Chattambi Swamigal or Vidyadhiraja Chattambi Swamigal lived in the second half of 19th Century through the first quarter of 20th Century, was a Hindu religious leader and social reformer, whose thoughts and works influenced many social, religious, literary and political movements in Kerala and gave voice to the marginalised.
He questioned the Brahmanical hegemony in Hindu society, fought for equality of men and women, and called for universal education. His style of working was approaching religious myths and rituals in the light of logic. Swamigal denounced the orthodox interpretation of Hindu texts citing sources from the Vedas. He strove to reform the heavily ritualistic and caste-ridden Hindu society of the late 19th Century Kerala.
Chattampi Swamikal was born Ayyappan Pillai on 25 August 1853at Kannammoola in southern Travancore, present day Thiruvananthapuram to Thamarassery Anadha Sharma, a Brahmin from Mavelikkara and Nangadevi Pillai, from a Nair family in Kannammola.
He was called Kunjan Pillai. As his parents were not able to provide him formal education, he learned letters and words from children of his neighbourhood who attended schools. He learned Sanskrit by overhearing the classes at a Brahmin house in the neighbourhood.
Knowing his thirst for learning, an uncle took him to a traditional school conducted byPettayil Raman Pillai Asan, a renowned scholar and writer who taught him without any fee. It was Raman Pillai Asan, who gave him the name Chattampi as the monitor of the class.
As the burden of supporting the family fell on him, Kunjan Pillai took to many types of manual work. For many days he worked as a labourer carrying building materials for the construction of theGovernment Secretariat building in Thiruvananthapuram.
For some time, he worked as a document writer and also as an advocate's clerk. He stood first in a test for clerical posts in the Government Secretariat conducted by Sir T Madhava Rao, the then Divan of Travancore State.
But he left the service after a short while as it curtailed his freedom and prevented his wanderings for spiritual exploration and research.
At the end of his wanderings and quest Kunjan Pillai was led to self-realisation by an avadhuta or saintly person, whom he met at a wayside in Vadaveeswaram, a village in Tamil Nadu.
Kunjan lived with him for several months in the forests without any contact with the outside world. It is believed that the saint belonged to the line of immortal masters of Southern India; the Siddha who knew the scientific art for realising God.
From there he returned to Kerala as a great scholar and saint, transforming into the enlightened teacher who would influence generations.
Chattambi Swami's writings comprise various forms, such as single stanzas, muktakas, bhajans, essays, critical works, translations, commentaries, short notes, and letters.
Swami led a wandering life and left what he wrote with those who were with him at the time of writing. Most of the works were only partially recovered and published. There were no attempts to collect and conserve them, which led to the gradual loss of many of them.
A few works were discovered and published eight decades after his deathand inspired serious discussion among scholars and spiritual seekers.
Essays & Critical Works
Bhajans & Muktakas
Translations
Letters & Notes
Chattambi Swamy spent his last days in Panmana, a village in Kollam district, continuing his spiritual practices and teachings until the end
He attained mahasamadhi on 5 May 1924, at 70, after a short illness. Even in his final days, he remained true to his principles of simplicity and devotion.
He was buried at Panmana according to traditional Hindu saint funeral customs.A Shiva temple stands above his grave now, serving as a place of pilgrimage for devotees and seekers.
"Here (in Kerala), I met a remarkable saint."
Swami Vivekananda, after meeting Chattambi Swamigal at Ernakulam in Kerala during a visit in 1882
The Spiritual Journey
Swami was an ascetic, but not in saffron robe, or with dedicated followers and a hermitage (ashram) of his own. He was born in a poor background, did manual labour to support his
He did not get any formal education, but a self-taught person, and travelled across Southern India, met many sages and siddhas. He learnt different languages and advanced techniques of Yoga and pranayama. By the age of 28, he had transformed himself into an enlightened Rishi.
The spiritual stature of Chattambi Swamigal was unmatched, it took several decades after his death for the society to understand the limitlessness of his teachings.
In an attempt to propagate the spiritual and social messages of Chattambi Swamigal, Nair Service Society Delhi has embarked on a project to spread his teachings beyond the boundaries of Kerala.
Named after the great saint, the teaching institution is called Sri Vidyadhiraja Vidyapeetam. Planned to be a digital university in the days to come, the Vidyapeetam will offer certificate and diploma courses in the informal format initially.
The courses will be in Malayalam, carrying forward the linguistic and cultural heritage while embracing modern digital education methodologies.
Digital Learning
Modern technology meets ancient wisdom in our innovative educational approach.
Cultural Heritage
Preserving and propagating the spiritual teachings of Chattambi Swamigal.
Nair Service Society Delhi
Understanding the heritage and transformation of the Nair community that led to the establishment of our institution.
The Nair community has a rich and diverse history. There are several interpretations on the definition of Nairs. One school of thought is that Nairs were big landlords and they ruled the land.
Nairs were the warriors (Nair Pada which means Nair regiment) and they were known for their valour and fighting prowess. In those times, the might of a king was known by the number of Nairs they had in their service. Nairs were considered as the 'Samurais' of Kerala.
Nair Surnames and Lineage
Confusion still prevails among Nair community as to the derivatives or surnames by different people belonging to the community.Typical last names- Nair surnames are carried through matrilineality. The surname Nair/Nayar is commonly used by all sub-castes belonging to Nair caste.
There is a misconception that those with surname Nair or Menon are the real Nairs. But this is not so. There are surnames within Nairs to differentiate them based on the honours bestowed by the royalty in recognition of their excellence in various fields.
Traditional Nair Surnames Include:
Though Nairs were considered to be the most aristocratic, populous, and influential people of the society, the community faced a crisis brought about by disunity and blind adherence to outdated customs, beliefs, and practices.
They had a glorious past. But ignorance, accumulated over centuries, reinforced by inadequate education proved disastrous for the community. Their predilection for celebrations and penchant for ceremonial occasions fuelled by a strong affinity towards profligacy and extravaganza, contributed to their decline and downfall.
Gradual loss of land holdings, underemployment due to lack of modern education completed the process of disintegration.
Our Vision & Mission
Inspired by the teachings of Chattambi Swamigal, we strive to create an inclusive digital learning environment.
Vision
To establish a world-class digital university that carries forward the spiritual and educational legacy of Vidyadhiraja Chattambi Swamigal, promoting universal education, equality, and logical thinking while preserving cultural heritage.
Mission
To provide accessible, high-quality digital education that embodies the principles of social equality, spiritual growth, and logical reasoning as taught by Chattambi Swamigal, while serving learners beyond geographical boundaries.
Universal Education
Making quality education accessible to all, regardless of background.
Social Equality
Promoting equality and justice in education and society.
Logical Thinking
Encouraging rational inquiry and critical thinking in learning.