Thycaud Ayya Swamikal



Siva Raja Yoga
Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana are the four systems in Siva Raja Yoga. Various methods for the purification of the body and internal organs, nerve centers, prana and mind are involved in Charya. Through various Kriyas, Prayanamas, Mudras and Bandhas, the powers-Kundilini Sakthi-of various nerve center (Athara chakras), which otherwise remain dormant are activated and they become vibrant and radiates .For example "Anal pooja kriya" means activating the fire or agni within and with out which is the embodiment of Brahmaas mentioned in our Vedas and Upanishads. The deep meditation techniques to realize the full potential of the central nervous system including the brain and to unite the positive Nadha (Siva )and negative Jyothis (Shakthi) powers in every paramanu (atom)within and without are considered as the main aspects of Siva Raja Yoga .Jnana is the ultimate aim of Yoga.
Siva Raja Yoga also makes use of Bhakthi (devotion) and Mantra, Thantra and Yantra principles. The yogic knowledge if clearly understood and practiced would remove all conflicts and religious contradictions among people and religious fundamentalism.

Thycaud Ayya Swamikal
The Great Guru,Thycaud Ayya Swamikal, propagated the principles of Advaitha among his disciples and fought against untouchability. This was before Mahatma Gandhi Ayya had disciples from all upper and lower castes and religions. As early as 1830' Ayya used to feed people all castes and religions at his house (panthibhojanam) during festive occasions like Thaippoyam. When people from upper caste questioned and ridiculed him, calling "pandipparayan" he used to say-"intha ulakithile ore oru matham, ore oru jathy and ore oru kadavul than"(one caste, one religion and one god). His disciple Sri Narayana Guru translated this doctrine to Malayalam-"Oru jathy,oru matham,oru daivam manushanu"

The Saint Thycaud Ayya Swamikal (1814-1909) was the Acharya of "Siva Raja Yoga",
an ancient technique practiced by Tamil Saiva Yogis like Agasthyar, Bhogar and
their paramparas. Ayya Gurudev was instrumental in shaping the personalities of
many spiritual ,cultural and social luminaries of erstwhile Travancore in
late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries .Although born in Nakalapurm in Chengalpet District of Tamilnadu, Swamikal spent major part of his life in Travancore as the Manager of Thycaud Residency and some years in Malabar .Ayya demonstrated in his own life how realization of the Supreme and immortal self (Atma) is possible even by ordinary people by practicing Siva Yoga. The greatness of the technique is that the realization is possible even while leading household family life and carrying out one's worldly duties.

Sivan Koil,Thycaud Trivandrum ( Ayya Swami temple)
A Shiva linga was installed over the Mahasmadhi site of Ayya Swamikal in Thycaud in 1943.The temple was improved under the patronage of Sri Chithira Thirunal Maharaja .This is popularly called Thycaud Sivan Kovil. Sri Ayya Gurukulam was formed in 1955 with object of spreading the message of Ayya Guru and to impart Shiva Raja Yoga techniques to aspirants .Sri Ayya Gurudevashramam has also been started. The Mahasamadhisthanam has now become a holy place for higher yogic practices for Sadhakas from all over the world. Gurupooja is celebrated on Makom asterism in the month of Karkidakom (August / September) every year.


Ayya Swamikal strictly warned his disciples against using their sidhis for popularity or material gain .He never liked praising him and had refused permission when his chief disciple Sri Chattampi Swamikal wanted to write about Ayya for a publication. He advised Chattampi Swamikal to praise Lord Subramania instead. This is the main reason why Ayya is not known to the outside world and his Mahasamadhi near Thycaud cremation ground remains unknown except to a few devotees. Swamikal wrote several books on Bhakthi, Jnana and Yoga

Works by Thycaud Ayya
Brahmotharakandom
Pazhanidaivam
Ramayanam Pattu
Utjaini Mahakali Pancharatnam
Thiruvarur Murukan
Kumarankovil kuravan
Ulloramarntha guhan
Ramayanam Sundarkandom
Hanuman Paamalai
Ente Kasiyathra (Travelogue)




Biography
Ayya Swamikal was born in 1814 on Aswathy asterism in Nakalapuram.His original name was Subharayan. His grandfather Sri Hrishikesan and his father Sri Muthukumaran were great yogis and were migrated to Tamilnadu from
Pampumkadu in Malabar during Tipu Sultan's aggression. Lord Subramanya was
their family deity. At the age of 12, Subharayan received spiritual initiation from
two Tamil Saints, Sachidananda Maharaj and Sri Chitti Paradeshi who used to
visit Subharayans family frequently. When he was 16,the Saints took him with
them to Burma ,Singapore, Penang and Africa .During this period Subharaya acquired and practiced yogic techniques of high order. Returning home after 3years Swamikal continued yogic practices, often entering the state of
"Nirvikalpa Samadhi". Gradually he acquired the Ashtasidhies or divine
powers including that of astral travel but his Gurus strictly warned him not to
use them to gain material advantage.
At the age of 27 , in accordance with his Guru's wishes Swamikal visited
Kodungalloor Devi temple in Kerala and from their he toured Travancore.
The Mother Goddess appeared in her "Poorna swaroopam" before Ayya at
Thycaud in Trivandrum, where he destined to spend the remaining part of his life.
Swathy Thirunal, the then Maharaja of Travancore, heard about the spiritual
eminence of Ayya ,invited him to his palace and became his disciple.
Swamikal visited Sri Vaikunda Padar of Nagarcoil (Swami thoppu) and
visited the famous Maruthwamalai.
When his father left to Kashi Subharayan had to look after the family.
To obey his Guru , Ayya married Kamalammal from Kollam and the couple had three sons and two daughters. However Ayya continued his spiritual practices while living the married life.
Ayya was a great scholar in Tamil and gained good proficiency in English. He used to deliver spiritual discourses at the "Ashtapathana Sabha" in Chennai. Ayya was supplying goods to military camp in Chennai, where he came in contact with the Mess Secretary Mr. Mc Gregor .Mc Gregor learned Tamil and Yoga from Ayya. During the reign of Maharaja Ayillum Thirunal, Mr .Mc Gregor became the Resident of Travancore.
He appointed Ayya as the Manager of his Residency in Thycaud. From 1873 up to a week before his Mahasmadhi on 20th July 1909( Karkadakam, makom nal) Ayya continued in the post. People respectfully called him "Superintend Ayya".
Swamikal kept strict discipline in work and was extremely punctual. At his residence he spent most of his time in meditation and in initiating and instructing his disciples in spiritual practices. Ayya used to deliver lectures on Bhakthi, Yoga and Vedanta in Jnanaprakasha Sabha at Petta, during which leading literary, social and spiritual personalities in and around Trivandrum used to meet Gurudev. Swamikal with the help of Sundaram Pillai, the first MA holder of Travancore (father of former finance minister P.S.Nataraja Pillai) founded the famous" Saiva Prakasha Sabha" of Trivandrum.

Disciples
Ayya Swamikal had fifty odd disciples, most of them attained the highest stage of Samadhi, some of them leading married family life. Among the prominent personalities were

Chithrmezhuthu Revi Varma Koithampuran
KeralaVarma Koithampuran(Thiruvalla)
Sury Narayana Iyyer(Peshkar)
Muthukumara Swami Pillai(Peshkar)
Periya Perumal Pillai (Peshkar)
Meenakshinatha Pillai(Chalai)
Meenakshi Iyyer(Chalai)
Arumukham Vadyar(Chalai)
Manikavachakam Vadyar(Chalai)
Appavu Vadyar(Chalai)
Kumara Swamy Vadyar(Chalai)
Ayyappan Pillai Vadyar
Appavu Vakil
Chidambaram Pillai (Thycaud)
Kollur Kunjan Pillai(Chattampi Swamikal)- Samadi at Panmana
Nanu Assan-Chempazhanthy (Sri Narayana Guru)-Samadhi at Shivagiri
Dr.Krishna Pillai(Palace Doctor)
Vailur Rayasam Madhavan Pillai
Bhagavatheeswarayyer(Kottarammadom)
A.R.Rajaraja Varma
Ayyankali-Dalith leader-Statue in Vellayambalam
Makkadi Labba (Thiruvithamcodu Mosque)-Samadhi at Thiruvithamcodu
Padmanabha Pillai(Compounder-Mankadu)
Kesavayyar(Padijaretheruvu)
Anaval Sankara Naraya Iyyer
Sundaram Iyyenkar (Account Officer)
Parthasarady Naidu (Head Draughtsman)
Sbba Raju (Survey Office)
Nanthankodu Kotchu Krishna Pillai(Draughtsman)-Samadhi at Nanthancodu
Subramanya Iyyer(Karamana)
Hiarihara Iyyer(Karamana)
Narayan Potty (Vamanpuram)-Samadhi at Kazhakoottam
Narayana Potty(Kazhakoottam)
Thottathil Raman Kaniyar
Jyotsan Kalpada Kanyar
Mankattu Bhavani(Ezhava)
Swayamprakasa Yogini Amma-Samadhi at Kulathoor
Thiruvathira Thirunal AmmaThampuran (Mavelikara)
Kollathamma
Fidilist Padmanbhan Kaniyar (Thycaud)-Samadhi at Thycaud
Vanchiyur Balanandan
Parassala Madhavan Nair
Velaydhan Pillai (Thycaud)
Sankaralingom Pillai (Thycaud)
Petta Fernandez -(Samadhi at Petta
Thakkala Peermuhammad-Samadhi at Thakkala
Nalla Perumal Vaidyan
Kelvikanakku Perumal Pillai(Thazhkudi)
Pesum Perumal (Thazhakudi)
Kollur Kunjan Pillai (Chattampi Swamikal) approached Ayya at the age of 18 but he was accepted as a disciple only after severe tests for more than 7 years. Chempazhanthi Nanu (Sri Narayana Guru) was brought to Swamikal by Kunjan in 1880.Both were given manthropadesha of Balasubramanya and both stayed with him in his Ashram like residence in Thycaud and underwent sadhanas in higher yogic techniques for months together.
Sri Ayya Mission was started in 1989 to co ordinate the activities of Sri Ayya Gurukulam, Sri Ayya Gurukulam and to take up charitable and social activities. The main object is to help poor people irrespective of caste and religion .The mission daily give food to poor people. The mission gives medical help to old people. Mission has many self-employment schemes. The Mission is going to set up a full fledged Dining hall with kitchen.The Mission proposes to construct a free Kalyanan mandapom at Thycaud .
The expansion works are estimated to cost Rs 39 crores ,for this the Mission requests donation from devotees. Donations are exempted from Income Tax
Address
Sri Ayya Mission, Sre Ayya Nagar ,
Thycaud P.O Trivandrum 695014
Kerala. India
Tele 0471-2326648
References.
"Thycattu Ayya Swamithiruvadikal"-1st Edn 1960
"Brahmasree Thycaud Ayya Swamikal"- Ayya Mission Tvm 2nd Edn.1977
Salkavi P.K.Kesavan "Upaharamala" 1950
P.Parameswaran, "Sri Narayan Guruswamikal" 1971
K.Surendran, "Guru" 6th Edn 1966 page 132-37
Sooranattu Kunjan Pillai, "Thiruvithamkoorile Mahanmar" 3rd Edn 1121
M.K.Sanu "Narayana Guru" 1978
K.E. Neelakandan, "Adbhuthsidhan Sri Narayana Parama Guru" 1974
Kesari Balakrishan Pillai, "Upaharamala"1950
Mahakavi Kumaran Asan, "Thycattu Ayyavu" Vivekodayam ME.1084
"Sri Ayya Mission" -Brochure (2002) from Ayya Mission- Thycaud, Trivandrum-14

Links
http://expage.com/thycaud
http://expage.com/ayya
http://members.rediff.com/drkanspillai/ayya.htm