Chattampiswamikal

April 30, 2014

A commemorative postage stamp on Ayyappan Chattampi Swamikal, an Indian Hindu sage and social reformer :

Issued by India

Issued on Apr 30, 2014

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Chattampiswamikal.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million (0.1 million for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal

Born on Aug 25, 1853 at Kollur, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Died on May 5, 1924 at Panmana, Quilon, Kerala, India

About :

Chattampiswamikal was born on 25^th August, 1853 in Kannammoola, a village near Thiruvananthapuram. His parents named him Ayappan and affectionately called him Kunjan. He was known for his razor sharp intellect and academic excellence. Over the years, he came to be called as Chattampi and this remained with him for life. He was also called ‘Shri Vidyadhiraja Swami Thiruvadikal‘ and ‘Parama Bhattarasri Chattampi Swami Thiruadikal‘.
In his youth, Chattampiswamikal tried his hand at various professions which included manual labour, document writer, accountant and clerk. He traveled far and wide and did research on the Vedas and the history of Kerala. He mastered Astrology, Yoga, Medicine, Philosophy, Philology, Music and many other branches of knowledge, besides the Vedas, Upanishads and History. He was equally proficient in Sanskrit, Malayalam and Tamil. He believed that the knowledge enshrined in the religious texts should be made available to everyone and with this aim wrote ‘Vedadhikara Niroopanam‘ which is considered a versatile and monumental work on the Vedas. He has 15 books to his credit.
Chattampiswamikal led a very frugal and spiritual life. He never preached any particular religion and advocated the notion of society devoid of religion. His teachings reveal a startlingly modern worldview. He pioneered the path breaking concept that education was the greatest social equalizer and thereby heralded an unprecedented revolution in the social upliftment of the socially downtrodden.
He advocated the principles of ahimsa and vegetarianism. His book ‘Jeevakarunya Niroopanam‘ is a masterpiece on this subject. Another seminal concept that Chattampiswamikal propounded was that of the equality of all men and the formation of a casteless society which alone could reflect the true cultural heritage of India. He also advocated feminism and women’s emancipation at a time when it was unheard of.
Chattampiswamikal attained Maha Samadhi on 5^th May, 1924 at Panmana Ashram located some 18 kms north of Quilon.
Text : Based on the material furnished by the proponent.