Pathanamthitta, August 17, 2013: The Theerthapada Ashram Trust will be celebrating the centenary of the Parama Bhattara Ashram founded by the great 20th century sage Vidyadhiraja Chattampi Swami at Ezhumattoor near Mallappally this year, according to the trust president, Swami Prajnanananda.

Swami Prajnanananda said Chattampi Swami was a great sage and social reformer whose contributions to the socio-spiritual realms were immense. The thoughts and works influenced the formation and functioning of many social, religious, literary and even political organisations in the second half of the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th century, he added.

The Trust president said the Ezhumattoor Parama Bhattara Ashram was the place where Chattampi Swami, along with his first two disciples, Neelakanta Theerthapada and Theerthapada Paramahansa, stayed for a brief period. Chattampi Swami’s famous historical treatise, ‘Pracheena Malayalam’, was released at this ashram, Swami Prajnanananda said.

The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam general secretary, Vellappally Natesan, will inaugurate the year-long centenary celebrations at a ceremonial function to be held at the Ashram premises at Ezhumattoor on August 23 afternoon.

Former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Hindumatha Maha Mandalam president, T. N. Upendranatha Kurup, will preside over the inaugural function.

R. Ramachandran Nair, former Chief Secretary of Kerala, will deliver the Vidyadhiraja commemoration speech.

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 17, 2013.