In news:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Sree Narayana Guru on his Jayanti.
About Sree Narayana Guru
Sree Narayana Guru was a catalyst and leader from Kerala who reformed the oppressive caste system that prevailed in society at the time whose philosophy always advocated social equality, education for all, and spiritual enlightenment.
Born in the Ezhava caste, Narayan Guru had experienced discrimination from the upper caste of society.
One of his famous sayings in Malayalam was ‘One caste, one religion, one god for all.’
Narayana Guru consecrated the first temple of Lord Shiva in 1888 where an idol was ordinated by a non-brahmin in Aruvippuram village of Kerala sparking off the anti-caste revolution against the upper-caste Brahmin communities.
Later, in 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) organization as the founder and president that continues to mark its strong presence to this day.
The famous ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ protest movement against caste discrimination and untouchability abolished untouchability and inequality. Hence, this day is quite important in Kerala and is observed as a public holiday.
The Sivagiri pilgrimage was established in 1924 to promote the virtues of cleanliness, education, devotion, agriculture, handicrafts, and trade.
His philosophy and teachings are a way of life for the people of Kerala.
