Ayroor – Cherukolpuzha Hindu Matha Parishat-History

Ayroor – Cherukolpuzha Hindu Matha Parishat is an annual Hindu convention held on the sandy stretches of pampa River. This is a week long congregation where every day renowned pundits and learned acharyas make illuminating discourses. This is the biggest spiritual gathering of its kind in Kerala and it is the 95th convention that commences on 4th of February 2007.

This mass event is organized by the parent body called Hindu Matha Mahamandalam. This is a body that takes into its fold all sects and denominations of the Hindu Society. It started as a reformist organization which crusaded against social evils such as untouchabilitty and other forms of discriminations. It really heralded the religious renaissance in Kerala and did a pioneering job in eradicating many a superstition, superfluous rituals and out-moded festivities. This annual convention is its main platform to communicate and unfold effectively the ideas and ideals for which Mahamandalam stands

The place where this convention is held is named Vidyadhiraja Nagar after the great Guruji Shri Vidyadhiraja Chattampi Swamikal. Sri Chattampi Swamikal and Sri Narayana Guru were the two great socio – religious reformers that Kerala has seen in the 20th Centuary.

Chattampi Swamikal was a noble saint, a scholar extra ordinary and a vast repository of our culture and heritage. He was a poet, a philosopher, a reformer and a researcher all rolled into one. He travelled to every nook and corner of Kerala. He interacted with people from every walk of life, discussed with them their problems, had talks in family gatherings and discourses in spiritual congregations. This white claded sanyasin was always against all social evils. He carried with him the authority of scriptures and authenticity of their practice. He made a tremendous impact on the people of Kerala, particularly on educated section. Theerthapada Paramahamsa Swamikal, an ardent devotee of Sri Chattampi Swamikal started this convention at Cherukolpuzha in the year 1912.

In fact this convention stage was effectively utilized by many prominent teachers and leaders of Kerala in the past. Swami Sadananda, Swami Agamananda, Swami Mangalananda, Swami Nithya Chaitanya Yati, Swami Chinmayananda, Matha Amrithananda Mayi, Sri. Sri. Ravisankar, are only a few of the long list of names of swamis that addressed this convention in the past. Great personalities like Sri. K.Kelappan, Sri Mannathu Padmanabhan, Sri T.K. Madhavan, Sri C.V. Kunjuraman, Sri M.P. Manmathan , are only a few of the plethora of leaders who enriched this convention by their scholarly expositions.

The basic objective of the Parishat is to expose the society to the historic traditions of the Hindu way of life. To form a relevant matrix between religion and society that fits well into a modern and scientific frame of reference is infact the aim of the Parishat.

The Hindu Matha Mahamandalam is extending its activities to new areas and new dimensions . A newly started wing namely Sanathana Dharma Patana Gaveshana Kendra (Sanathana Dharma Studies And Reserch Centre ) was formally inaugurated recently. This is intended to be active in terms of academic and enquiry-oriented activities. A Hindu Matha Grandha Sala, a reference library where a number of collections of genuine Hindu literature has already started functioning. We are planning to start regular seminars, colloquia and study classes with an eye on the young people with intellectual moorings. We are visualizing under this umbrella, a yoga class. Soom a publication wing is also to came up.

Hindu Matha Mahamandalam is the right arena from where genuine cultural messages could eminate. The broad, all embracing attitude is this cultural crux of the Hindu way of life. Solidarily of all people with correct perspective of “Vasudhiva Kudumbakam” is what we are aspiring for. This Parishat is the proper centre to radiate the true integrated Indian thinking that our rishies brought forth, our scriptures glorified and we people have rightly inherited.

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