Swami Vipulananda - Revision history

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	'''Swami Vipulananda''' ({{lang-ta\|சுவாமி விபுலாநந்தர்}}) (1892 – July 20, 1947), also known as '''Vipulananda Adigal''', was a [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] social reformer, literary critic, author, poet, teacher and [[asceticism\|ascetic]] from the Eastern Province of [[Sri Lanka]]. Vipulanada was an early pioneer associated with the [[India]]n-based [[Ramakrishna Mission]] in Sri Lanka. Along with other reformers, Vipulanada was instrumental in the revival of the Hindu religion and native traditions in Sri Lanka after a long period of dormancy and decline during the previous 500 years of [[Colonial India\|colonial]] rule by various [[Europe]]an powers.<ref name=DCS>{{cite book		'''Swami Vipulananda''' ({{lang-ta\|சுவாமி விபுலாநந்தர்}}) (1892 – July 20, 1947), also known as '''Vipulananda Adigal''', was a [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] social reformer, literary critic, author, poet, teacher and [[asceticism\|ascetic]] from the Eastern Province of [[Sri Lanka]]. Vipulanada was an early pioneer associated with the [[India]]n-based [[Ramakrishna Mission]] in Sri Lanka. Along with other reformers, Vipulanada was instrumental in the revival of the Hindu religion and native traditions in Sri Lanka after a long period of dormancy and decline during the previous 500 years of [[Colonial India\|colonial]] rule by various [[Europe]]an powers.<ref name=DCS>{{cite book
	\| last = Arumugam		\| last = Arumugam
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	Founded in 1897 by [[Swami Vivekananda]], the disciple of [[Ramakrishna]], the Ramakrishna Mission is a unique order of ascetics and volunteers dedicated to service to community, irrespective of [[Religion in Sri Lanka\|religious]], [[caste]], [[creed]] or [[Languages of Sri Lanka\|language]] differences. The mission, while promoting spiritual development, does not believe in religious conversion. The mission's charitable and philanthropic activities focus mainly on the provision of educational and medical services to the weaker segment of the population through schools, hospitals and orphanages run by the mission. It became a counter weight to [[Christian missionary]]-run charitable organizations throughout [[South Asia]].		Founded in 1897 by [[Swami Vivekananda]], the disciple of [[Ramakrishna]], the Ramakrishna Mission is a unique order of ascetics and volunteers dedicated to service to community, irrespective of [[Religion in Sri Lanka\|religious]], [[caste]], [[creed]] or [[Languages of Sri Lanka\|language]] differences. The mission, while promoting spiritual development, does not believe in religious conversion. The mission's charitable and philanthropic activities focus mainly on the provision of educational and medical services to the weaker segment of the population through schools, hospitals and orphanages run by the mission. It became a counter weight to [[Christian missionary]]-run charitable organizations throughout [[South Asia]].

	Vipulananda initially met the head of the [[Mylapore]] Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Sarvananda,<ref>[https://~~www~~.~~webcitation~~.org/~~query?url=~~http://~~www.~~geocities.com/rkmissiondel/Swami_Sarvananda.html~~&date=2009-10-26+01:44:02~~ Swami Sarvananda] RKM Bio (English)</ref> in [[Colombo]] in 1916. This was followed up with another visit in [[Jaffna]] in 1917. He entered the Mylapore Ramakrishna Math in 1922 for his monastic training. On completion of the training in 1924, he was given the name Vipulananda. After his ordination he dedicated his life to educational and spiritual pursuits and service to the community in Sri Lanka and India.		Vipulananda initially met the head of the [[Mylapore]] Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Sarvananda,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090829063538/http://geocities.com/rkmissiondel/Swami_Sarvananda.html Swami Sarvananda] RKM Bio (English)</ref> in [[Colombo]] in 1916. This was followed up with another visit in [[Jaffna]] in 1917. He entered the Mylapore Ramakrishna Math in 1922 for his monastic training. On completion of the training in 1924, he was given the name Vipulananda. After his ordination he dedicated his life to educational and spiritual pursuits and service to the community in Sri Lanka and India.

	In 1925 Vipulanada became an administrator of Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) schools in Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in founding new RKM schools in [[Jaffna]], Batticalao, Trincomalee and in many villages. He also founded orphanages – two for boys at [[Vaitheeswara Vidyalayam]], Jaffna and Sivananda Vidyalayam in [[Batticaloa]], and one for girls in Karativu. Thereafter, a number of RKM schools were opened in several remote villages in the North and East of Sri Lanka. This provided an alternative to the natives to go to schools and orphanages that were not associated with western [[Christian missionaries]].<ref name=DCS /><ref name=BV /> He also helped his lifelong friend [[A. M. A. Azeez]], a pioneering Sri Lankan [[Muslim]] educator and [[civil servant]], to establish charitable organizations to help poor Muslims in the east of the country.<ref name=Island>{{cite news		In 1925 Vipulanada became an administrator of Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) schools in Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in founding new RKM schools in [[Jaffna]], Batticalao, Trincomalee and in many villages. He also founded orphanages – two for boys at [[Vaitheeswara Vidyalayam]], Jaffna and Sivananda Vidyalayam in [[Batticaloa]], and one for girls in Karativu. Thereafter, a number of RKM schools were opened in several remote villages in the North and East of Sri Lanka. This provided an alternative to the natives to go to schools and orphanages that were not associated with western [[Christian missionaries]].<ref name=DCS /><ref name=BV /> He also helped his lifelong friend [[A. M. A. Azeez]], a pioneering Sri Lankan [[Muslim]] educator and [[civil servant]], to establish charitable organizations to help poor Muslims in the east of the country.<ref name=Island>{{cite news

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{{EngvarB|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Swami Vipulananda
| image = Vipulanandar.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Mylvaganam Samithamby
| birth_date = 1892
| birth_place = [[Karaitivu (Ampara)|Karaitivu]], Sri Lanka
| death_date = July 19, 1947
| death_place = [[Batticaloa]], Sri Lanka
| resting_place = [[Samādhi|Monument]] at Sivananda Vidyalayam
| resting_place_coordinates =
| residence =
| nationality = [[Sri Lanka]]n
| other_names = Vipulananda Adigal<br/>Muththamizh Viththgar<br/>Mylvaganam Swamigal
| known_for = [[Hindu]] [[reform movement|reformer]]
| education = Bachelor of Science
| employer = [[University of Ceylon]]
| occupation = [[Professor]]
| title =
| height =
| weight =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Swami Vipulananda''' ({{lang-ta|சுவாமி விபுலாநந்தர்}}) (1892 – July 20, 1947), also known as '''Vipulananda Adigal''', was a [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Hinduism|Hindu]] social reformer, literary critic, author, poet, teacher and [[asceticism|ascetic]] from the Eastern Province of [[Sri Lanka]]. Vipulanada was an early pioneer associated with the [[India]]n-based [[Ramakrishna Mission]] in Sri Lanka. Along with other reformers, Vipulanada was instrumental in the revival of the Hindu religion and native traditions in Sri Lanka after a long period of dormancy and decline during the previous 500 years of [[Colonial India|colonial]] rule by various [[Europe]]an powers.<ref name=DCS>{{cite book
| last = Arumugam
| first = Sanmugam
| title = Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon
| year = 1996
}}</ref><ref name=BV>{{cite web| last =Kanagaretnam| first =Pan| title =Swami Professor Vipulananda| url =http://www.asgc.ca/Focus/SwamiVipulananda.htm| access-date =2007-10-11| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081211080135/http://www.asgc.ca/Focus/SwamiVipulananda.htm| archive-date =11 December 2008| df =dmy-all}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Vipulanada was born in the village of [[Karativu]], in the south of [[Batticaloa]] in Sri Lanka. His father's name was Samiththamby and mother's name was Kannamma. His birth name was Mylvaganam. Vipulanada had his early education in [[St. Michael's College National School]] in [[Batticaloa]] city. After completing his high school education at the age of 16, Vipulanada became a teacher in various cities across the island nation. During his tenure as a teacher he completed his [[Bachelor of Science]] [[academic degree|degree]] from the [[University of London]], and also became the first Sri Lankan [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Pandit]]har, a degree awarded by the [[Tamil Nadu]]-based [[Madurai Tamil Sangam]], a [[linguistics]] academy created to promote the study of Tamil language. Vipulanada eventually became the head of operations of the [[Ramakrishna Mission]] in Sri Lanka as well as a [[professor]] of Tamil language in two universities.<ref name=DCS /><ref name=BV />

== Literary contributions ==
[[File:Swami Vipulananda.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Swami Vipulanandar during Tri-Tamil conference in [[Madurai]] on 1 Aug 1942]]
Apart from Vipulanada's knowledge of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] he also knew [[English language|English]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Latin]], [[Sanskrit]] and [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]].

After researching [[Ancient Tamil music|Tamil music]] and other Indian musical forms and [[musical instrument]]s for many years, Vipulanada produced the seminal book of scientific research in Tamil called the '''''[[Yazh Nool]]''''', or ''Book of Stringed Musical Instruments'', which was published just before he died in 1947. The book was an effort by the author to understand and explain the intricacies and technicalities of genre of Tamil music in general, and the stringed musical instruments in particular, using modern techniques and tools of research and calculations based on [[mathematics]] and [[physics]]. ''Yal Nool'' is recognized as a unique work of its kind.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Renowned work of Tamil scholar lauded
| work = [[The Hindu]]
| date = September 1, 2007
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/01/stories/2007090160960600.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071210121203/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/01/stories/2007090160960600.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = December 10, 2007
}}</ref>
Using the literary traditions in Sanskrit, Greek and English he wrote '''''Mathangaculamani''''', a translation of twelve of [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s plays, as a [[treatise]] on [[drama]] with commentaries focusing on various aspects of drama such as the plot, structure, sequence of action, characterization, subjective experience and gestures. Professor [[Chelva Kanaganayagam]], in a critical review of ''Mathangaculamani'', concludes that {{cquote|The major contribution of the text is its attempt to establish drama as a valid academic discipline rather than provide a basis for performance.}}

Vipulanada also served as editor of several publications including ''Ramakrishna Vijayam'' (Tamil), ''Vivekananda'' (Tamil) and ''Prabuddha Bharata'' (English). He also edited and helped publish literary works of several well-known scholars. His translations from English to Tamil include selected writings of [[Swami Vivekananda]], [[Bengali people|Bengali]] [[Nobel Laureate]] [[Rabindra Nath Tagore]] and [[historian]] [[Kathiresan Chettiar]]. He also translated from Tamil to English selected poems from the [[Sangam literature]] period, devotional songs from the [[Bhakti movement]] period, and poems of [[Subramanya Bharathi]] and Navaneetha Krishna Bharathi.

Vipulanada authored six major Tamil publications: a collection of four ''Prabanthangal'', ''Mathangaculamani'', ''The Great Dance of Thillai'', ''Umamageswaram'' (all related to [[Saiva]] traditions of the Hindu religion), ''Dictionary of Technical Terms on Chemistry'' and ''Yal Nool''. A collection of 170 essays, written from 1914 to 1947, were published posthumously in four parts in [[1995 in literature|1995]]. He also wrote many poems, and a collection of 32 of his poems was published in 1995. He was a good public speaker and most of his speeches, focusing mainly on history of the Tamils, [[Tamil literature]], Tamil music and musical instruments, and [[Vedanta]] philosophy, were published in international journals and magazines.<ref name=DCS /><ref name=BV />

== Ramakrishna Mission ==
{{Main|Ramakrishna Mission|Hinduism in Sri Lanka}}
Founded in 1897 by [[Swami Vivekananda]], the disciple of [[Ramakrishna]], the Ramakrishna Mission is a unique order of ascetics and volunteers dedicated to service to community, irrespective of [[Religion in Sri Lanka|religious]], [[caste]], [[creed]] or [[Languages of Sri Lanka|language]] differences. The mission, while promoting spiritual development, does not believe in religious conversion. The mission's charitable and philanthropic activities focus mainly on the provision of educational and medical services to the weaker segment of the population through schools, hospitals and orphanages run by the mission. It became a counter weight to [[Christian missionary]]-run charitable organizations throughout [[South Asia]].

Vipulananda initially met the head of the [[Mylapore]] Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Sarvananda,<ref>[https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/rkmissiondel/Swami_Sarvananda.html&date=2009-10-26+01:44:02 Swami Sarvananda] RKM Bio (English)</ref> in [[Colombo]] in 1916. This was followed up with another visit in [[Jaffna]] in 1917. He entered the Mylapore Ramakrishna Math in 1922 for his monastic training. On completion of the training in 1924, he was given the name Vipulananda. After his ordination he dedicated his life to educational and spiritual pursuits and service to the community in Sri Lanka and India.

In 1925 Vipulanada became an administrator of Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) schools in Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in founding new RKM schools in [[Jaffna]], Batticalao, Trincomalee and in many villages. He also founded orphanages – two for boys at [[Vaitheeswara Vidyalayam]], Jaffna and Sivananda Vidyalayam in [[Batticaloa]], and one for girls in Karativu. Thereafter, a number of RKM schools were opened in several remote villages in the North and East of Sri Lanka. This provided an alternative to the natives to go to schools and orphanages that were not associated with western [[Christian missionaries]].<ref name=DCS /><ref name=BV /> He also helped his lifelong friend [[A. M. A. Azeez]], a pioneering Sri Lankan [[Muslim]] educator and [[civil servant]], to establish charitable organizations to help poor Muslims in the east of the country.<ref name=Island>{{cite news
| title =A.M.A Azeez
| publisher = The Island
| url = http://www.island.lk/2007/10/06/features3.html
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| last = Jameel
| first = S.H.M
| title = Dr. Azeez's contribution to eastern development
| publisher = Daily Mirror
| url = http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/10/04/opinion/3.asp
}}</ref>

== Professional career ==
[[File:விபுலானந்தர் சமாதி.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Swami Vipulananda's burial place and memorial]]
As a noted educationist, scholar and community worker, Vipulanada was invited by the [[University of Madras]] to present its case for the establishment of a Tamil University to the special commission set up to investigate the proposal. On the recommendation of the commission, the [[Annamalai University]] was opened in 1927. In 1931 he became its first Professor of Tamil language. Professor Vipulananda also received a second invitation to become the first Professor of Tamil soon after the [[University of Ceylon]] was established in 1943, which he held until his death in 1947. Thus Professor Vipulananda enjoys the unique distinction of being the first scholar to be appointed the first professor of Tamil in two Universities in two different countries.

Vipulanada was a strong advocate of the [[mother tongue]] as the [[Medium of instruction|medium of education]], but stressed the importance of learning other languages. At Sivananda Vidyalayam, in addition to Tamil, Vipulanada facilitated the teaching of English, Sinhala and Latin. He also recognized and promoted the importance of learning sciences such as biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics, as well as job-related technical subjects. He facilitated the efforts of other Tamil scholars to translate science and technology publications into Tamil by providing suitable technical terms.

Based on his critical studies of some of Professor Vipulananda's writings, Mr. [[K.S. Sivakumaran]], one of the notable literary critics from Sri Lanka, has called him a pioneer of Tamil literary criticism and the first Sri Lankan Tamil literary critic.

As a social reformer, Vipulanada led the movement to recognize [[Subramanya Bharathi]], a [[Brahmin]] by birth, as the '''Maha Kavi''' (National Poet), and succeeded despite strong opposition from socially and politically powerful elites due to Bharathi's [[Indian caste system#Criticism|anti-castist]] views and his opposition to the perpetuation of the [[caste]] system and the [[superstition|superstitious]] Hindu practices and [[ritual]]s. As a [[Indian nationalism|nationalist]], he hoisted the [[Indian flag]] on the occasion of the visit of Sir [[George Fredrick Stanley]] to the [[Annamalai University]] for the 1937 convocation, while India was still a [[Britain Raj|British]] possession.

There are number of institutions named after him in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and [[Germany]] have issued stamps honoring him.<ref name=DCS /><ref name=BV /><ref name=Island /> He died after a brief illness on July 19, 1947. Swami Vipulanada is buried close to the Sivananda Vidyalayam in [[Kalladi (Batticaloa)|Kalladi]], near Batticaloa city. (see picture [http://www.batticaloa.com/vip.htm here]).

== See also ==
Other social reformers from Sri Lanka of the same period
*[[Anagarika Dharmapala]]
*[[Arumuga Navalar]]
*[[Kumaraswamy Pulavar]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://anathi.org/vipulananda.htm Swami Vipulananda children’s home]
*[http://www.ugc.ac.lk/policy/approved%20cadre%202005_2006/Approved%20Cadre%20Book%202006/SVIAS2006.pdf Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies]
*[http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/vipulananda.htm One hundred Tamils- Swami Vipulananda]
*[http://www.karaitivu.org/ A website from Sawmi's Birth Place]

{{Hindu reform movements|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vipulananda, Swami}}
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1947 deaths]]
[[Category:Advaitin philosophers]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:Hindu revivalists]]
[[Category:Hindu missionaries]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Hindus]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil poets]]
[[Category:Tamil scholars]]
[[Category:Annamalai University faculty]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:20th-century poets]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan missionaries]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan poets]]
[[Category:Alumni of St. Michael's College National School]]