The Prime Minister recently attended the centenary celebration of the historic 1925 conversation between Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.<\/span><\/p>\n
About Sree Narayana Guru<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Sree Narayana Guru (20 August 1856 \u2013 20 September 1928) was a <\/span>saint, philosopher,<\/b> spiritual leader,<\/b> and <\/span>social reformer from Kerala.<\/b><\/li>\n
The Guru was born into an <\/span>Ezhava family in an era when<\/b> people from <\/span>backward communities like the Ezhavas faced social injustice<\/b> in the caste-ridden Kerala society.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
Sree Narayan Guru, <\/span>under the<\/b> guidance of Ayyavu Swamikal,<\/b> learned yoga and meditation. This led to him becoming a <\/span>hermit for eight years,<\/b> during which he <\/span>practised yoga and meditation to attain spirituality.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
Gurudevan<\/b>, as he was <\/span>known among his follower<\/b>s, led a reform movement in Kerala, <\/span>revolted against the caste system, <\/b>and worked on <\/span>propagating<\/b> new <\/span>values of freedom in spirituality and social equality, <\/b>which transformed Kerala society.<\/span><\/li>\n
He is <\/span>revered for his Vedic knowledge<\/b>, <\/span>poetic proficiency,<\/b> openness to the views of others, <\/span>non-violent philosophy<\/b>, and unrelenting resolve to set right social wrongs.<\/span><\/li>\n
He was one of the most successful social reformers to revolt against the caste system in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
He demonstrated a path to social emancipation without invoking the dualism of the oppressed and the oppressor.<\/span><\/li>\n
Philosophy<\/b>: \u201c<\/span>Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu<\/b>\u201d translates to \u201c<\/span>One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind\u201d<\/b> and is a core message advocated by Shri Narayana Guru.<\/span><\/li>\n
Aruvippuram Movement (1888): <\/b>Sree Narayana Guru <\/span>consecrated a Shiva idol<\/b> at <\/span>Aruvippuram<\/b>, a village in present-day Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, <\/span>symbolising resistance against social injustice<\/b>, particularly the caste-based restrictions <\/span>that barred lower castes from temple entry.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
The Guru went on to <\/span>establish more than 40 temples <\/b>across the state of Kerala, to <\/span>enable everyone, including the lower caste <\/b>and oppressed segments of society, to <\/span>practise their faith.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
He <\/span>opened several ashrams, schools, <\/b>etc., for children and others from underprivileged societies. Here,<\/span> free education was provided to everyone, irrespective of their caste.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
He <\/span>founded an ashram, <\/b>or religious retreat,<\/span> on Sivagiri hill, near Varkkallai, <\/b>in 1904. The ashram is now <\/span>called Sivagiri Matha (or Sivagiri Mutt).<\/b><\/li>\n
Established SNDP:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\n
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Under the Indian Companies Act, the<\/span> Sri Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) <\/b>was established in <\/span>1903<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
Narayana Guru<\/b> served as its <\/span>permanent chairman,<\/b> while <\/span>Kumaran Asan<\/b>, a <\/span>renowned poet and disciple of Guru<\/b>, became its <\/span>general secretary.<\/b><\/li>\n
The <\/span>Ezhava\u2019s right to attend public schools, access to government services<\/b>, and <\/span>political representation<\/b> were all addressed by the SNDP.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
The Guru <\/span>also led the \u2018Vaikom Satyagraha\u2019<\/b> protest movement against caste discrimination, untouchability, and inequality.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
The <\/span>Sivagiri foundation<\/b> was <\/span>established in 1924 <\/b>by the Guru to <\/span>promote virtues of cleanliness, education, devotion, agriculture,<\/b> handicrafts, and trade.<\/span><\/li>\n
The<\/span> Sivagiri pilgrimage <\/b>(Sivagiri Theerthadanam), i<\/span>nitiated by his followers,<\/b> promotes values of purity, education, and organization.<\/span><\/li>\n
Literary Contributions: <\/b>He authored several important works, including <\/span>Advaitha Deepika, Atmavilasam, Daiva Dasakam, and Brahmavidya Panchakam. <\/b><\/li>\n
After his death, Guru\u2019s birth anniversary<\/b> was established as \u201c<\/span>Sri Narayana Jayanthi,\u201d <\/b>and both his birth and death days are observed as public holidays in Kerala and other states.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n