Though he died young, he left an invaluable treasure of spiritual knowledge for future generations.