Appaiah Swami orSadguruAppayya Swami (ಅಪ್ಪಯ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ 1885–1956) (not to be mistaken with Appayya Swamy, a 17th-century Carnatic Musician and scholar of Tamil Nadu) was aHindu Indian spiritual master who lived inVirajpet town, inKodagu,Karnataka, India.
Appayya Swami was born as Palanganda Appaiah, the son of aKodava paddy farmer inKodagu (Coorg) in 1885.[1] Appayya did his schooling in English andKannada 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 ofRamakrishna Paramhansa andSwami Vivekananda. He sought a spiritual guru, eventually selecting Guru Ramagiri.
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 ofSadguru.
In 1941 he founded a monastery inVirajpet known as Kaveri Ashram after the river goddessKaveri. His work in sustainingHindu spirituality and culture in Coorg and its surrounding regions is being carried on by theKaveri Ashram (also known asCauvery Ashram12°12′09.27″N75°48′11.68″E / 12.2025750°N 75.8032444°E /12.2025750; 75.8032444) today. A school is named after him inSomwarpet, Kodagu called Sadguru Appayya Swamy High School.[2]
He died in 1956, aged 71.
1. Śrī sadguru appayya vijaya (Kannada) authored by V.S. Rāmakriṣṇa (Śrī Kāvēri Āśrama, 1965)Appayya Swamigalu atGoogle Books)
2. Śrī sadguru appayya svāmijīyavara ātmakathe mattu sandēśa (Kannada) (Śrīkāvēri Bhakta Jana Saṅgha, 1965)
1. A disciple of Sadguru Appayya speaks[3]
2. One among several newspaper articles related to Cauvery/Kaveri Ashram[4]