Kerala PSC Online Mock Exam - Kerala Renaissance

This is an online mock test of 25 Questions. The Time allowed is 10 minutes. Please complete the test within the given time and prepare yourself to the real examination.

This Online PSC exam is intended for all the PSC exams including Last Grade, LD Clerk, Police Constable and Secretariat Assistant.

Vagbhatanandan - PSC - Kerala Renaissance - Online Study Material

Vagbhatanandan 

• Born on 27th April 1885.
• Vayaleri Tharavadu, Patyam Village in Kannur District.
• Parents - Koran Gurukkal and Cheeru Amma.
• Met Sree Narayana Guru at Adwaita Aasramam in Aluva in 1914.
• Also known as V K Gurukkal and Vayaleri Kunjikkannan Gurukkal.
• Was known as Kunjikkannan in childhood.
• Was given the name Vaagfadaanandan by Brahmaananda Siva Yogi.
• Called as Narayana Guru of Malabar.
• Founded the bank named "Aikya Naanaya Sangham".
• Worked for Liquor Prohibition.
• He considered Rajaram Mohan Roy as a model for social work.
• He promoted Nirgunopasana, the worship without idols.
• Was known as Balaguru.
• He stated that Caste system is against the principles of Hinduism.
• He founded Aathmavidyaa Sangham in 1917.
• Abhinava Keralam (started in 1921) was the magazine of Aathmavidyaa Sangham.
• Aathmavidyaa Sangham was mainly centred in Malabar region of Kerala.
• Vaagfadaanandan's poem Swathanthra Chinthaamani was published in 1921.
• In 1929, he started the magazine, Aathma Vidyaa Kaahalam.
• The first editor of Aathma Vidyaa Kaahalam was C. P. Raman.
• He started the magazine Sivayogavilasam in 1914 and and Yajamaanan in 1939.
• He established the Ooraalunkal Labour Contract Co-operative Society which later became India;s largest labour contract society.
• He founded the Sanskrit School, Thatwaprakaashika in Kaarapparambu in Kozhikode.
• He founded Rajayogaananda Kaumudi Library in Kallayi, Kozhikode in 1911.
• He conducted Mishrabhojanam and Preethibhojanam (in 1927).
• His works were Gandhijiyum Shaasthra Vyaakhyaanavum, Mangala Shlokangal, Aathma Vidya, Praarthana Manjari, Aadhyaathma Yudham and Aathmavidhyaa Lekhamala.
• He died on 30th March, 1930.

Vaikunda Swami - PSC - Kerala Renaissance - Online Study Material

Vaikunda Swami

• Born on 12 March 1809 in Swamithoppu, Nagarcoil. 
• Father – Ponnu Nadar
• Mother – Veyilalamma
• Wife – Thirumalammal
• His earlist name was Mudichoodum perummal. But the upper caste Hindus objected to change this name and his parents changed it into Muthukutty. 
• He himself changed his name as Vaikunda Swamikal.
• He presented himself as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• Founded an organization for the equality of human beings known as Samathwa Samajam in 1936. 
• He was the first social reformer who made the mirror consecration in South India. 
• He was the leader of Upper Cloth Revolt or Channar Revolt.
• Gave a petition to Swathi Thirunnal to abolish the feudal system. 
• Raised the slogan “Wage for Work”.
• Challenged the unjustified rule of the king of Travancore. 
• He called the Travancore king as “Ananthapuri Devil”, the british rule as “rule of white devils” and Travancore rule as “rule of black devils”.
• In 1838 vaikundaswami was arrested by Swathi Thirunnal, Travancore king and imprisoned at Singarathoppu jail. He was released after 110 days. 
• His famous words : “Jathi onrai, matham onrai, daivam onrai, ulakam onrai, neethi onrai”
• Akhilathirutt and Arulnool are his famous works. 
• His spiritual thoughts turned into a new way of life – Ayya Vazhi.
• Temples of Ayya Vazhi - Pathikal
• Sacred place of Ayya Vazhi - Dachanam, Thiruchenthoor
• Died on 3 June 1851.

Sree Narayana Guru - PSC - Kerala Renaissance - Online Study Material

Sree Narayana Guru

• Known as the father of Kerala Renaissance. 
• He was born on 20 August 1856 in the village of Chempazhanthy near Thiruvananthapuram. 
• Parents: Madan Asaan and Kuttiyamma. 
• Name of his house: Vayalvaaram Veedu. 
• He married Kaliyamma. 
• His childhood name was Narayanan. 
• He was educated in part by Moottha Pillai Asan and later for six years by Kummanpallil Raman Pillai Asan of Mavelikara. 
• Guru learned Hadayoga Vidya from Thycadu Ayya, who is known as Guru’s Guru. 
• He attained enlightenment in Pillathadam Cave on Maruthwamala in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. 
• The historical Aruvippuram prahishta was done by Guru in 1888 and it was the first temple consecrated by Sree Narayana Guru. ‘Aruvippuram’ is a small village near the river ‘Neyyar’ in Thiruvananthapuram. 
• He said after the consecration “I installed only an Ezhava Siva”. 
• And he gave a simple message to the world: “Jathibhedam Matha Dwesham Aethumillathe Sarvarum Sodaratwena Vazhunna Marthukaa Sthanamaanithu.” 
• In some places, he installed a ‘mirror’ instead of the image or idol of any deity to convey the message that ‘You are yourself  God!’ 
• The Mirror as idol are at : Kalavancode, Ullala, Vechoor, Karamukk and Murukkumpuzha. 
• In 1927 he consecrated first mirror at Kalavancode temple with the message “Om Shanthi” written in the surface of the mirror.  
• Guru consecrated a nilavilakku as idol in Vilakkambalam in Karamukku, Trissur in 1920.  
• In 1904 declaration has been made by Travancore Government exempting Sree Narayanaguru form attending all courts.
• Guru established Shivagiri Mutt in 1904. In 1908 he consecrated Jagannath temple at Thalassery. 
• In 1910 he consecrated temples in Kozhikkode and Manglore. 
• In 1912 the temple of Sarada consecrated by him at Sivagiri dedicated to the lords Saraswathy, the deity of learning. 
• He established Adwaitha Ashramam on the banks of river Periyar at Aluva in 1913. Om sahodaryam sarvatram is the motto of this Ahramam. 
• Guru founded Sanskrit school at Aluva in 1916. 
• In 1924 Guru conducted all religious conference at the Advaitha Ashramam in Aluva.

• Sree Narayana Guru met Chattambi Swamikal in 1882 at Anniyoor Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Met Kumaranasan in 1891 at Kayikkara.
• Met Dr. Palpu in 1895 at Banglore.
• Met Ayyankali in 1912 at Balaramapuram.
• Met Vagbhatanandan in 1914.
• Met Ramanamaharshi in1916 at Thiruvannamalai.
• Met Tagore on 22 November 1922.
• Met Gandiji on 12 March 1925 at Sivagiri.

• G. Sankarakkurup called Guru as Second Buddha.
• In 1927 first statue of Sree Narayanaguru was unveiled at Thalasseri.
• He passed away on 20 September1928 at Sivagiri (Kunninpuram).
• The famous Sivagiri festival conducted on 30 December to 1 January was started from the village of Elavumthitta in Pathanamthitta. The pilgrim festival was first conducted by Vallabhasseri Govindan Vaidyar and T.K. Kittan.
• Guru was the first Malayali to appear in the Indian Postal Stamp(1967). 
• He was also the first Keralite to appear in the Srilankan Postal Stamp. 
• In 2006, to commemorate the 150^th birth anniversary of Guru RBI issued 5 rupee coin.
• International centre for Sree Narayana Guru situated at Nvimumbai, Maharashtra. 

S.N.D.P (Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam)

• Aruvippuram temple society known as Vavoottuyogam was formed in 1898. 
• It is known as the predecessor of S.N.D.P. 
• Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam was founded on 15 May 1903. 
• The permanent chairman and the first president of S.N.D.P. was Sree Narayana Guru. 
• Dr. Palpu was the first vice president and Kumaranasan was the first general secretary. 
• A news paper named Vivekodayam edited by Kumaranasan was the mouthpiece of the Yogam. 
• But now it is replaced by Yoganadam.

Malayalam Works    

Gajendra moksham vanchipattu (first work), Swanubavageethi, Atmopadesa Śatakam, Advaitha Deepika, Arivu, Daiva Dasakam, Jeevakarunya Panchakam, Anukamba Dasakam, Jathi Nirnayam, Chijjada Chinthanam, Daiva vichinthanam – 1 & 2, Athma Vilasam, Shiva Shathakam, Kolatheereshastavam, Bhadrakaalyashtakam, Gajendra moksham vanchipattu, Ottapadyangal, Sree Krishnana Darsanam. Mangalasamsakal, Subramanya Ashtakam, Sadasiva Darsanam, Samasya, Swanubhava Geethi, Indrya Vairagyam

Sanskrit Works

Darsana Mala, Brahmavidya Panchakam, Nirvruthi Panchakam, Slokathrayi, Vedantha Suthram, Homa Manthram, Municharya Panchakam, Asramam Dharmam, Charama Slokangal, Chidambarashtakam, Guhashtakam, Bhadrakaliashtakam, Vinayaka Ashtakam, Sree Vasudeva Ashtakam, Janani Navaratna Manjari

Tamil work

Thevarappathinkangal

Translations from Tamil

Thirukural, Isavasyo Upanishad, Ozhivil Odukkam

Famous Quotes  

·        “one caste, one religion, one God for man”

·        “Which ever the religion it suffices if it makes a better man.”

·        “Progress though education and strengthen through organization.”

·        “Liquor is poison. Not make it, not sell it and not drink it.”

·        Not ask, not say and not think about caste.

• The novel Guru was written by K. Surendran and the novel Narayanneyam was written by Perumbadavam Sreedharan. 
• The book Narayanaguruswami was written by Prof. M. K. Sanu. 
• Kilimanoor Kesavan wrote Gurudevakarnamritham and T. Bhaskaran wrote Maharshi Sree Narayana Guru. 
• The film Yugapurushan is based on the life of Sree Narayana Guru and it eas directed by M. Sukumaran. 
• Thalaivasal Vijay played the role of Guru in it.

Kumaranasan - PSC - Kerala Renaissance - Online Study Material

Kumaranasan 

• Kumaranasan was one of the prominent figures in the Kerala Renaissance. 
• He was a poet, philosopher, social reformer and disciple of Sree Narayana Guru. 
• He was born on 12 April 1873 at Thommanvilakam Veedu in Chirayinkeezhu Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district. 
• His father’s name is Narayanan Perungudi and mother’s name is Kaali. 
• His childhood name was Kumaru. 
• In 1909 Kumaranasan was appointed as a member in Travancore Legislative Council. 
• Kumaranasan met Sree Narayana Guru in 1891. 
• Guru sent him to Bangaluru for higher studies. 
• There he met Dr. Palpu. Dr. Palpu called Kumaranasan as Chinnaswami. 
• In 1917 Asan married Bhanumathiamma, the daughter of Thachakudy Kumaran – younger brother of Padmanabhan, Palpu's father. Bhanumathiamma, who was an active social worker, later remarried after Asan's death. 
• He started a printing press, Sarada Books Depot in 1921. 
• And he started ‘Union Tile Works’ at Aluva in 1921. 
• When Rabindranath tagore visited Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiriin 1922, Asan translated the dialogue. 
• He authored Divyakokilam as a tribute to Tagore. 
• Joseph Mundassery called him as ‘Viplavathinte Sukranakshathram’.
• He was the first secretary of SNDP Yogam which was founded in 1903. 
• He edited Vivekodayam the mouth piece of SNDP in 1904 along with M. Govindan Nair who was its official editor. 
• Kumaranasan was one of the modern triumvirate poets of Kerala. 
• He was the only poet in Malayalam who became Mahakavi without writing a Mahakavyam. 
• The prefix Mahakavi was awarded to him by the Madras University in 1992. 
• It was the Prince of Wales who gave pattu and vala to Kumaranasan. 
• He died on 16 January 1924 in Redeemer boat accident at Pallana River in Alappuzha. The spot where Asan met death is known as Kumarakodi. 
• The Kumaran Asan National Institute of Culture at Thonnakkal was founded in 1958 in his memory, and includes a small house which he had built on his land. 
• Kumaranasan is the first Malayalam poet who was appeared in Indian Postal stamp. (12 April 1973). 
• Asan: Navothanathinte Kavi was written by Sankaran Thayattu. 
• Asan memorial Prize is a literary aerd instituted in 1958 in his memory. 
• The prize was distributed in 1989 and the first winner was N. N. Kakkadu. Second winner was Yusuf Ali kecheri and the first woman winner was Sugathakumari.

Major Works of Kumaranasan

• Sthothrakrithikal (1901)
• Saundaryalahari (1901)
• Veenapoovu (1907)
• Oru Simhaprasavam (1909)
• Nalini (Subtitle: Allengkil Oru Sneham) (1911)
• Leela (1914)
• Sribuddhacharitham (1915)
• Baalaraamaayanam (1916)
• Graamavrikshattile Kuyil (1918)
• Prarodanam (1919)
• Chintaavishtayaaya Sita (1919)
• Pushpavaadi (1922)
• Duravasthha (1922)
• Chandaalabhikshuki (1922)
• Karuna (1923)
• Manimaala (1924)
• Vanamaala (1925)

• His first notable work Veenapoovu (The Fallen Flower) was first published in Mitavadi Magazine. 
• C. S. Subrahmanyan Potti re-published Veenapoovu in Bhashaposhini. 
• He is known as Poet of Love (Snehagayakan) as well as Aasayagambheeran. 
•  Asan wrote the epic poem Sri Buddha Charitha for which he got inspiration from Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold. 
• Kumaranasan’s Prarodanam is an elegy written at the death of A. R. Raja Raja Varma. 
• His Duravasta is set against the historical background of Moplah Rebellion. 
• His poems Chandalabhikshuki and Karuna were written on Buddhist legends. 
• The preface to Asan’s Nalini was written by A R Raja Raja Varma.

V. T. Bhattathirippad - PSC - Kerala Renaissance - Online Study Material

V. T. Bhattathirippad(1896-1982)

• Vellithiruthi Thazhathu Manayil Raman Bhattathiripad
• He was a key figure in removing casteism and conservatism that existed in the Namboothiri community.
• Born on March 26, 1896 in Kaippilly Mana at Mezhathur on the banks of river Nila in south Malabar, Trithala panchayat located at Ponnani Taluk, Malappuram.
• Father : Thuppan Bhattathiripad 
• Mother : Sridevi Andarjanam 
• Encouraged widow marriage in the Brahmin society and tried to reform the conservative practices of the Namboodiri community. 
• First widow remarriage was conducted by V. T. in 1937. 
• He conducted the first mixed-race marriage in the Brahmin society. 
• On 26 April 1931, V.T. conducted Yachanayatra from Trissur to Chandragiripuzha in order to collect money for the education of poor students in Kerala. 
• In 1919 V.T. Bhattathirippadu formed an organixation called as Naboothiri Yuvajana Sangham. 
• His drama Adukkalayilninnum arangathekku was a turning point in this context. It was first played in 1929 at Idakkunni, Thrissur.
• It was first published in the magazine Unni Namboothiri. 
• Yogakshema Sabha was established on 31 January 1908 in Aluva. 
• First president of Yogakshema sabha was Deshamangalam Sankaran Namboothirippad. 
• V. T. was one of the prominent member in Yogakshema Sabha. 
• The slogan of this committee was “Make Namboothiries into Human Beings”. 
• The main monthlies published by Yogakshema Sabha were Mangalodayam and Yogakshemam.
• V. T. was died on 12 February 1982. 
• V.T. Bhattathirippad college is situated at Sreekrishnapuram, Palakkad. 
• Kanneerum Kinavum is his autobiography and in 1972 he got Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for this work.

• Works of V. T. Bhattathirippad:

 Rajanirangam (first poetry collection)
 Kanneerum Kinavum (autobiography)
 Dakshinayanam
 Pomvazhi
 Chakaravalangal
 Pozhinja Pookkal
 Vedivettam
 Sathyam Ennath Ivide Manushyanakunnu
 Ente Mannu
 Karinchantha
 Kaalathinte Saakshi
 Karmavipakam
 Jeevithasmaranakal
 Visakkatha Davavum Visakkunna Manushyanum