Question

What was the real name of Chattampi Swamikal?
A. Abdul Khader
B. Ayyappan
C. Ayyankali
D. Vagbhatananda

Answer 1

Hint: Knowing Chattampi Swamikal’s thirst for learning, he was brought to the traditional school run by Pettayil Raman Pillai Asan, a well-known scholar, and writer who taught him free of charge. On account of his assignment as the class monitor, it was there that he received the name “Chattampi”.

Complete answer:
Chattampi Swamikal was a social reformer and Hindu sage. His thoughts and work inspired the development in Kerala of many social, religious, literary, and political organisations and movements and gave voice to those oppressed, for the first time. He was originally named Ayyappan. He was also known as “Kunjan Pillai”, which translates to “small male baby”.

Contributions and beliefs:
1. The orthodox reading of Hindu texts citing Vedic sources was denounced by Chattampi Swamikal.
2. Together with his contemporary, Narayana Guru, Swamikal attempted to reform Kerala, the extremely ritualistic and caste-ridden Hindu society of the late 19th century.
3. Swamikal also advocated for women's liberation and helped them to come to society's forefront.
4. Swamikal advocated vegetarianism.
5. Non-violence (Ahimsa) was also professed by him.

Swamikal thought that the various religions were distinct paths leading to the same location. Chattampi Swamikal had many friends from various regions of Kerala during his intellectually and spiritually enriched life. He wrote many books with these friends about faith, history, and language.

The writings of Swamikal include different types, such as single stanzas, muktakas, songs of bhajan, essays, critical works, translations, commentaries, brief notes, and letters. Swamikal lived a wandering life and left what he had written at the time of his writing with those who were with him. Some of the works were retrieved and written only partly. There were no later attempts to collect and store them, which led to many of them being eventually lost.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
 Since his parents were unable to provide him with formal schooling, he learned letters and phrases from his neighbourhood children, attending classes. By overhearing the courses at a nearby Brahmin home, he also studied Sanskrit.