Swami Vivekananda had called Kerala a ‘lunatic asylum’ ridden with caste prejudices. Narayana Guru who was a contemporary of Swami Vivekananda, strived all his life to reform this lunatic asylum.
Profile
Narayana Guru was born on 28th August 1855 in Chempazhanthy, Kerala, to Madan Asan and Kuttiamma. His father was a farmer and respected in the society because he was a good man and a rich man. The son was named Narayana but was called ‘Nanu’. His main education was from his father and uncle. His father was also a teacher and proficient in Sanskrit and Astrology. His uncle was a famous Ayurvedic physician. So at home he learnt the basics of Sanskrti and Tamil. He listened to the stories from Ramayana and Mahabharatha with great interest. He was not a boy who liked the usual sport of children of that age; he would spend a lot of time in contemplation and worship at the local temples and even composed some devotional songs. At the age of 15 Nanu lost his mother. He continued his education under Raman Pillai Asan, a great Sanskrit scholar. In 1881 he came back home to find his father with failing health. He ran a school for a short while in his village and was referred to as ‘Nanu Asan’. He was married but it did not last as he became a wanderer after his father’s death. In one of these journeys he met the saint ‘Chattampi Swamigal’ who introduced him to Ayyavu Swamigal and from this master he learnt Hatha Yoga. Then it was eight long years in the wilderness of Maruthwamala. It is believed that he received enlightenment and he moved on. In the scenic Aruvippuram he consecrated a Shiva temple. Again a life of wanderer and then finally he decided to settle in Sivagiri. He travelled a lot preaching and reforming. The end came on September 20th, 1928 after a brief illness.
Philosophy Propounded
Narayana Guru’s philosophy can be put in his own words which is ‘One caste, One religion, One god for all’. The foundation for all his teachings was the Advaita Vedanta. However, Bhakthi was not ignored. He built many temples.
Work Done to Spread the Philosophy
Volumes can be written about the work he did. He travelled to reform the society. It was his efforts that brought the famous proclamation which permitted people of all castes to enter into the temples. Many great people like Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi had great respect for Narayana Guru. When the first Shiva temple was consecrated at Aruvippuram there were protests. To this he replied that it was ‘not a Brahmin Shiva but an Ezhava Shiva’. Ezhava is one of the lower castes. He founded the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) on 15th May 1903 to stand up for the rights of the lower castes. Narayana Guru has written many books in Sanskrit, Malayalam and one in Tamil. He has translated Ishavasya Upanishad, Ozhivil Odukkam ( Vallalar’s work) and Thirukkural to Malayalam.
