1. Chattampi Swamikal denounced the orthodox interpretation of Hindu texts citing sources from the Vedas.
22 Facts About Chattampi Swamikal
1. 2.
Chattampi Swamikal worked for the emancipation of women and encouraged them to come to the forefront of society.
3.
Chattampi Swamikal believed that the different religions are different paths leading to the same place.
4.
Chattambi Chattampi Swamikal led a wandering life like an avadutha and throughout his intellectually and spiritually enriched life maintained many friends from different regions of Kerala.
5.
Chattampi Swamikal authored several books on spirituality, history, and language staying with these friends.
6.
Chattampi Swamikal was born as Ayyappan Pillai on 25 August 1853 at Kannammoola in southern Travancore, present day Kerala.
7.
Chattampi Swamikal learned Sanskrit by overhearing the classes at a Brahmin house nearby.
8.
Chattampi Swamikal could learn Tamil from Swaminatha Desikar and philosophy from Professor Manonmaniyam Sundaram Pillai during his participation in 'Jnanaprajagaram'.
9.
Chattampi Swamikal stood first in a test for clerical posts in the Government Secretariat Trivandrum conducted by Sir T Madhava Rao, the then Divan of Travancore State.
10.
Chattampi Swamikal later translated his work Nijananda Vilasam containing the cream of Vedanta into simple Malayalam to guide spiritual aspirants.
11.
Chattampi Swamikal returned to Kerala as a great scholar and saint.
12.
In 1893 Chattampi Swamikal met his first disciple, Theerthapada, a Sanskrit scholar and an expert in treating snakebites.
13.
Chattampi Swamikal reformed the social and religious rituals and rules and prepared manuals for them.
14.
Chattampi Swamikal died in 1921 and Swami installed a Sivalinga above his Samadhi Peeta, which is the only temple, consecrated by him.
15.
Chattampi Swamikal established many ashrams and Theerthapada System for the line of sanyasins following Swami's teachings and methods.
16.
Chattampi Swamikal settled down at Panmana, a village in Kollam district, towards the end of his life.
17.
Chattampi Swamikal attained mahasamadhi on 5 May 1924, aged 70, after a short illness during which he objected to taking any medicine.
18.
Chattampi Swamikal was buried at Panmana according to traditional Hindu saint funeral customs.
19.
Chattampi Swamikal led a wandering life and left what he wrote with those who were with him at the time of writing.
20.
Chattampi Swamikal worked for the emancipation of women and encouraged them to come to the forefront of society.
21.
Chattampi Swamikal stated that ancient religion and law in India gave equal status to women and that their role is very important in family and society.
22.
Chattampi Swamikal stated that it was the misinterpretation of ancient texts resulting from male arrogance that degraded the position of women and their enslavement.