Appayya Swamigalu


Appaiah Swami or Sadguru Appayya Swami was a Hindu Indian spiritual master who lived in Virajpet town, in Kodagu, Karnataka, India.

Early life

Appayya Swami was born as Palanganda Appaiah, the son of a Kodava paddy farmer in Kodagu in 1885. Appayya did his schooling in English and Kannada at Central High School, Mercara. Later he entered the Government Service under the Raj. However, he was of a religious bend of mind since childhood, and was inspired by the lives of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda. He sought a spiritual guru, eventually selecting Guru Ramagiri.

Career

His Guru ordained him and Swamigalu learned and composed several hymns. Through the path of devotion, he attained self-realization. Over time he became a spiritual teacher with several disciples and was hence given the title of Sadguru.
In 1941 he founded a monastery in Virajpet known as Kaveri Ashram after the river goddess Kaveri. His work in sustaining Hindu spirituality and culture in Coorg and its surrounding regions is being carried on by the Kaveri Ashram today. A school is named after him in Somwarpet, Kodagu called Sadguru Appayya Swamy High School.

Death

He died in 1956, aged 71.

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