Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi

He was titled "Brahmananda Swamikal", recognising his spiritual and literary knowledge by Ayyathan Gopalan, a social reformer and propagandist of Brahmo Samaj in Kerala and founder of Sugunavardhini movement. Mentor of Swami Sivayogi, and as an honor for writing a poem Brahmasankeerthanam (to be sung during Brahmo prayer meetings) on the request of Gopalan and all Brahmosamajists of Malabar, and also for extending his untiring services done through Brahmo Samaj. He started Sidhdhasramam in Alathur on 1891. He propounded the theory that anandam (happiness or bliss) should be the touchstone of any human activity. The movement he spearheaded played an important role in the Kerala reformation movement.

Early life

Brahmananda Sivayogi was born on 26 August 1852 at Kollankode, a small village in Palakkad district of Kerala. He was the ninth son of Nani Amma of "Karatt" family and Kunhikrishna Menon of Kunnath Ravunnyarath at Vallengi. He had nine brothers and one sister. In his childhood, Brahmananda Sivayogi was called Govindankutty. His mother was a devout Nair lady who strictly followed the tenets of religion. He lived in his matrilineal house along with his parents as per the existing custom of matrilineal families. His parents and other family members naturally influenced him towards conservatism. Govindankutty accepted all the traditional life of a Nair boy. He visited temples, worshipped individual Gods, involved in prayers, offerings and other religious customs. He was sent to a nearby school, the Kollankode Board Elementary School. Several changes had occurred in the field of education in Kerala during this time. But majority were unaware of the importance of English education. Sanskrit scholars were respected everywhere. The students usually had gone to the residence of Sanskrit scholars to master the language. The well-known scholar Padmanabha Sastri was the Sanskrit Guru who gave guidance to Govindankutty. His father Kunhikrishna Menon sent his son to Koodalloor Sastrikal for higher course in Sanskrit. He studied grammar, poetry and poetics from his guru. His grasping power was extraordinary. He had expressed his poetic genius during this time. By this time he became well versed in Hindu scriptures and Tamil language. There was nothing spectacular or any sign of his later beliefs of rationalism or atheism in his early life or childhood.

After his Sanskrit studies, Karat Govinda Menon moved to Ernakulam and joined there as a Sanskrit teacher. His short stay at Ernakulam and acquaintance with a lot of people having different cultures broadened his outlook. He was greatly influenced by the non-idolatry and atheistic principles of Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan and Brahmo Samaj, His attitude towards God, religion and tradition was undergoing a slow change by then.

Accordingly, he married Thavukutty Amma of Mukkil Maruthur at Vadavannur. He had to look after his own family and started his career as a Sanskrit Munshi at Calicut Native High School which is now known as Ganapat High School, his stay at Kozhikode was a turning point in his life. During this time a branch of Brahmo Samaj was functioning at Kozhikode which was an organisation for social reforms, led by Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan, a great social reformer of Kerala during those times. Govinda Menon participated in the discussions organised in Brahmasamajam. He was a frequent visitor at Brahmasamajam and wrote the book Brahmasankeerthanam on the request of Dr. Gopalan and Brahmosamajists of Malabar. Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan honored him as "Brahmananda Swami" recognising his spiritual and literary knowledge. He had the opportunity to listen to their discourses. It naturally enriched his knowledge. Their rejection of the practice of idol worship influenced him considerably. He also got proficient in English during the stay at Calicut. He learnt that caste was an unwanted social institution which was potentially harmful. He slowly emerged from the traditional Hindu society. Philosophically he moved away from the Hindu fold. He resigned from Calicut school and joined Board Middle School at Alathur as Sanskrit Munshi. By then he was widely recognised by the name "Brahmananda Swamikal".