Narayana Guru

• Narayana Guru, also known as Sree Narayana Guru, was a social reformer of India.

• He was born probably in 1856, the son of an Ezhava peasant, Madan Asan and his wife Kuttiyamma, in the village of Chempazhanthy near Thiruvananthapuram.

• Around 1897, he composed Atmopadesa Satakam (one hundred verses of self-instruction) in Malayalam.

• In 1912 a temple was built for Sharada Devi at Sivagiri.

• In 1913, Narayana Guru founded the Advaita Ashram at Aluva.

• Rabindranath Tagore met Narayana Guru at Sivagiri in November 1922.

• Tagore later said of Narayana Guru that, "I have never come across one who is spiritually greater than Swami Narayana Guru or a person who is at par with him in spiritual attainment".

• He died on 20 September 1928.

• On 21 August 1967, Narayana Guru was commemorated on an Indian postage stamp.

• Another commemorative stamp on him was issued by Sri Lanka Post on 4 September 2009.

• Both Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi and Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day are public holidays in Kerala.

• The life of Narayana Guru has been portrayed in at least three movies- the Malayalam films Sree Narayana Guru (1985), and Yugapurushan (2010), and the Tulu film Brahmashri Narayana Guru Swamy (2014).

• Major Works: Atmopadesa Śatakam, Daiva Dasakam, Jeevakarunya Panchakam, Shiva Shathakam, Darsana Mala, Nirvruthi Panchakam.

• The teeth of Sree Narayana Guru, which is his only mortal remains is kept at Nerul in Navi Mumbai.

• ‘Brahmasree Sree Narayana Guru’ was authored by T Bhaskaran.

• Due to Guru’s compulsion C Kesavan joined Thiruvananthapuram Law College.

• The name Sivagiri was coined by Guru.

• Guru is regarded as the greatest Keraliate of 20th century.

• The first sanyasi disciple of Guru is Sivalinga Swamikal.

• Athmopadeshasathakam was authored by Guru.

• The novel ‘Guru’ is authored by K Surendran.

• Bodhanandha was declared as his successor by Sree Narayana Guru in 1925.

• ‘Yoganadham’ is the publication of SNDP.

• ‘One Cast One Religion and One God’ is mentioned in Jati Mimamsa.

• Guru used saffron color dress for the first time during the occasion of first visit to Srilanka.

• In Karamukku temple consecrated by Guru installed ‘flame’.

• After meeting Ramana Maharshi, Guru wrote “Municharyapanchakam”.