Pillathalolippu

Pillathalolipuu is a simple poem by Chattampi Swami meant to be used as lullaby explaining the secret of Brahman to the village mother and children. Most of the world’s great men have all been fond of children and Swami also loved to be among children. Swami's relationship with children was unique. It is considered that children are very near to God. In the early years of child hood they can see God. They can understand what nature communicates to them. While they grow they learn many scholastic things and become more intelligent and clever on worldly matters, become aware of the self and grow out of innocence. These become barriers between them and nature as well as between them and God. Swami was very fond of children and was able to influence them. Swami could establish communication with all babies he came into contact. He used to compose meaningful lullabies instantly when children are to be put to sleep. They were meaning full and they contained spiritual secrets that the village mothers who used them could understand. Who knows such lullabies were meaningful to the babies also and remained in their minds to influence them later? Pillathalolipu is one such long lullaby Swami composed.

Extract from: Chattampi Swami: An Intellectual Biography. By R. Raman Nair and L. Sulochana Devi. Trivandrum, Centre for South Indian Studies, 2010.