Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi 2021

Context

Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti (August 23) has been celebrated with great aplomb across the state of Kerala.

Who was Sree Narayna Guru?

• Sree Narayana Guru was a catalyst and leader who reformed the oppressive caste system that prevailed in society at the time.
• His philosophy always advocated social equality, education for all, and spiritual enlightenment. The caste system was rampant in Kerala at that time.
• Caste: 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.’

Contribution in anti-caste revolution

• 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.
• His step sparked off the anti-caste revolution against the upper-caste Brahmin communities.
• In 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) as the founder and president.
  • The organisation 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.