Athiyar Mutt and knowing this he was permitted to sit inside the classroom.  He studied Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil languages from this ‘Asan School’. He supervised the class and therefore, he came to be known as ‘Chattambi’, which means ‘monitor’. After his education, he practiced document writing as a job.  He was also served as an Accountant in the Government Secretariat.He learnt the art of ‘Hat yoga’ from Thaikkattu Ayyavu, a Tamil Pandit and hat-yogi. He also learnt Tamil vedic works from Pandit Swaminatha Desika.  He became a disciple of the famous pandit and scholar Subha Jatapathikal.  He traveled thoughout South India and attained knowledge in different languages and religions.  On return, he obtained expert training in the art of yoga from Admananda Swamikal.

Sri Narayana Guru,Chattambi swamikal &Swami Neelakanta Theerthapaadar “Here I met a remarkable man”, wrote Swami Vivekananda when he met Chattambi Swamikal at Ernakulam.  He made this remark on hearing the clarifications on ‘Chinmudra’ from Chattambi Swamikal.

Pracheena Malayalam, Vedadhikara Niroopanam, Sree chakkra Poojakalpam, Khristumatha Niroopanam, Jeevakarunya Niroopanam, Adibhasha etc. were the main works of Swamikal.

Pracheena Malayalam is a precious research thesis as far as the Nair community is concerned. Swamikal refutes the fabricated story that Kerala was a gifted land of Brahmins by Parasurama.  He strongly refutes this story through valid and authoritative documents and through realistic vision.  This book is the authoritative history of Kerala and that of the Nair community.  He established that Nairs were the leaders of the people.  Kerala was not a gifted land of Brahmins but Brahmins migrated to Kerala and took possession of the land and property of Nairs and gradually made them their dependents.  The book also reveals that Nairs were the early inhabitants and rulers of Kerala and they excelled themselves in warfare, physical strengthy, weaponry and cleanliness.  The foreign travelers in early times who visited Kerala made special mention about the lorships and war tactics of Nairs.  The seventh chapter of Pracheena Malayalam contains quotations of this type of versions. 

The Vedadhikara Niroopanam proves that Vedas are not the monopoly of Brahmins, but all Hindus alike can verse it.  He established that even Sudras had the right to learn Vedas as knowledge is essential to all people like food and water and that no body has the right to deny them. 

These two writings contributed for the social progress of Kerala by breaking the supremacy of Brahmins and by doing away with the superstitious beliefs and customs in society. It also contributed much for the social reforms of Sree Narayana Guru.

Samadhi Smarakam at Panmana Ashram

Photograph of Shri Chattambi Swamikal taken just 40 days before his Samadhi

Sree Vidhyadhiraja Theerthapada Paramabhattrakasram was established by Chattambi Swamikal in 1089 (ME) (1914 AD).

Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai remarked that Sri.Vidhyadhiraja Chattambi Swamikal was a multi-faced personality.  He was a saint ithout the saffron, a saint who attained divine knowledge without performing Thapass (lonely prayer in jungle), a friend of the world who loved all creations alike, great philosopher who pioneered the social relations without being a part of it, a famous scholar who had no higher education, an expert who built up his knowledge out of his experience, a social reformer who succeeded in establishing cordial relations between different communities and a learned intellectual genius of our times. 

“Ascetic and holy man who tried to break the Brahmin hold on the performance of religious ceremonies.  Attacked caste and associated with Izhavas.  Said to have taught yoga to Sri.Narayana Guru” – thus wrote Robin Jeffri.

He is also known as - "Sarva Vidyadirajan"
He is also known as -"saint without saffron"
He is also known as - The Great Scholar Saint of Kerala
He is also Known as - Bala BhattarakaBorn on - 25th August 1853 (Chingam 11, 1029)

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Birth Place - Kollur , Kannamoola, Trivandrum
Father's Name - Vasudeva Sharma
Mother's Name- Nangamma
Original Nmae - Ayyappan
Childhood Name - Kunjan Pillai
House Name - Ullorkodu Veedu
The first Guru - Pettayil Raman Pillai Assan
Learned Hadayoga Vidya from - Thycadu Ayya
Guru who led Chattambi Swamikal to accept Hermitage - Subha Jata Padikal
Tamil Guru who taught him Tamil Vedanta Sastra and Tamil Grammer - Swaminatha DesikarChattambi Swami got Enlightenment at - Vadaveeswaram (Tamilnadu)
After the attainment of Monkhood Chattambi Swami assumed the name - Shanmughadasan
He assumed the name Shanmughadasan due to his deep respect to God - Subramanya
He attained mahasamadhi on 5th August 1924 at Panmana in Kollam district.
Mortal remains of Chattampi Swamikal were enshrined at his Samadhistanam at Panmana. This site is today called Panmana Ashramam (Kollam district).
The temple built by Chattambi Swami's disciples at his resting place - Bala Bhattaraka Temple
The year which Chattambi Swamikal Visit Sree Narayana Guru - 1882
The place where Chattambi Swamikal met Sree Narayana Guru - Aniyoor temple
The book written by Sree Narayana Guru in the respect of Chattambi Swamikal - Navamanjari
It was with Chattampi Swamikal that Narayana Guru made his first trip to Aruvippuram.
The year which Chattambi Swamikal visited Swami Vivekanandan in - 1892(Ernakulam)
"I met a real man in Malabar"who said this lines about Chattambi Swami - Swami Vivekanandan
The work of Chattambi Swamikal which criticized Alathoor Sivayogi's Mokshapradeepam - Mokshapradeepa Khandanam Swami met Neelakanta Theerthapada a great Sanskri Scholar and Theerthapada Pramahamsa who established an ashram and also Theerthapada System for the line of snayasins following Swami’s teachings and methods.
Bodheswaran, Perunnelli Krishnan Vaidhyan, Velutheri Kesavan Vaidhyan, Kumbalath Sanku Pillai etc were grihastha disciples of Chattambi Swamikal.Vedadhikara Niroopanam, Prachina Malayalam, Adwaitha Chintha Paddhathi, Moksha Pradeepa Khandanam etc. are famous works of Chattambi Swamikal.
The year which Indian Postal department published stamp of Chattambi Swamikal - 30 April 2014
A Biography of Chattampi swamikal written by K Maheswaran nair - Chattampi Swamikal: Jeevithavum Krithikalum
Chattampi Swamikal Jeevitavum Darshanavum written by - Tony Mathew

AdiBhasha Advaita

ChintaPaddhati

Devi Manasa Puja Stotram

Jivakarunya Nirupanam

Kristumata Nirupanam

Laghu Kritikal

Nijananda Vilasam

Pracheena Malayalam

Pracheena Malayalam-Part2

Sri Chakra Puja Kalpam

Vedadhikara Nirupanam

https://archive.org/details/Complete_Works_of_Sri_Chattmapi_Swamikal_Malayalam

Please visit the following link to see a documentary about chattambi swamkal directed by public relations department of Government of Kerala

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtTtd36oUC8&index=14&list=PLCnnh4Qj2cyq-JsRjsHZMHMAVfjoyMhEb