THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The growth of Ramakrishna Movement owes it all to Swami Nirmalananda, one among the direct disciples of Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, and this is the centenary year of his arrival in Kerala, which eventually saw the setting up of the most number of ashrams in the country after West Bengal. And Ananthapuri too had its tryst with Swami Nirmalananda the same year, ie 1911. As celebrations to this effect are scheduled to be held on September 30 at Theerthapadamandapam, the followers of the sect have thought it right to remember the man who was instrumental in bringing Nirmalananda to Thiruvananthapuram - the late Padmanabhan Thampi, who later became Swami Parananda, whose 70th death anniversary also falls this year. Swami Nirmalananda, whose original name was Tulsi Charan Dutta, is acknowledged to have played a great role in the spread of the Ramakrishna Movement in South India, especially in Karnataka and Kerala. Nirmalananda’s first programme in the State was at Harippad, in February 1911. He was invited by the Harippad Vendanta Sangh for the Sree Ramakrishna Jayanthi programme. Thanks to his efforts, within 27 years, Kerala saw the birth of 17 ashrams and 34 sanyasis. Among the lot is the Ramakrishna Ashram at Nettayam, which was opened in 1916. Nirmalananda was the head of the Ramakrishna Ashram in Bangalore from 1909 to 1935. In 1935, he came to stay at the Nettayam Ashram and next year he moved to the ashram at Ottappalam, where he breathed his last in 1938.“And Ananthapuri should be proud of the fact that it was Padmanabhan Thampi, who belonged to the family of Raja Kesavadas, the first divan of Travancore, who invited Swami Nirmalananda to Kerala. Thampi had played an important role in opening the ashrams at Harippad, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Neyyoor (Kanyakumari district),” says Rajeev Irinjalakkuda, who has delved deep into the Ramakrishna movement. A writer, Rajeev has brought out books dealing with Ramakrishna Movement in Kerala, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature and the ashrams in Kerala, among others. Talking about Padmanabhan Thampi, he was mesmerised by the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, thanks to his meeting with Babu Kalipada Ghose, a disciple of Paramahamsa. Thampi, who was taken in by the teachings and principles of Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda, got a chance to meet Swami Ramakrishnananda, another disciple of Paramahamsa.As per his advice, Thampi went to Puri and took ‘mantropadesha’ from Swami Brahmanand. It is considered that he is the first Malayali to receive this blessing from Brahmanand. It was while serving as the tahsildar of Harippad that Thampi invited Swami Nirmalananda to Harippad. Later, as the Deputy Police Commissioner of Kottayam, had toiled hard in making the visit of Swami Brahmanand a grand affair, it is said. “Thampi and his brother K Raman Thampi had played a crucial role in the construction and growth of the Ashram at Nettayam. Once he retired from service, he decided to take up sanyasa,” says Rajeev.After he became Swami Parananda, he, along with his brother, opened Narendra Mission at Sasthamangalam for charity activities. It was under the Mission that the present Sree Ramakrishna Ashram Hospital at Sasthamangalam was opened.Swami Parananda, who devoted his life for spreading the messages of Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda, passed away on August 22, 1941. “Swami Nirmalananda and Swami Parananda had done a lot in the spiritual and social reformation that happened in early 20th century,” Rajeev adds. The function to be held on September 30 will be inaugurated by P Govinda Pillai. Former Minister S Krishnakumar, who is the grandson of Padmanabhan Thampi, will preside over the function. Swami Tatwaroopanandji Maharaj, head of the Ramakrishna Math, Thiruvananthapuram, will release the Swami Nirmalananda-Swami Parananda memorial souvenir. P Parameswaran will deliver the keynote address on Sree Ramakrishna Movement in Kerala. Rajeev Irinjalakkuda will speak on reformation in Kerala and Swami Nirmalananda.
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