AK NAIR

Spiritual Gene

AK Nair

His Inner World

Spirituality as the Root of All Action

V. R. Krishna Iyer, former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India, who was his contemporary, commented “A.K.Nair was a unique personality. He was not merely a man with views but one who wanted to spread light as he beheld it”. A K Nair promoted spiritual reformation with a Vedantic outlook that held the key to happiness or Ananda.

There was a perpetual state of restlessness and turbulence in the mind of young A.K.Nair. As a part of his search for truth, he needed answers for the word Moksha or Liberation, God, Religion and of course the metaphysical reality. This restlessness of a seeker got answers from the teachings of Brahmananda Siva Yogi. Reading the teachings of Guruji at a very early age, when he was eighteen, helped him to acquire a broader perspective, breaking the shackles of casteism and religious chauvinism. Brahmananda Siva Yogi at Ananda Jyothi Yogasala at Talap, Kannur way back in 1912. This was a revolutionary meeting in his life. His teachings helped him to understand the power and potential of the mind and the inexplicable bliss of peace of mind. He dedicated all his achievements to the teachings of Swamiji. Such was the influence on his life. Subsequently, he had a golden opportunity to be his disciple in 1918.

The Guru & The Disciple

Brahmananda Siva Yogi, formerly known as Karatt Govind Menon, was born on 26th August 1852 at Kollengode, a small village in Palakkad district of Kerala. He had remarkable grasping power and proficiency in Sanskrit poetry. This is how he became well-versed in Hindu scriptures and acquired skills in the Tamil language. Initially, he worked in Ernakulam as a teacher and then joined Ganpat High School at Kozhikode. Brahmananda Siva yogi relinquished his teaching profession and established Siddha Ashram in 1907 at Alathur, Palakkad District. He started the Ananda Matham or the Universal Religion of Bliss. His main intention was to enlighten the people and liberate them from false beliefs and superstitions. Thus began a new revolution of thought that was based on the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. This opposed the concepts of idol worship and ritualism, which was also the root cause of social discrimination and inequality.The motto was Mano Jayam Maha Jayam Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah! The victory over the mind is the greatest, and nonviolence is the highest religion. Ananda Matham attracted a lot of followers, which included learned persons and rich people. This social reform movement was the need of the hour during those times.

A Reformer Among Reformers

Brahmananda Swami was a great social reformer of his time. During that period, Sri Narayana Guru, Vagbhadananda Guru, Ayyankali, Kumaranasan and many other such luminaries played a major role in the metamorphosis of the Kerala society. The social evils of untouchability, animal sacrifice, religious superstition and illiteracy were eradicated.He promoted the education of women,equality and the service of the poor and downtrodden. He championed the cause of universal brotherhood and love.

Those Who Carried the Flame

Yogini Amma

Yogini Amma

On September 10th 1929, Brahmananda Siva Yogi entered Maha Samadhi and from then on, Yogini Amma became the President of Ananda Mahasabha. Yogini Amma practised Raja Yoga under the guidance of Brahmananda Siva Yogi. She took up Sanyasa at an early age of twenty-one. Many sought discipleship from her as she was the first Sanyasi and was popularly called Yogini Mataji. She was the president of Ananda Mahasabha for nearly twenty-seven years. Yogini Amma is the author of a poetic book named Ananda Guru Gita, which explains the philosophy of bliss. Because of her constant yogic practice, she was very energetic and did not have any signs of senility till her Samadhi.

Yogini Amma

Nirmalananda Yogi

Sukumar Pillai initially received Raja Yoga Training from Jadabharatha Swami at the Ashram. He took up monastic life and became a Sanyasi and was called Nirmalananda Yogi . He had an active life by propagating the ideals of an Ananda Maha Sabha. He was a good orator and had travelled to different parts of Kerala.. During the period in which Nirmalananda Yogi was President of Ananda Maha Sabha, he made yeoman contribution to the field of education. The Brahmananda Swami Siva Yogi Trust was founded by Nirmalananada Yogi in 1984. This is a non-profit charitable organisation which manages many educational institutions in and around Alathur, Palakkad District. The educational institutions like Ernakulam High School, B.Ed.College, Brahmananda Siva Yogi Higher Secondary School, Kollengode Raja’s High School and a women's hostel were run under the firebrand leadership of Nirmalananda Yogi. B.S.S Vanitha College, Alathur, offers free education for girls from economically backward families. Nirmalananda Yogi attained MahaSamadhi in the year 2004.

A Living Tribute

The A.K. Nair Gate

The A.K.Nair Gate at the Siddha Ashram campus at Alathur, Palakkad, has an imposing appearance in front of the school. This was built as a tribute to A.K.Nair, who made a yeoman contribution to the Ananda Maha Sabha Movement and dedicated his life to the propagation of the teachings of his Guru Brahmananda Siva Yogi. A K Nair is an icon for all who seek to understand how one can weave the spiritual life into the material life, making it more fulfilling, rather than being an ochre-robed Sanyasi and living a life of exile from society. He was one of the chief disciples of Brahmananda Siva Yogi, Siddha Ashram, Alathur, Palakkad. He lived a worldly life initially, but later, an enlightened life. He was the face of the Ananda Madham, Kannur. A K Nair was the chief Patron of Anand Samajam, and he had a vibrant association with the Ashram for more than five decades. This would also highlight the powerful spiritual gene in his personality.