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Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru
Commemorative stamp issued by the Indian Post & Telegraph Department
Commemorative stamp issued by the Indian Post & Telegraph Department
Commemorative coins issued by the Reserve Bank of India in 2006 on the occassion of the 150th birth anniversary of Nārāyana Guru. Click on picture for enlarged view.
Commemorative coins issued by the Reserve Bank of India in 2006 on the occassion of the 150th birth anniversary of Nārāyana Guru. Click on picture for enlarged view.

Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरु,നാരായണ ഗുരു) (1855 - 1928), also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a prophet[1][2], saint, sage and social reformer of India. Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. SRi is a specification (spec badge given to mid-sized or larger cars which are fitted with performance engine suspension or other performance enhancements as standard A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The wise old man (also called sage or " Senex " is an Archetype as described by Carl Jung. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Nārāyana Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when the Ezhava community faced much social injustice because of its precarious position between the upper and lowest strata in the caste to non-caste social hierarchy. The Ezhavas are the largest Hindu community in Kerala and Tulu Nadu. Gurudeva, as he is fondly known to his followers, revolted against casteism and worked on propagating new values of freedom in spirituality and of social equality, thereby transforming the society in Kerala. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};

Nārāyana Guru is revered by admirers for his Vedic knowledge, poetic proficiency, openness to the views of others, non-violent philosophy and his unrelenting resolve to set aright social wrongs. A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Nārāyana Guru was instrumental in setting the spiritual foundations for social reform[3] in the current State of Kerala (erstwhile states of Travancore, Kochi, Malabar district of British India) and coastal Karnataka and was one of the most successful social reformers who tackled caste in India. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or Malabar District was an administrative district of British India and independent India's Madras State. Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India He demonstrated a path to social emancipation without invoking the dualism of the oppressed and the oppressor.

In contrast to certain other reformers who criticised Brahmins and other upper caste Hindus for the conditions of the non-caste, Nārāyana Guru stressed the uplift of a community through its own efforts by the establishment of schools and temples. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. In the process he brushed aside the Hindu religious conventions based upon Chaturvarna. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. His transformation of the social face of Kerala relied on emphasizing, yet re-evaluating, the Advaita philosophy of Sankara. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the

Contents

Family and Early life

A digitised image of a photograph taken when Nārāyana Guru was sixty
A digitised image of a photograph taken when Nārāyana Guru was sixty

Nārāyana Guru was born circa 1856 in the village of Chempazhanthi north-east of Trivandrum. Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the His mother was Kutti Amma and his father was Maadan Asān of the Valyalvārathu house, by and large a farming family. The boy was named Nārāyanan (dotingly called Nānu in short). Maadan was not only a farmer, but also an Asān - meaning 'Achāryan'or teacher. He was learned in Sanskrit and had mastered Astrology and Ayurveda, the system of native medicine in India. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other As per Nataraja Guru, the people of the village highly respected him. Nataraja Guru (Dr P Natarajan was a direct disciple of Narayana Guru, a great sage and social reformer of India. As Maadan was learned in Sanskrit, he knew well the great epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Maadan used to give discourses on these epics, in simple language, to people of the village gathered in his house. As a boy, Nānu too would sit in to listen with interest. As time passed, and in Maadan's absence, Nānu took on the task to deliver the talks himself. Nānu’s uncle Krishnan Vaidyan was a reputed Ayurvedic physician and Sanskrit scholar. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Nānu is said to have been initiated into traditional formal education Ezhuthinirithal under Chempazhanthi Pillai, a local schoolmaster and village officer. Besides schooling, young Nānu continued to be educated at home, under the guidance of his father and his uncle Krishnan Vaidyan, where he was taught basics of the Tamil and Sanskrit languages and traditional subjects such as Siddharūpam, Bālaprobhodhanam and Amarakośam. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

Biographical accounts describe Nānu as a reticent and intelligent boy who was intensely drawn to devout worship at the Manackal temple adjacent to the Valyalvārathu home. The boy Nānu is also said to have many a time criticised his own relatives for social discrimination and the apartheid-like practice of segregating children of, supposedly, lower castes in his times. He is also said to have preferred solitude for meditation and to have shown a strong aptitude for poetics and reasoning, composing hymns and singing them in praise of God. He lost his mother around the age of 15. Nānu is thought to have spent most of his adolescent years and early youth assisting both his father, in tutoring, and his uncle in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine whilst giving the rest of the time to himself for intense devotional practices at temples nearby. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other [4]

Transformation as master, yogi and seeker of truth

Authors of Narayana Guru biographies, mention of the young Nanu being slim, active and clever whilst also having good physique. Many biographies say, he showed great interest and excelled his companions both in studies and in games, and his writing was correct and easy to read. Impressed by this his uncle sent him for further education under an eminent scholar Kummampilli Rāman Pillai Āśān of Karunagapalli, a village fifty miles away from his home, at the age of 21. Living as a guest in a prominent family house Varanapallil near Kayankulam, Nānu, along with other students, was tutored by this scholar in subjects of advanced Sanskrit Language and Poetry, Drama and Literary Criticism, and Logical Rhetoric. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Literary criticism is the study discussion evaluation and interpretation of Literature. He studied the Vedas and the Upanishad's. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings He started teaching in a school near-by. He became famous as Nanu Asan. His knowledge earned him the respect of many.

At around the age of 25, Nanu returned home to see his father, who was on his death bed. His father was overjoyed and proud to see his son who had also become an Asan they had not seen each other in a very long time. He addressed him as a Vidwan (scholar). He also desired to be fed by his sacred hands. He then was intermittently involved in running a village school for children. Whilst teaching and continuing his quest for Truth, through self-study and his own experiences, Nānu Āśān walked to places in the area, often spending time in the confines of temples, writing poems and hymns and lecturing to villagers on philosophy and moral values.

Married life

Very little is known about the married life of Nanu Asan. In a nearby village called Chirayinkizhu, a doctor (Visha vaidyar)who used to cure snake bites and scorpion stings,lived. Snakes often bite their prey when feeding but occasionally they also bite humans He had a daughter Kaliamma. Nanu's sisters made him agree to marry this girl. The marriage was a simple affair. Nanu was not at all interested in it, He was more interested in reciting the Ramayana and explaining it to others. The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki The sisters themselves invested the bride with the 'Thaali' (emblem of wedding) on his behalf. The bride stayed away in her parents house, since Nanu asan became a wanderer then.

'Parivrajaka' (A Spiritual Wanderer)

After the death of his father and his wife Nanu Asan continued his life of a wandering Sanyasin. He became a 'Parivrajaka' (one who wanders from place to place in quest of Truth). During his meandering days, at the house of another Sanskrit scholar and his friend, Perunalli Krishnan Vidayar, Nānu Āśān got introduced to many learned men and peers, including Kunjan Pillai, who later came to be known as Chattampi Swamikal. Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal (b1853 - d1924 was a Hindu sage and social reformer Kunjan Pillai, who discovered and appreciated Nānu Āśān’s philosophical genius and passion for Yoga, introduced him to a master of Yogic practices by the name of Thycaud Ayyavu. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Under the Yogi, Nānu Āśān mastered various Yogic practices including Hatha Yoga. A yogi ( Sanskrit, feminine root Yogini) is a term for a male practitioner of various forms of the path of Yoga, maintaining Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Hatha Yoga ( Sanskrit हठयोग hʌʈʰʌjogʌ also called Hatha Vidya (हठविद्या is a particular system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama The exposure gained from this scholastic experiences had a lasting impact on the later life and philosophy of Nārāyana Guru. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language

Guru did 'Tapas' in Pillathadam Cave in Maruthvaamalai, near Kanyakumari ( Cape Comorin). This lonely life of intense meditation, lasted for 7-8 long years.

Enlightenment and its poetic expression

It is uncertain as to when precisely Nānu Āśān moved to his hermitage deep inside the hilly forests of Maruthwāmala, where he is said to have subjected himself to the most austere life immersed in meditative thought, other rigorous yoga practices and extreme sustenance rituals. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the After an unpretentious life of over thirty years abounding in knowledge and harsh experiences, this epoch is considered the culmination of the meditative recluse; the point at which Nārāyana Guru is believed to have attained a state of Enlightenment.

Nārāyana Guru’s later literary and philosophical masterpiece Atmopadeśa Śatakam (one hundred verses of self-instruction, written in Malayalam circa 1897) is considered a fertile poetic expression, encapsulating the Guru’s philosophy of egalitarianism, emanating from the author’s attainment of an experienced state of primordial knowledge and quintessence of the Universe; and his ensuing ability to view the human race, from a dignified and elevated perspective, as nothing but one of a genus, in unqualified equality and without any racial, religious, caste or other discriminations whatsoever. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect The term race or racial group usually refers to the concept of categorizing Humans into Populations or groups on the basis of various sets A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power.

Consecration of Siva Lingam at Aruvippuram

Narayana Guru's Tomb at Sivagiri
Narayana Guru's Tomb at Sivagiri

Learning from the sacred books and the practice of Yoga did not give peace of mind to Gurudevan. He continued his wanderings in quest of Truth. By and by, he came to a beautiful place called Aruvipuram. It was a forest area. There were hills around. A gurgling rivulet (of river Neyyar) also flowed there. As more people sought him out for healing or advice, he and his disciples felt the need for a regular temple for worshipping Shiva. At a beautiful spot near the river, he had his followers build a small canopy of coconut leaves and mango leaves over an altar on a rock jutting out in the water. The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The year was 1888. They improvised lamps with shells and arranged them in rows. They were lighted at dusk and a piper began to play devotional tunes. The whole place was soon filled with pious village folk. Gurudevan, who had been sitting apart and meditating all night, stood at midnight and walked into the river. As thousands watched silently (If silence had music, the atmosphere was filled with it, wrote one correspondent) he descended into the river and then reemerged, holding an idol of Shiva. He stood beneath the canopy with it in his arms for three hours, totally lost in meditation, tears flowing down his cheeks. Finally, at three in the morning, he installed the idol on the pedestal. His action was the Keralite equivalent of overturning the tables of the money changers, or refusing to give up a seat on the bus. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; From the beginning of time, so far as anyone knew, only Brahmins had ever installed an idol. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Yet when Gurudevan performed the sacred rite it appeared so natural for him to pick up a small rock and install it. To those who questioned the timing of the consecration saying it was not an astrologically auspicious time, he replied: Horoscope is to be cast after the birth of a child, not before. He instructed to place a plaque containing a motto on the temple wall which read as:

Devoid of dividing walls of Caste
Or hatred of rival faith,
We all live here
In Brotherhood,
Such, know this place to be!
This Model Foundation!

A new phase began in the Guru's life in 1904. He decided to give up his wandering life and settle down in a place to continue his Sadhana (spiritual practice). For Sadhana the actress see Sadhana (actress Sadhana (Sanskrit sādhanam) is a Sanskrit term for "a means of accomplishing something" He chose Sivagiri, twenty miles north of Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Goddess 'Amba' became his deity of worship. A goddess is a Female Deity. Many Cultures have goddesses Often deities are part of a polytheistic system that includes several deities See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always

Next, he started a Sanskrit school in Varkala. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Varkala ( Malayalam: വര്‍ക്കല is a coastal town and Municipality in Thiruvananthapuram Poor boys and orphans were taken under his care. They were given education regardless of caste distinctions. Temples were built at different places - Thrissur, Kannur, Anjuthengu, Tellicherry, Calicut, Mangalore. For the district with the same name see Thrissur district. Thrissur / Trichur / Trissur ( Malayalam: തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ For the district with the name Kannur see Kannur District. For town with same name in Karnataka, see Kannur Dakshina Kannada For the ship wrecked in 1806 see Tellicherry (ship Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Kozhikode District. Mangalore ( Kannada:, Mangalūru; Tulu: Kudla, ಕುಡ್ಲ Konkani: Kodial, ಕೊಡಿಯಾಲ್ A temple was built for Sharada Devi in 1912, at Sivagiri. Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Worship at such temples helped reduce to a large extent superstitious beliefs and practices. Superstition ( Latin superstitio, literally "standing over" derived perhaps from standing in awe used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief

In 1913, he founded the Advaita Ashram at Alwaye. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Aluva ( Alwaye ആലുവ is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam district in This was an important event in his spiritual quest. This Ashram was dedicated to a great principle - Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (all men are equal in the eyes of God). This became the motto of the new Ashram.

When Nārāyana Guru attained the age of sixty, his birth day was observed throughout the west-coast from Mangalore to Sri Lanka. Mangalore ( Kannada:, Mangalūru; Tulu: Kudla, ಕುಡ್ಲ Konkani: Kodial, ಕೊಡಿಯಾಲ್ Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Between the years 1918 and 1923 he visited and taught in Sri Lanka. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island In 1921, a Conference of Universal Brotherhood was held at Alwaye. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Aluva ( Alwaye ആലുവ is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam district in Again in 1924, a conference of all religions was held at Alwaye. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Guru stressed the need for a Brahma Vidyalaya for a comparative study of different religious faiths.

Sree Nārāyana Guru had many followers and disciples. Nataraja Guru, a notable disciple of Sree Nārāyana Guru, introduced Guru's visions and ideals to the western world. Nataraja Guru (Dr P Natarajan was a direct disciple of Narayana Guru, a great sage and social reformer of India. He established Narayana Gurukulam in 1923 at the Nilgiris with the blessings of Nārāyana Guru.

Nārāyana Guru’s philosophy

Since Adi Shankara, Sree Nārāyana Guru was the greatest proponent and re-evaluator of Advaita Vedanta and hailing from the same region, i. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the e. , present day Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Nārāyana Guru’s philosophy, which is fundamentally of Advaitic and non-dual wisdom in principles, further extended Advaita concepts into practical modes of self-realisation through spiritual education, compassion and peaceful co-existence among the human race, whilst promoting social equality and universal brotherhood. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Compassion is a profound human Emotion prompted by the pain of others Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect His philosophy of non-violence and ahimsa strongly denounced discrimination in the name of caste or religion, and emphasised focusing on education and private enterprise for the ongoing uplift of the quality of life. Nonviolence is a philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects the use of physical Violence. Ahimsa ( Devanagari: sa अहिंसा IAST ahiṃsā is a Sanskrit term meaning Non-violence (literally the avoidance of violence - Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency A business (also called firm or an enterprise) is a legally recognized organizational entity designed to provide goods and/or services to Quality of life is the degree of well-being felt by an individual or group of people The Guru’s philosophy emphasised the consistency between true existence of the "common reality" on Earth and one Divine behind the creation and sustenance of the Universe, dismissing any concepts of illusory worlds. Divinity and divine (sometimes 'the Divinity' or 'the Divine' are broadly applied but loosely defined terms used variously within different faiths and belief systems — The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy

The Guru’s philosophy is exemplified in his mystical writings that are truly interchanging warps and wefts of ethics, logic, aesthetics and metaphysics woven into masterpieces of silken rich poetry. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Ethics is a major branch of Philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life Logic is the study of the principles of valid demonstration and Inference. Aesthetics or esthetics ( also spelled æsthetics) is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values sometimes called Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science The Guru’s literary works are in Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil languages, and these works are of a conceptual and aesthetic quality at par with the Upanishads. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings

At the time of its conception, Nārāyana Guru’s philosophy was in many respects ahead of its time and focused on a futuristic world order that could be shaped from his philosophical connotations that are underlain with transcendental aesthetics and logic embodied in knowledge and pure reason. The future is commonly understood to contain all events that have yet to occur In Philosophy, the adjective transcendental and the noun transcendence convey three different but related primary meanings all of them derived from the word's literal Logic is the study of the principles of valid demonstration and Inference. Knowledge is defined ( Oxford English Dictionary) variously as (i expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education the theoretical or practical understanding Reason involves the ability to think understand and draw Conclusions in an Abstract way as in Human thinking Most of the serious scholars of Nārāyana Guru’s philosophy have been from generations beyond his lifetime; and this list keeps growing.

The Guru's influence on other social thinkers

Concerning the caste system, Gandhi said the following to Nārāyana Guru: "The caste-Hindus and the low caste-Hindus are both the sons of Hinduism. The caste-Hindu is the elder brother who shoulders responsibility, and he therefore exercises certain privileges. The low caste-Hindu is his younger brother who is to be cared for. If the elder brother turns out to be somewhat rough and aggressive that should not make the younger brother a runaway from his mother Hinduism. "[5] Nārāyana Guru, however, disagreed, and voiced his tolerance for those who converted to other religions, with the argument that one should follow what one truly believes in. He also questioned the logic of Gandhi's argument, arguing that caste in India was a socio-economic issue.

Public acceptance, honours and veneration

The first Jnana Vigraham of Narayana Guru
The first Jnana Vigraham of Narayana Guru

Since his lifetime Nārāyana Guru has been conferred formal recognitions and honours by the State, intelligentsia and society. Jñāna Vigraham is a distinctively styled statue of the revered saint Sree Nārāyana Guru. In 1901 the State Census Manual of Travancore recorded Sree Nārāyana as a revered "Guru" and an erudite Sanskrit scholar. Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or A sharp drop in the statistics of the commission of crime was also attributed to the correcting and moralizing influence of Nārāyana Guru on the society. In 1904 the then Maharajah of Travancore exempted Nārāyana Guru from personal appearances in court, an honour recognizing the Guru as a distinguished living personality. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on

Malayala Manorama cover spread on 31 December 1999 naming Nārāyana Guru as 'Malayalee of the Century'
Malayala Manorama cover spread on 31 December 1999 naming Nārāyana Guru as 'Malayalee of the Century'

The first statue of the Guru was conceived by Moorkoth Kumaran and sculpted by an Italian sculptor Prof. Malayala Manorama (മലയാള മനോരമ is a popular Malayalam daily newspaper in Kerala, India. A statue is a Sculpture in the round representing a person or persons an animal or an event normally full-length as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size Moorkoth Kumaran was a teacher and a prominent short story writer in Malayalam. Tavaroli whilst the Guru was still alive. The bronze statue, which took 14 months to complete, was installed at the Jaggannaatha temple at Thalassery and unveiled on 13th March 1927, after the consecration of the statue by Bodhananda Swamikal, the disciple and then spiritual successor-designate to Nārāyana Guru. For the ship wrecked in 1806 see Tellicherry (ship Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala Sree Bodhananda Swamikal (1883-1928 was saint disciple and Guru-nominated successor of Sree Narayana Guru, even though he attained Mahasamadhi three days after Narayana

On the Guru's Mahasamadhi (passing away), the famed Jnanapith award winner poet Mahakavi G. Sankara Kurup paid tribute to Nārāyana Guru by writing a Malayalam verse venerating the Guru as The Second Buddha. The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country G Sankara Kurup, (born June 3, 1901, Nayathode Kerala, India - February 2, 1978, Trivandrum, Kerala Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used Sree Nārāyana Guru's legacy continues to be revered at esteemed levels within social, intellectual and spiritually organised communities worldwide.

All across the State of Kerala, and outside of the State, hundreds of small chapel-like Guru Mandirams are devoted to the reverence and worship of Sree Nārāyana Guru. Most recently, a distinctively styled iconographic statue of Nārāyana Guru named the Jnana Vigraham was conceived and created by a team of artists, as a suggestive model for the future, to improve the aesthetic quality of statues of Nārāyana Guru kept in homes and placed in Guru Mandirams worldwide. Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images Jñāna Vigraham is a distinctively styled statue of the revered saint Sree Nārāyana Guru.

At the turn of the 21th Century, Sree Nārāyana Guru was named as The Malayalee of the Century by Kerala's leading daily Malayala Manorama. Malayala Manorama (മലയാള മനോരമ is a popular Malayalam daily newspaper in Kerala, India. The full cover-page spread of the newspaper was dedicated to Nārāyana Guru in its last issue of the Century on 31 December 1999. So also Nārāyana Guru was featured first among the "100 great lives" nominated by Malayala Manorama on the occasion of Malayala Manorama's centenary celebrations in the year 1988. Malayala Manorama (മലയാള മനോരമ is a popular Malayalam daily newspaper in Kerala, India.


Tolerance of rationalism and atheism

A message sent by Nārāyana Guru to Sahodarasangham during their annual conference - May 15, 1921
A message sent by Nārāyana Guru to Sahodarasangham during their annual conference - May 15, 1921

Although Nārāyana Guru built a number of temples and composed many poems in praise of popular Hindu deities, he had many followers who were atheists. This shows the Guru's tolerance of personal views and his love for humanity as a whole which was irrespective of any faith based affiliations. Some of his atheist followers in fact considered him as their icon of righteousness, whilst duly acknowledging that Narayana Guru was himself an unblemished believer in God3. For instance, one of his prominent disciples Sahodaran Ayyappan was a militant atheist and one of the founders of Yukthivadi, the first rationalist/atheist magazine in Malayalam. Sahodaran Ayyappan (b August 21 1889 __ d March 6 1968 was a social reformer thinker journalist and politician of Kerala, India. Yukthivadi (The Rationalist was the first rationalist/atheist journal published in Malayalam. In Epistemology and in its broadest sense rationalism is "any view appealing to Reason as a source of knowledge or justification" (Lacey 286 Atheism Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used When Sahodaran Ayyappan modified Nārāyana Guru's famous catchphrase, Oru Jati, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam Manushyanu (One Caste, One Religion, One God for Human Beings) and rewrote it as Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda Manushyanu (No Caste, No Religion, No God for Human Beings), the latter did not protest2.

Casteism in the first half of 20th century was so rabid that upper caste people refused to have food along with the people belonging to lower caste and "untouchable" communities. Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. When Sahodaran Ayyappan, inspired by Narayanaguru's message of caste-less and creed-less society, launched what is called "Panthibhojanam" or community feasts participating people belonging to various castes and communities, the Ezhava lords called him "Pulayanaiappan" (Pulaya was used as a derogatory term for having feast with the Pulayas, an "untouchable" community in the caste-hierarchy of Hinduism) and tried to forcibly prevent the feast. The Pulayar also Pulayar, Pulaya,or Pulayas or Holeya are one of the main Social groups found in Kerala, Karnataka It was in this context that Nārāyana Guru came out in support of Sahodaran Ayyappan and sent the message reproduced alongside. Translated into English, the message reads: "Whatever be one's religion, costume, language etc, since their caste is the same, there is nothing wrong in having inter-marriages and community feasts". The term costume can refer to Wardrobe and dress in general or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people class or period A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them It is this message of Narayanaguru, which transgresses the established canons of religion, that makes him a rationalist icon. In Epistemology and in its broadest sense rationalism is "any view appealing to Reason as a source of knowledge or justification" (Lacey 286

To avoid attempts made by a section of his followers to identify him with the caste of the family he was born into, Nārāyana Guru was forced to state explicitly that he did not belong to any particular caste or religion. Through a message he sent in the year 1916, he proclaimed : It is years since I left castes and religions. Yet some people think that I belong to their caste. That is not correct. I do not belong to any particular caste or religion.

Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (The Brotherhood of All)

In 1913, the Guru founded an Ashram at Alwaye. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Aluva ( Alwaye ആലുവ is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam district in It was called Advaita Ashram. This was an important event in the life of the Guru in his spiritual quest. That Ashram was dedicated to a great principle - Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (all human beings are equal in the eyes of God). This became the motto of the new Ashram. In 1921, a Conference of Universal Brotherhood was held at Alwaye. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Aluva ( Alwaye ആലുവ is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam district in Again in 1924, a conference of all religions was held at Alwaye. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Aluva ( Alwaye ആലുവ is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam district in The Guru stressed the need for a Brahma Vidyalaya for the comparative study of various religious faiths. An institution called Narayana Gurukula was established at the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu by Bodhananda Swamikal and later handed over to Nataraja Guru. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Sree Bodhananda Swamikal (1883-1928 was saint disciple and Guru-nominated successor of Sree Narayana Guru, even though he attained Mahasamadhi three days after Narayana Nataraja Guru (Dr P Natarajan was a direct disciple of Narayana Guru, a great sage and social reformer of India. Some time around 1914 the following happened in a temple (owned by Ezhava community) festival. The Ezhavas are the largest Hindu community in Kerala and Tulu Nadu. A small group of people sat apart from the others at a distance. They were considered untouchables. The Guru's eyes turned towards them. He then asked the speaker to stop for a while who was welcoming Gurudevan for the occasion. He beckoned two children sitting among the 'untouchables' and asked them to sit by his side, and said to himself. These are also God's children as everyone else is. He was giving an important message to world; all human beings are equal in the eyes of God.

Final Ceylon Journey

Gurudevan visited Ceylon again in 1926. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island He had some moving experiences while travelling in Tamil Nadu in connection with his journey to Ceylon. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island While he was in Sree Ganapathi temple in heavy rain he said, "If there is anyone writing my biography, these experiences should not be missed, they should be recorded. Ganesha ( Sanskrit: sa गणेश Gaṇeśa) also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar "After that journey to Ceylon, Gurudevan did not want to return. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, He went back only after repeated requests of his disciples and devotees.

Message to Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam

In a message to the SNDP Yogam in 1926 Gurudevan declared, No community can make progress except through organization. Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam is organisation formed to propagate and promote the moral teaching and Dharma of Shree Narayana Guru. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, He further said in that message, The name Ezhava does not denote a caste or a religion. The Ezhavas are the largest Hindu community in Kerala and Tulu Nadu. Therefore people can be admitted to this organization without paying heed to differences of caste.

On June 14, 1927 Sree Narayana Guru consecrated a mirror in a temple in Kalavankode - perhaps his last prathishta in a temple. The prathishta of the mirror is symbolic. Advaita philosophers interpret the mirror as the visible symbol of the unity of the Finite and the Infinite. When he arrived in Kalavankode one K C Kutten approached him. There was local opposition to the consecration of a deity, Kutten informed Gurudevan. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, Bring a mirror. Narayana Guru instructed him. In its centre scrape out the surface to read Om shanti. He did no more prathishtas. Schools rather than temples are to be preferred, he exhorted in a dramatic shift of focus. Gurudevan participated in the anniversary of the SNDP Yogam held at Palluruthi in 1927. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam is organisation formed to propagate and promote the moral teaching and Dharma of Shree Narayana Guru. It was a splendid meeting which demonstrated the sincere, devout faith of the people in Gurudevan. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, T. K. Madhavan was one of the chief architects of this meeting. A social revolutionary of Kerala India who led the struggle against untouchability which was known as Vaikam Satyagraha In 1928 Gurudevan took part in the special meeting of the SNDP Yogam at Kottayam and gave away registration certificates to the branch organizations. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam is organisation formed to propagate and promote the moral teaching and Dharma of Shree Narayana Guru. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> This article is about the town of Kottayam See Kottayam district also

Sivagiri pilgrimage

Sivagiri pilgrimage was conceived by Vallabhasseri Govindan Vaidyar and T K Kittan Writer. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance It was duly approved by Gurudevan on January, 1928. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, The setting was SNDP's Nagambadam Shiva temple. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva It was 3 pm and Gurudevan was resting under a mango tree when the two presented the concept of Sivagiri pilgrimage. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, Before giving its his blessings he set out the goals of such a pilgrimage. He said: "Let the pilgrims congregate at the beginning of the European New Year. It should be Dhanu 16-17 in Malayalam calendar. Let the pilgrims observe 10 days'self-purification according to Sri Buddha's principles of five purities (pancha dharma) - body, food, mind, word, deed.

He ruled that pilgrims could wear yellow clothes - the colour of the garments Sri Buddha wore. In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. Let no one purchase yellow silk because we have recommended yellow garments. Not even new clothes are required on the pilgrimage. A pilgrim can dip a white garment in turmeric water and wear after drying. The pilgrimage should be conducted with simplicity and preferably be accompanied by the chanting of hymns. There should be no shouting and pilgrims should scrupulously avoid trappings of ostentation.

To Govindan Vaidyar and Kitten Writer, Gurudevan counted on his fingers the goals of the pilgrimage, explaining how to achieve them. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, The goals were the promotion of

He advised them to organise a series of lectures on the themes with experts conducting them. The lectures should be listened to attentively. More important, the principles should be put into practice. Success must accompany efforts. Only then will the country and the people benefit. this must be the core purpose of Sivagiri pilgrimage.

The Palluruthi event in 1927 was the last anniversary of the Yogam which Gurudevan attended. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, It was also the last public function Gurudevan attended. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint,

Gurudevan went to Vellur Mutt at Vaikom to rest. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Vaikom is a Taluk and also its capital town situated in the North-West of Kottayam in There he was taken ill. He went to Alwaye and later to Trichur for treatment. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Aluva ( Alwaye ആലുവ is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam district in For the district with the same name see Thrissur district. Thrissur / Trichur / Trissur ( Malayalam: തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ Dr. Krishnan took Gurudevan to Palghat. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, For the district with the same name see Palakkad District. Palakkad, also known as Palghat (anglicized is a town and a Municipality From there Gurudevan travelled to Madras for treatment. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint,

Passing Away of Guru

The Guru became seriously ill in September 1928. He could not leave the bed for sometime. Devotees came in huge crowds to have the last Darshanam. In the same year, his devotees in many places, mostly in Kerala, Madras, Mangalore and Simhala celebrated the birthday of the Guru. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Mangalore ( Kannada:, Mangalūru; Tulu: Kudla, ಕುಡ್ಲ Konkani: Kodial, ಕೊಡಿಯಾಲ್ The Sinhalese are the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and number approximately 15 million people with the The Guru's birthday was celebrated in that distant city of Europe also. On the twentieth of September, the Guru died at Varkala, a place which was very dear to him. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Varkala ( Malayalam: വര്‍ക്കല is a coastal town and Municipality in Thiruvananthapuram His followers felt a great loss. The world too lost a truly great saint.

Thus Nanu,who became 'Chattambi','Assan', 'Yogi', 'Social Reformer', 'Guru'and 'Gurudevan' found his final resting place. Thousands of his disciples who followed him with absolute faith derived peace, spiritual strength and satisfaction.

Guru's Famous Teachings

Saint Disciples Of Guru

Works

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In Malayalam

  1. Swanubavageethi
  2. Atmopadesa Śatakam
  3. Advaitha Deepika
  4. Arivu
  5. Daiva Desakam Play Now
  6. Jeevakarunya Panchakam
  7. Anukamba Dasakam
  8. Jathi Nirnayam
  9. Jathi Lakshanam
  10. Sadacharam
  11. Chijanda Chinthakam
  12. Daiva Chintanam - 1 & 2
  13. Athma Vilasam
  14. Shiva Satakam

In Sanskrit

  1. Darsana Mala
  2. Brahmavidya Panchakam
  3. Nirvruthi Panchakam
  4. Slokathrayi
  5. Vedantha Suthram
  6. Homa Manthram
  7. Municharya Panchakam
  8. Asramam
  9. Dharmam
  10. Charama Slokangal
  11. Homa Mantram
  12. Chidambarashtakam
  13. Guhashtakam
  14. Bhadrakaliashtakam
  15. Vinayaka Ashtakam
  16. Sree Vasudeva Ashtakam
  17. Genani Navamanjari

In Tamil

  1. Thevarappathinkangal

Translations

  1. Thirukural
  2. Isavasyo Upanishad
  3. Ozhivil Odukkam

See also

Notes

TN Jayachandran’s observation on the Guru’s staunch theism
TN Jayachandran’s observation on the Guru’s staunch theism
  1. Matha virodhathinte Matham - The Religion of Irreligiousness BY M.C.Joseph (Page 322-325 in Narayanaguru: Ed: P. CV Kunhuraman ((1871 &ndash 1949 was a distinguished man of letters eminent social reformer founder of Kerala Kaumudi, pioneering journalist and renaissance leader ChangaramKumarathu Krishnan Vakkeel was community leader social reformer Journalist from from Indian state of Kerala. Mookencheril Cherian Joseph, popularly known as Yukthivadi MC K. Balakrishnan, March 2000 (First Edition 1954) , Kerala Sahitya Academy
  2. See article by T. N. Jayachandran in Yukthireka (August 2004) and the book Charithrathe Aghadhamakkiya Guru by K.P.Appan (May 2005)
  3. See bilingual image (on the right) quoting observation by T. KP Appan is a renowned Literary critic in Malayalam. Born in 1936 in Alappuzha, Kerala, K N. Jayachandran in his article in Gurupadhom published by Kerala Kaumudi on Guru's 150th birth anniversary celebrations(August 2004).

Footnotes

  1. ^ Journal of Asian and African Studies Page 35. Bardwell L. Smith. BRILL. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula.
  2. ^ Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia. Bardwell L. Smith. BRILL. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula.
  3. ^ Bhaskar, B. R. P. . "The Sree Narayana effect", Kerala News, The Hindu, 2004-08-29. The Hindu is a single-edition English-language Indian newspaper "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing  
  4. ^ Narayana Guru- The Social Philosopher of Kerala. Sathya Bai Sivadas, P. Prabhakara Rao. Bhavans Books. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula.
  5. ^ Guru and Mahatma Gandhi. Sree Narayana Kendra, Delhi. Retrieved on 2008-02-10. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead

Bibiliography / References

External links

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam is organisation formed to propagate and promote the moral teaching and Dharma of Shree Narayana Guru.
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