Who was also known as “Muthukutti Swami” ?
ASwami Vagbhatananda
BChattampi Swamikal
CBrahmananda Shivayogi
DVaikunda Swami
Answer:
D. Vaikunda Swami
Read Explanation:
Vaikunda Swami
Tituled as "Muthukutti Swami": Ayya Vaikundar, also known as Vaikunda Swami, was a significant social reformer and spiritual leader in 19th-century Travancore (present-day Kerala). He was fondly referred to as "Muthukutti Swami" by his followers.
Background and Birth: Born in 1809 in the village of Poovandanthoppe, near Nagercoil, in the Kanyakumari district (then part of Travancore). His birth name was Mudisudan.
Spiritual and Social Awakening: Vaikunda Swami experienced a spiritual awakening in 1833, which he believed was a divine revelation. This experience led him to initiate a movement aimed at challenging the prevailing caste system and social inequalities.
Key Teachings and Movement (Samathuva Samajam):
He founded the "Samathuva Samajam" (Society for Social Equality) in 1836, which was one of the earliest socio-religious reform movements in Kerala.
His teachings emphasized the equality of all human beings, irrespective of caste, creed, or gender.
He advocated for the rights of the marginalized communities, particularly the Ezhavas and other backward classes, who faced severe discrimination.
Reforms and Protests:
Vaikunda Swami led several protests against oppressive practices, including the denial of entry to public spaces and temples for lower castes.
He encouraged his followers to wear "Thakkolam" (a saffron cloth worn around the waist) and to use specific headgear as symbols of their new identity and resistance.
He also preached against the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants.
Impact and Legacy:
His movement sowed the seeds of social reform in Kerala, influencing later reformers and leaders like Sree Narayana Guru.
He is considered a pioneer in the struggle against caste-based discrimination in South India.
His teachings and activism contributed significantly to the social and religious renaissance in Kerala during the 19th century.
The movement he spearheaded was a precursor to many later social justice movem