Ramakrishna Vivekananda Movement In Kerala

RAMAKRISHNA VIVEKANANDA MOVEMENT IN KERALA

BY SWAMI SIDDHINATHANANDA

(An article from the souvenir Viveka Tarangam of the first all kerala Ramakrishna Vivekananda Bhakta Sammelan in 2001)

After the Mahasamadhi of Sri Ramakrishna, his disciples dispersed and went to different places. Narendra towards North India for some time and later reached Kerala. At Kanyakumari he noticed a rock projecting out of the sea. He swami towards it and sat on it facing the Goddess and was soon engrossed in deep meditation. The object of the young Sannyasin’s meditation was the fate of his Mother Country. He realized the mission of his life. Later he wrote, “Sitting on the rock in the southern periphery of India, I visualized a Plan.” The uplift of the common man and woman was the focal point of his ambitious plan. He hoped to achieve it by imparting education to them. To facilitate the execution of this plan, he set sail to America. A Parliament of religious was on the anvil there, as a part of the Celebration of the 400^th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. Narendra transformed as Vivekananda and reached America. After overcoming many obstacles, thanks to his merit and personality, he obtained recognition as a delegate to the conference as the representative of the Hindu religion.

Swami Vivekananda addressed the great conference on the 11^th of September 1893. When he addressed the audience as “Sisters and brothers of America”, there was a tumultuous applause. They heard the voice of a new universal Philosophy. This world view of considering entire humanity as belonging to a single family was novel and appealing to the west and evoked enthusiastic response and thunderous applause. But, for Swamiji, the concept of “Vasudaiva Kudumbakam (universal family) which was the traditional belief of the Hindus, was quite natural.

Then the Swami explained to that mostly western audience, India’s message of “Advaita” (The philosophy of considering diversities of nature as the different manifestations of a unity of existence) and India’s spiritual view of life. The audience was very receptive to these ideas and the thinkers there, accepted Vivekananda as a great teacher.

The fact that an ascetic of India, which was at that a time a British Colony, won recognition from the American intelligentsia, thrilled the Indian nation. It echoed in Kerala also. Vivekananda became the cynosure of the entire world and India particular. When the Swamiji returned after 3-4 years of intense propagation of the Vedanta and whirlwind tour, there were spontaneous and enthusiastic receptions and magnificent replies by Swamiji from Colombo to Kolkatta. He stayed for some time in Tamilnadu and gave thunderous speeches that enthused his audiences. Many Keralites who were studying in Tamilnadu at that time, had the opportunity of listening to Swamiji’s speeches. Many of them later became promoters instrumental to the start of the Ramakrishna Movement in Kerala, directly or indirectly. Sarvasree Ampadi Sankara Menon and swami Ambananada was some of them. It is known that Sri Mancheri Rama Iyerhad an opportybity to meet the Swamiji at that time.

As a wandering mendicant, swami Vivekananda had the opportunity to stay with Dr.Palpoo for some time. Due to his low birth, Dr.Palpoo was denied a job in the erstwhile Travancore state. There was untouchability in other states also. But in Kerala in addition to the untouchability there was unapproachability also. Dr.Palpoo informed Swamiji about the antic practices in Kerala. Swamiji advised Dr. Dr.Palpoo

To identify a spiritual luminary from among their community and organize them on the lines of his teachings. Accordingly, Dr. Dr.Palpoo sought the advice of Sri Narayana Guru, and in response to his instructions gave shape to the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP). It was from Dr.Palpoo that Swamiji heard about the outdated, archaic, malpractices of the Hindus society in Kerala, which prompted him to call Kerala a Lunatic asylum. This remonstrance and scathing criticism of Swamiji enabled Keralites to mend their ways and cure themselves of this malady.

Swamiji’s triumph in America echoed all over India. Kerala also took pride in it. In many parts of Kerala, people inspired and electrified by the message of Vivekananda organized groups of devotees. At that time Kalipada Ghosh, a householder devotee of Sri Ramakrishna had come to Trivandrum in connection with the promotion of his business enterprises. He invited Swami Ramakrishnananda, a close c0-disciple of Swami Vivekananda and the then president of the Sri Ramakrishna Math at Madras, to Trivandrum. Accepting this invitation Ramakrishnananda came to Trivandrum in 1904 and stayed there for a few months. Many people drew inspiration from his contact. Spiritual organization sprouted up in many places. Such a group came into existence in Haripad. In 1911 this group invited Sri Ramakrishananda to participate in a Sri Ramakrishna birthday celebration function. Mr.Padnamabhan Thampi who was the president of this unit had earlier an opportunity contact Swami Ramakrishnananda at Madras. Swami Ramakrishnananda deputed co-disciple Swami Nirmalananda to Haripad. Swami Nirmalananda was instrumental in establishing the Ramakrishna-Vivekannda movement in Kerala on a from footing. Contact with him proved a turning point in the lives of many. Some people even dedicated their lives for the propagation of the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna. A devoted person donated a piece of land in Haripad to build an Ashram. Many others donated funds. Thus an Ashram was established there in due course. Subsequently Ashrams were set up at Thiruvalla and Trivandrum. In Trivandrum the patrons of the Ashram were Sri Padmanabhan Thampi and his younger brother Dr.Raman Thampi.

In these Ashrams caste was not recognized. Irrespective of caste and creed, all were accepted and treated with equality without any discrimination. It was a time when orthodoxy and traditional customs reigned supreme in Kerala. The die hard orthodox sections were furious with the Swami and his companions for discarding discrimination against the low caste people.

Kerala’s first Ramakrishna Ashrama was inaugurated in Haripad in 1913 with pomp and fanfare. Everybody had permission to worship in the new temple. Orthodox sections raised many obstacles before the Ashram workers. In the next year’s birthday celebrations more and more people irrespective e of caste differences participated in a mass feast conducted in the Ashram. After it the plantain leaves on which the food was served and the remnants of food particles had to be removed. But the workers deputed for the task refused to discharge that duty because low caste people too had participated in the party. Swami Nirmalananda who was closely observing the program, smelled the trouble. He said, ‘They are all devotees of Bhagawan, their low birth notwithstanding. Iam their servant. I have no Caste.” Saying this, he began to remove the leaves. When he lifted one or two leaves, everybody rushed in and within minutes removed the waste. With this heavy blow he broke the backbone of the monster caste. It was the first fell blow against the entrenched fortress of Caste. By subsequent blows the fortress collapsed and we are free. The first blow was administered by NIrmalalanda, the follower of Sri Ramakrishna—Vivekananda.

Subsequently, Ashrams were founded in Thiruvlla, Trivandrum, quilandy, ottappalam, Kozhikode, Alappuzha etc.,. In those times kerala was divided into three entities, Travancore, Kochi and British Malabar. Though geographically and culturally these three units were a homogenous entity, all the three, maintained their identies. Each constituent viewed others with scorn. But Nirmalananda brought his followers from different parts together. He brought the natives of ottappalam to Trivandrum and Haripad and vice versa. Even much before, the politicians visualized a unified Kerala, Nirmalaanda gave shape to a spiritually unified Kerala. He brought Sri Brahmanandaji Maharaj, the spiritual son of Sree Ramakrishna, co-discple of Swami Vivekananda and the then president of the Ramakrishna Mission, for a pilgrimage to Kanyakumari. They stayed in different places on the way. Many people got the opportunity to pay obeisance to Swamiji and got initiation from him. All of them became friends and participants of the movement. Many people attracted by the message of Ramakrishna Vivekananda, by contact with Nirmalananda dedicated their lives for spirituality. Many house holder devotees contributed lavishly for the conduct of the different activities of the Ashram. Many Keralites who had the opportunity to meet and draw inspiration from Vivekananda, Ramakrishnananda and Brahmananda at Madras, came forward to propagate the ideals of the mission in Kerala. Among them a notable person was Swami Agamananda, the founding father of the Ashram at Kalady. A gifted orator, he toured the length and breadth of Kerala and propagated Vedanta and the ideals of Vivekananda. Swami Thyageesananda a disciple of Brahmanandaji Maharaj, founded an Ashram inThrissur. Swami Tapasyananda built a modern hospital in Trivandrum. Swami Niranjananada who was always engrossed in study and meditation was instrumental founding many Ashrams in Central Travancore. The loving personality of Swami Vageeswarananda committed many people to the Ramakrishna Movement. The scholarly swami Vimalananda kindled spiritual instinct in many people. Many other sannyasins too, by virtue of their enterprise and silent services, developed the mission into a mighty movement in Kerala.

Now in Kerala, many ashrams are engaged in activity in different humanitarian activities. They are Ashrams at Trivandrum, Thornville, Palai, Kalady, Trichur, Kozhikode and quilandy. In Trivandrum the ashram conduct a modern hospital with all amenities and more than 250 beds. In Thiruvalla there is a beautiful Sree Ramakrishna Temple. In Palai there is a Sanskrit college. In Thrissur there is a higher secondary school, a beautiful temple , a student’s hostel, a publishing house that brings out many useful books, the monthly, Prabuddha Keralam, a hospital are the main institutions conducted by the Ashram. During every X’ mass five day long ‘antar yogam’ is held which attracts a lot of devotees. In Kozhikode, a higher secondary School, student’s hostel and a dispensary are run under the auspices of the Ashram. The quilandy ashrama, apart from the daily services a homeopathic dispensary too is conducted by the ashramites. Apart from the above, many smaller Ashrams, spread all over kerala are engaged in many silent creative activities.

In 1952 in connection with the centenary of Sri Sarada Devi, an organisataion called Sree Ramakrishna Sarada Mission was started with the objective of spreading the message of Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Vivekananda among women. In Trichur, Trivandrum and Kozhikode, its units function and impart signal service to the society.

In Kerala about one hundred people have dedicated their lives for propagation of this ideal. The first generation of such people are now no more. The noble tasks kick started by the ancestors are actively being pursued by the next generation and they are developing on it.

The most notable of the house holder devotees are Sri Padmanabhan Thampi, Dr. Raman Thampi and Sri Seshadri Iyer. The poets and littérateurs of Kerala have got intimate awareness of the mission’s literature. Some of them have written books for the propagation of the mission’s ideals. Sri Kuttamathu kunniyooru kunjikrishna Kurup and ottoor Unni Nampoothiripad deserve special mention in this connection. Kumaran Asan has translated Vivekandna’s Raja Yogam in to Malayalam. The publication which Asan started for the SNDP was named “Vivekodayam”. Vallathol had composed a poem about a crisis situation in the life of Narendra. Dr.PK Narayana Pillai wrote a two Sanskrit poems one called “Dharmasagaram” about Sri Ramakrishna and another called “Vishwabhanu” about Swami Vivekananda. Sri Mannath Padmanabha Pillai the founder of the NSS was inspired by the ideals of the Swamiji. The NSS started its maiden High School on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda.

Kerala not only imbibed the Ramakrishna movement, but also contributed many outstanding personalities for the propagation its ideals abroad. Some of them are Swami Siddheshwarananda founder of the Vedanta Centre at Paris, swami Ghanananda who established a centre in London, Swami Ranganathananda the present president of the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Nissreyasananda who established different Vedanta centres in Africa and Swami Nithyabodhananda who founded a centre in Geneva. These great personalities are the contributions of Kerala.

The temple entry proclamation permitting all castes to enter the temples was historic declaration sponsored by Sir C.P. Ramasami Iyer, the then Dewan of Travancore. When its Silver Jubilee was celebratetd, CP Ramasami Iyer declared that it was the call of Swami Vivekananda that prompted him to sponsor this feat.

The antaryogas, publications, educational institutions, student hostels, conventions, hospitals, services for the suffering, conducted on the auspices of the different centers in Kerala are aimed at the spiritual, educational and physical uplift of the people in general. They function silently and with the expertise needed. The Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda ideal of Siva seva through Manava seva is the propelling force and inspiration for all these activities.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanahu