Agamananda birth anniversary

KALADY: For the people of Kalady the name of Agamananda Swamikal evokes a lot of respect.

More than a saint who founded the Sree Ramakrishna Ashramam, a scholar and a true follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was a person who tried hard to realise the development dreams of Kalady by inviting the attention of the civic authorities.

When the 111th birth anniversary of Agamananda Swamikal is observed by the people here on September 10, it would be also a commemoration of his valuable services.

Most of the modern symbols of pride of Kalady – be it the Sree Sankara group of educational institutions, Sree Sankara bridge, or the spiritual renaissance promoted by the Ashram in the state – deeply indebted to their promoter, Agamananda Swamikal, the great seer of recent times.

‘‘He was the first person who came forward with the idea of a bridge across the Periyar during the first quarter of the last century. Till then the transport across the river was limited to ferry services,’’ said Peethambaran, Secretary of Agamananda Swami Smaraka Samithy, an NGO in Kalady.

Born in 1896 into a conservative Brahmin family, Krishnan Nambyathiry, his name in poorvashrama, was eager to acquire knowledge from any possible sources.

He was given primary lessons in Sanskrit by Vechoor Rama Varyar, Evoor.N.Veluppilla and Madathil Krishnan Ashan.

Swamiji received the affection and spiritual influence of great personalities such as Nirmalananda Swamikal, one of the close acquaintances of Swami Vivekananda, Sree Narayana Guru and Brahmananda Swamikal, who initiated him into sanyasa.

After completing his MA, Agamananda served as the headmaster of Chengannoor Middle School for about a year. By this time, he had also grown into an orator who spread the sparks of Vaikkom Satyagraha among the youths of Kochi. He even redefined many misinterpretations of certain works of Adi Sankara.

His prominent works include Brahmanadeeyam, Sree Sankaracharyar, Narayana Guru, Keralathinte bhavi, Bharatheeya vidhyabyasam.