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Sri

Sree Narayana Guru, born in 1856 in Kerala, was a significant spiritual leader and social reformer who advocated for equality and against caste discrimination. He established educational institutions, promoted women's rights, and emphasized interfaith harmony, coining the slogan 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for All.' His teachings and actions have had a lasting impact on society, earning him the title 'Father of Kerala Renaissance' and relevance in contemporary discussions on unity and social justice.

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22 views

Sri

Sree Narayana Guru, born in 1856 in Kerala, was a significant spiritual leader and social reformer who advocated for equality and against caste discrimination. He established educational institutions, promoted women's rights, and emphasized interfaith harmony, coining the slogan 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for All.' His teachings and actions have had a lasting impact on society, earning him the title 'Father of Kerala Renaissance' and relevance in contemporary discussions on unity and social justice.

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Adithya Krishnan
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Sree Narayana Guru

 Sree Narayana Guru, born on August 20, 1856, in the village of Chempazhanthy near
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala was a holy man, thinker, spiritual guide and a
revolutionary figure who stood up against the social injustices of his time. He was
born into an Ezhava family, to Madan Asan and Kuttiyamma, during a time when
Kerala's caste-based society severely oppressed the Avarna communities. He was
affectionately called Nanu. From childhood he loved solitude and was always in deep
meditation. He was intensely attracted to the worship of the local temples and
composed hymns and many devotional songs. He learned Vedas, Upanishads,
literature, logical rhetoric of Sanskrit, Hatha Yoga and other philosophies. He attained
enlightenment in Pillathadam Cave on Maruthwamala in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu.
After a short period of married life, he left his house and became a wandering
Sanyasi and travelled through different parts of Southern Kerala.

Teachings
 The Guru’s great message that ‘one caste one religion and one god is mankind’ is the
most discussed in society.
 Vidya’s purpose is to know and communicate, not to debate or win.
 Whatever a man’s religion may be, as long as it improves him as a person, it is
acceptable.
 When acting for one’s own benefit, one should also consider others’ needs.
 Ask not, Say not Think not caste.
 It is not right to be lazy.
 Liquor is poison Make it not, Sell it not, Drink it not.
 Whatever may be the difference in men’s creed, dress, language, etc they all belong
to the same kind of creation; there is no harm at all in their dining Together or having
marital relations with one another.
 Devoid of dividing walls of caste or race or hatred of rival faith we all live here in
Brotherhood.

Role as a Social Reformer


 Sree Narayana Guru's contributions, as a social reformer, went beyond his teachings,
making a lasting impact on society. Here are some of his notable contributions:
 Promotion of Education: Guru established educational institutions, including schools
and colleges, to provide quality education to all sections of society. These institutions
played a vital role in spreading knowledge and fostering intellectual growth.
 Social Reformation: Guru actively fought against caste discrimination and worked to
uplift the marginalized communities. He advocated for a more egalitarian society
through his writings, speeches, and personal example.
 Advocacy for Women's Rights: Sree Narayana Guru strongly supported women's
rights and empowerment. He encouraged women to pursue education and actively
participate in social and political spheres, challenging the prevailing gender
inequalities.
 Promotion of Interfaith Harmony: Guru's teachings promoted interfaith harmony and
peace. He believed in the essential unity of all religions and emphasized the need to
respect and learn from diverse spiritual traditions.
 Due to his contributions as a social reformer, he was known as the Father of Kerala
Renaissance.

Major Contributions
 He coined the slogan “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All” to combat caste
injustice (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu).
 In 1888, he built a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Aruvippuram which was against
the caste-based restrictions of the time.
 The Mirror as idol are at : Kalavancode, Ullala, Vechoor, Karamukk and
Murukkumpuzha.
 Sree Narayana Guru used mirrors instead of idols in one of the temples he built in
Kalavancode in which “Om Shanthi” was written in the surface of the mirror to
convey that divinity resides within each person.
 Guru consecrated a nilavilakku as idol in Vilakkambalam in Karamukku, Thrissur in
1920.
 Dr.Palpu called Sree Narayana Guru as ‘ Periya Swami’.
 G Sankara Kurup called Sree Narayana Guru as ‘The second Buddha’.
 Conversions: He preached equality but believed that disparities should not be utilized
to modify and cause social unrest.
 In 1923, he convened an All-Region Conference at Alwaye Advaita Ashram, which was
reported to be the first such event in India.. This was a response to the Ezhava
community’s religious conversions.
 Later in 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), a
charitable society as the founder and president. The organisation continues to mark
its strong presence to this day.
 He founded Sivagiri Mutt in 1904.
 He became one of the most ardent supporters and re-evaluators of Advaita Vedanta,
Adi Shankara’s non-duality concept.
 A remarkable social reformer, he was in the forefront of the movement for universal
temple entry and against the societal ills like the social discrimination of
untouchables.
 He initiated the Vaikom agitation for lower-caste temple entry in Travancore, gaining
nationwide attention and praise from Mahatma Gandhi.
 According to the Vedic tradition, the installation of the deity was the right of the
Brahmins but here the installation was done by an Ezhava. This act of Sree Narayana
Guru provoked the Hindus and they questioned him. He replied that he had
consecrated the ‘Ezhava Shiva ’ and not a ‘Brahmana Shiva ’.
 He constructed educational centres, libraries and reading rooms. Guru advocated for
the eradication of unnecessary ceremonies among the Ezhava community like
'Pulikudi', 'Thalikettukalyanam', etc.
 He was against the luxuries marriages.

Major Contributions to Science


 The Sivagiri pilgrimage began in 1924 to promote hygiene, literacy, dedication,
agriculture, handicrafts, and trade.
 The Adyaropa darsanam (Darsanamala) tells how the universe was created.
 Daivadasakam and Atmopadesa satakam are a few examples of how the mystic
reflections and insights closely resemble recent advances in physics.

Current Relevance of Philosophy


 Gurudev's idea of Universal Oneness has special relevance in the contemporary
world, as many countries and communities face problems like hatred, violence,
prejudice, and division, which are breaking their unity.

Major Works
Malayalam
 Swanubavageethi

 Atmopadesa Åšatakam
 Adwaitha Deepika
 Arivu
 Daiva Dasakam
 Shiva Shathakam
 Jeevakarunya Panchakam
 Anukamba Dasakam
 Jathi Nirnayam
 Jathi Lakshanam
 Chijjada Chinthakam
 Daiva Chinthanam – 1 & 2
 Athma Vilasam
 Shiva Shathakam
 Kolatheereshasthavam
 Bhadrakaalyashtakam
 Gajendra Moksham Vanchipattu (first work)
 Ottapadyangal
 Sree Krishna Darshanam
 Mangalasamsakal
 Subramanya Ashtakam
 Sadasiva Darsanam
 Samasya
 Swanubhava Geethi
 Indrya Vairagyam

Sanskrit

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

Tamil

 Thevarappathinkangal

Translations

 Thirukural
 Isavasyo Upanishad
 Ozhivil Odukkam

Death

He died on 20 th September, 1928 and the day is observed as Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi in
Kerala.

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