Cultural landscape of Kerala is getting ready for heated debates and discussions on the legend behind the creation of the State that finds mention in folklores and history. For the first time in South India, a collection of studies on the works of Chattampi Swami (Kunjan Pillai ) by hundreds of spiritual leaders, historians, sociologists and literary critics has hit book shelves across Kerala.
It was Chattampi Swami (1853-1924) who explained to Swami Vivekananda the meaning of Chinmudra and how to experience its impact. Swami Vivekananda was very much impressed by this exposition and remarked : “The most enigmatic ascetic I have had reason to acquaint within all my travels in India and abroad.” Vivekananda was on a tour to Kerala in 1892 when he met Chattampi Swami.
The sage’s argument that all languages spoken in the subcontinent owe their birth to a common language by name Aadi Dravida, the mother of all languages, did not get any recognition while he was alive. Now, nearly a century after his demise, the argument is back in the narrative. “Had this been recognised by this linguists earlier, we could have resolved the issue of the oldest language in the world,” said Prof Poojappura Krishnan Nair, a follower of Chattampi Swami’s teachings.
Keralites would have to rewrite the legend behind the birth of their State as Chattampi Swami has demolished the theory of Parasuram creating the landmass from the sea. It is said that Parasurama threw his battle axe into the sea and a land mass was formed where the axe fell. Parasurama donated the land to Brahmins as an act of atonement for his slaughtering the Kshatriyas in retaliation for the murder of his father Rishi Jamadagni.
Chattampi Swami quotes Skanda Purana (written in eighth century) and says that the landmass of Kerala belonged to Cherans which in due course became Kerala. He ruled out the possibilities of Parasurama entrusting the land mass to Brahmins and has proved scientifically that the geographical area belonged to the Nair community.
The sage is designated as the father figure of the renaissance movement and credited with the slogan that “Vedas belong to all” and there is no scientific evidence for the Chathurvarnya theory. He was the pioneer who launched the agitation against caste wall and untouchability which were dominant in the region, according to Swami Chidanandapuri, spiritual leader of Hindus and head of Adwaitha Ashram.
Christian theologists in Kerala have accepted the monk’s “A Critique of Christianity”, a criticism of the Christan religion. Prof C I Issac points out that till date no one has come forward to answer the query by Chattampi Swami that how come God created man (Book of Genesis ) without him being warned about the existence of the forbidden apple? “The Abrahamic religions are handicapped by this kind of slavery and Chattampi Swami exposed it,” writes Prof Issac. The monk is rated as Malayala language's first literary critic who through his writings and speeches gave it a modern outlook.
Kerala’s cultural domain is expected to see a lot of sound and fury in months to come thanks to Studies on Chattampi Swami, a three-volume work edited by A M Unnikrishnan, noted critic.
