Bodhananda

Bodhananda (1883–1928) was an Indian Hindu philosopher. He was born in Thrissur of Kerala.¹ He was the disciple and the nominated successor of his guru, called Narayana Guru, though both died only days apart.²

Bodhananda was born as Velayudhan on 28 January, 1882, in the Chirakkal locality, Trichur, Kerala, into a relatively affluent tharavad (joint family estate) named Ezhavan Parambu.³

In his 18th year, he undertook intense spiritual penance in the Himalayas. At the age of 24, he established the Avadhoot Mutt in Trichur, a key center for Advaita Vedanta teachings. The Bodhananda movement, which had more than a dozen sanyasi disciples and tens of thousands of followers, merged with the Sharada Mutt on 1 May 1912. He played a key role in establishing multiple Sree Narayana Gurukula Yogams across Kerala and beyond. On 9 January 1928, the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham was established with Bodhananda as founding President.⁴

Bodhananda died on 24 September 1928 at the age of only 46, just four days after the passing of Sree Narayana Guru.⁵