Sree Narayana Guru

Born: 20 August 1856, Chempazhanthy (Travancore)

Died: 20 September 1928, Varkala (Travancore)

Philosopher, spiritual leader, and social reformer

Central figure in the Kerala reformation movement

Interpreted Advaita Vedanta in a socially transformative manner

Famous dictum: “One caste, one religion, one God for humankind”

Author of Daiva Dasakam (widely used community prayer in Kerala)

Emphasised ethics, compassion, and spiritual equality over ritualism

Described by Romain Rolland as “Jnani of Karma”

Kerala society in the 19th–early 20th century was marked by severe untouchability

Oppressed communities included Ezhavas, Pulayars, Paraiyars, Adivasis

Aruvippuram consecration (1888):

• Guru consecrated a Shiva idol himself, challenging Brahmanical monopoly

• Marked the beginning of his public social reform movement

Consecrated 45 temples across Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Non-conventional consecrations included:

• A mirror

• Ethical inscriptions (“Truth, Ethics, Compassion, Love”)

• Vegetarian Shiva

Promoted religious tolerance; praised figures like Krishna, Buddha, Adi Shankara, Jesus Christ in Anukampadasakam

Mahatma Gandhi met Narayana Guru on 12 March 1925 at Sivagiri Ashram during Vaikom Satyagraha

Guru stressed:

• Education and economic empowerment over symbolic social reforms

• Logical dismantling of caste hierarchy

Impact on Gandhi:

• Influenced his intensified focus on eradication of untouchability

• Inspired renaming of Young India to Harijan

• Integrated caste reform into the national freedom struggle

Under Guru’s guidance, Travancore Labour Association was formed on 31 March 1922

First organised labour union in Kerala

Originated among exploited coir workers

Key ideas:

• Unity, organisation, and collective bargaining

• Preceded communist politics in Kerala

Guru’s prophetic statement:

• “The age of the workers is coming”

Organised First All India Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition (1905) at Kollam

Vision encapsulated in slogan:

• “Become enlightened through education, strong through organisation, prosperous through industry”

Emphasised:

• Industrialisation

• Agriculture

• Trade and technical training

Vaikom Satyagraha

Protest against denial of access to roads surrounding Vaikom Temple

Linked to Guru’s own humiliation on temple roads

Key disciples involved:

• Kumaran Asan

• T. K. Madhavan

Supported nationally by Gandhi

Outcomes:

• Opening of temple roads to all castes

• Influenced Temple Entry Proclamation, 1936

Concept approved by Guru in 1928

Core objectives:

• Education

• Cleanliness

• Organisation

• Industry and agriculture

• Technical training

First pilgrimage conducted in 1932 after his death

Emphasised practical social transformation

Narayna Guru organized Organised in 1923 at Aluva Advaita Ashram

First such conference in India

Background:

• Period of intense communal riots (1922–1927)

Message displayed:

• “We meet here not to argue and win, but to know and be known”

Continues annually