Bodhananda Swamikal
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Sree Bodhananda Swamikal (1883-1928) was saint, disciple and Guru-nominated successor of Sree Narayana Guru, even though he attained Mahasamadhi three days after Narayana Guru’s Maha Samadhi, in 1928. He was an ordained sanyassi before he became Sree Narayana Guru’s ardent disciple. Though Bodhananda initially opposed idol worship, later he became member of all temple consecration committees under the instruction of Narayana Guru. He was also an active member of the Sree Narayana Guru statue samithi (committee) at Jagannatha Temple, Thalasserry, Kannur. This was first statue of Narayana Guru.
Bodhananda Swamikal set up the Narayana Gurukula in Fernhill Neelagiri, Tamil Nadu, which he later handed over to Nataraja Guru, who was initially a teacher there. Bodhananda Swamikal was also major force behind establishing the Cochin National Bank which was intended to help the economic uplift of poorer sections of the society through self-employment and enterprise. He has written a book called Sree Narayana Dharmam. He he reached Samadhi in 1928.