The World Of Knowledge!!: Sree Narayana Guru

Narayana Guru

Sree Narayana Guru was born at Chempazhanthi in Thiruvananthapuram district on 20th August 1856 (Chathayam in the month of Chingam).

His father was Madan Asan and mother was Kutty Amma. His was named Narayanan and was dotingly called Nanu.

At the age of five, Nanu joined a nearby school for formal education. He continued his education at home with his father and uncle in Tamil, Sankrit, and other traditional subjects. His father was a teacher(Asan), was proficient in Sanskrit, Astrology and Ayurveda. His uncle Krishnana Vaidyan was a reputed Ayurvedic physician. He was taught the basics of the Tamil and Sanskrit languages and traditional subjects such as Siddharupam, Balaprobhodhanam and Amarakosam.

He had his higher studies at Varanapally by Kummampalli Raman pillai Asan.

He showed strong affinity for poetics and reasoning, composing hymns and singing them in praise of God.

His mother passed away when he was 15. Nanu spent the most part of his early youth assisting his father in tutoring, and his uncle in the practice of Ayurveda, while devoting the rest of his time for devotional practices at the temples nearby.

After his studies he also began teaching in a near-by school. From that time the people respectfully called him “Nanu Asan”.

His friendship with Chattambi Swamikal started in 1884. Chattambi Swamikal introduced him to Thycaud Ayyaswami, a distinguished yoga guru of Trivandrum. From him Nanoo learned ‘yogasanas’, practices likeNauli, Dhoudi, and Khadam and Khechari mudra.

Later he went to Maruthwamala in search of ultimate truth and spent 8 years of solitary life. Here, Narayana guru is believed to have attained a state of Enlightenment.

In 1888, he installed an idol of Shiva at Aruvippuram on the banks of Neyyar river.

As only Brahmins had ever installed an idol, that event was dubbed as ‘Aruvippuram revolution’. When Brahmins challenged his right to consecrate, he replied in his famous quote “I installed my siva; not a Brahmin siva”.

At Aruvippuram these words were inscribed on a plaque “Without differences of caste, Nor enmities of creed, Here it is, the model of an abode, where all live like brothers at heart”.

In 1891 Kumaranasan (then Kumaru) met Guru.

Sree Narayana Guru was appointed as the first president of SNDP Yogam founded in 1903 with the initiative of Dr.Palpu.

A new phase began in the Guru’s life in 1904. He decided to give up his wandering life and settle down at Sivagiri, about 32 kms north of Thiruvananthapuram. The name ‘Sivagiri’ was given by Guru.

In 1905 he organised the first agricultural and industrial exhibition in India, at Kollam

He established many temples at different parts of the Kerala. He did the prathishta of the goddess Sree Sarada at Sivagiri on April 1912.

In 1914 he established Adwaithasramam at Aluva (Ernakulam district).

In 1916 he met Ramana Maharshi at Thiruvannamala, Tamil nadu.

Guru made his first visit to Sri Lanka in 1918. It is the only foreign country visited by him.

Rabindranath Tagore visited Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri in 1922.

Tagore recorded after his visit to Sivagiri, ‘I have been touring different parts of the world. During these travels, I have had the good fortune to come into contact with several saints and maharshis. But I have frankly to admit that I have never come across one who is spiritually greater than Swami Sree Narayana Guru of Kerala — nay, a person who is on par with him in spiritual attainments. I am sure I shall never forget that radiant face, illumined by the self effulgent light of divine glory and those yogic eyes fixing their gaze on a remote point on a far-away horizon.’

Guru provided leadership to the ‘Sarva Matha Sammelanam’ held at Aluva in 1924.

The theme of the conference was “Not for argument but to know and inform others”. He visited the Satyagrahis at Vaikkom in 1924.

When Gandhiji visited Kerala in connection with Vaikom Satyagraha in 1925, he also visited Guru.

Mahathma Gandhi wrote in the guest book at Sivagiri, “I consider it the greatest good fortune of my life to have visited the beautiful Travancore state and met the most venerable saint, Sree Narayana Guru Swami trippadangal”.

Guru’s second visit to Sri Lanka was in 1926.

Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham was registered in 1928. Guru attained samadhi on 20th September 1928 (5th of Kanni month of Kollam Era).

He is regarded as the father of the renaissance of Kerala.

He belonged to Ezhava community and it was an era in which Ezhavas were facing much social injustices in the caste-ridden society of Kerala.

He was the first Keralite to be appeared on an Indian stamp and also the first Keralite to be inscribed on a coin of RBI.

He is only Keralite whose birth day and death anniversary are declared holiday by the Government of Kerala.

He was the only person who was exempted from court appearances in civil cases by Government of Travancore.

The slogan popularized by Sree Narayana Guru-“One caste, one religion and one God for mankind”.

He also exhorted “Liquor is poison, make it not, sell it not, drink it not”.

“Organize and strengthen Educate and Enlighten” was also the advice of Guru.

He taught “Whatever may be the religion of a man, it is enough if he becomes virtuous”, “Ask not, Say not, think not caste”, “Act that one performs for one’s sake should also benefit other”.

The novel ‘Guru’ by K.Surendran depicts the life of Sree Narayana Guru.

The film ‘Yugapurushan’ directed by R.Sukumaran based on the life of Guru.

Sivalinga Swamikal was the first Sanyasa disciple of Guru.

Anandatheertha Swamikal was his last Sanyasa disciple.

The first work of Sree Narayana Guru is Gajendramoksham Vanchipattu. His other famous works are Atmopadeshasatakam, Darshanamala, Daiva Dasakam, Nirvritipachakam, Janani Navaratna Manjari etc.

Sivagiri pilgrimage, now known as Sivagiri Theerthadanam, was conceived by Vallabhasseri Govindan Vaidyar and T K Kittan Writer. It was duly approved by Gurudevan on January, 1928.

Important Questions on Sree Narayana Guru

1. who is known as "Father of Kerala Renaissance" : Sree Narayana Guru
2. Sree Narayana Guru was born on : 20th August 1856
3. House name of Sree Narayana Guru : Vayalvarathu Veedu
4. The Place where Sree Narayana Guru was Born : Chempazhanthy (Thiruvananthapuram)
5. Sree Narayana guru's father name : Madan Assan
6. Sree Narayana Guru's mother name : Kuttiyamma
7. Sree Narayana Guru's wife Name : Kaliyamma
8. Childhood name of Sree Narayana Guru : Narayanan
9. Sree Narayana Guru was the discipline of : Kunnampalli Raman Pillai Assan and Thycadu Ayya
10. The Yoga guru of Sree Narayana Guru : Thycadu Ayya
11. Sree Narayana Guru learned Hadayoga Vidya from : Thycadu Ayya
12. The place where Sree Narayana Guru started a school : Anchuthengu (1881)
13. The place where Sree Narayana Guru get enlightenment : Pillathadam cave (in Maruthwamala)
14. Maruthwamala is situated in : Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu)
15. Sree Narayana Guru is also known as : Nanu Assan
16. The year which Sree Narayana Guru met Chattambi Swami : 1882(Anniyoor Temple)
17. The first temple consecrated by Sree Narayana Guru in : Aruvippuram (1888)
18. Aruvippuram is situated on the banks of which river : Neyyar river(Neyyattinkara)
19. The first work of Sree Narayana Guru : Gajendramoksham Vanchipattu
20. Sree Narayana Guru dedicated his book "Gajendramoksham Vanchipattu" to : Chattambi Swami
21. The year which kumaranasan met Sree Narayana Guru : 1891(Kayikkara)
22. The year which Dr.Palpu met Sree Narayana Guru : 1895 (Bangalore)
23. The book which included the lines in Aruvippuram temple : Jathi Nirnayam
24. Dr.Palpu called Sree Narayana Guru as : Periya Swammi
25. Dr.Palpu called kumaranasan as : Chinna Swami
26. Aruvippuram temple society was formed in : 1898
27. SNDP yogam was founded on : 15th May 1903
28. Which organization was considered as the predecessor of SNDP : Vavoottu Yogam
29. Full form of SNDP : Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam
30. The first and Permanent Chairman of SNDP : Guru
31. Headquarters of SNDP situated in : Kollam
32. The first Vice President of SNDP : Dr.Palpu
33. The first General Secretary of SNDP : Kumaranasan
34. The mouth piece of SNDP : Vivekodayam
35. The year which SNDP published Vivekodayam : 1904
36. The first editor of Vivekodayam : Kumaranasan
37. The official editor of Vivekodayam : M.Govindan
38. At present the mouth piece of SNDP : Yoganadam
39. Shivagiri Mutt at varkala was established on : 1904
40. which year the temple of Sarada consecrated by Sree Narayana guru : 1912 (Sivagiri)
41. Advaitha Ashramam at Aluva was established on : 1913
42. The motto of Aluva Advaitha Ashramam : Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra
43. Sree Narayana Guru founded Sanskrit School at Aluva in : 1916
44. The year which Sree Narayana Guru conducted all religious conference at the Aluva Advaitha Ashramam : 1924
45. The chairman of All religious conference : Justice Sivadasa Iyer
46. Theme of All religious conference: Not for argument but to know and Inform others
47. Ayyankali met Sree Narayana Guru in : 1912(Balaramapuram)
48. Vagbhadanathan met Sree Narayana Guru in : 1914
49. Sree Narayana Guru met Ramana Maharishi in : 1916 (Thiruvannamalai)
50. Sree Narayana Guru visited Srilanka for the first time in : 1918
51. Sree Narayana Guru met Tagore in : 1922
52. Who translated the conversation between Tagore and Sree Narayana Guru : Kumaranasan
53. Sree Narayana Guru met CF.Andrews in : 1922
54. Sree Narayana Guru visited the vaikom sathyagrahis in : 1924
55. Sree Narayana Guru met Gandhiji in : 1925(Sivagiri)
56. Sree Narayana Guru visited Sri lanka for the last time : 1926
57. The famous Sivagiri Pilgrim Festival conducted on : December 30 to January 1
58. The famous Sivagiri Pilgrim Festival first conceived by : Vallabhasseri Govindan Vaidhyar and T.K.Kittan
59. The first Sivagiri Pilgrimage Group from the village of : Elavumthitta (Pattanamthitta)
60. Dress code of Sivagiri Pilgrims are : Bright Yellow
61. The first malayale to appear in the Indian postal stamp : Sree Narayana Guru
62. The first malayale to appear in the Sri lankan postal stamp : Sree Narayana Guru(2009)
63. The only foreign country visited by Sree Narayana Guru : Sri Lanka
64. The first malayalie to be inscribed on a coin of Reserve Bank of India : Sree Narayana Guru
65. Sree Narayana Jayanti Boat race conducted in : Kumarakam(Kottayam)
66. Sree Narayana Trophy Boat race conducted in : Kannetti kayal(karunagapalli)
67. The temple which Sree Narayana Guru consecrated first mirror : Kalavan Code (Om Shanti written on the surface of the mirror)
68. The poet who said that guru was the Second Buddha : G.Sankara Kurup
69. Who is responsible for the connection between Guru and Swami Vivekananda :Dr. Palpu
70. Sree Narayana Guru founded Sree Narayana Darma Sangam in : 1928 January 9
71. Sree Narayana Guru's last public function was at : 1927(kottayam)
72. Sree Narayana Guru attains Samadhi in : 20 September 1928(white dress)
73. First statute of Sree Narayana Guru is in : Thalassery Jagannath temple
74. The first Sanyasa disciple of Sree Narayana Guru : Sivalinga Swamikal
75. The last Sanyasa disciple of Sree Narayana Guru : Anandatheertha swamikal
76.The disciple nominated by Sree Narayana Guru as his successor : Sree Bodhanda Swamikal
77. The first European disciple of Guru : Ernest Kerk
78. Sree Narayana Dharma Sangam was founded on : 9th January 1928
79. The lines "Act that one performs for own sake should also aim for the well being of others" are mentioned in : Athmopadesha Sathakam
80. The founder of Sree Narayana Trust(1952) : R. Shankar
81. The place where Sree Narayana Trust is situated : Kollam
82. he book Sree Narayana Dharma written by : Bodhanda Swamikal
83. Guru's later literary work Atmopadesa Sathakam written in : Malayalam
84. The novel Guru is written by :K.Surendran
85. The book Brahman Sree Narayana Guru : T. Bhaskaran
86. Who translated the book Brahman Sree Narayana Guru into English : A.J. Thomas
87. Who translated.The book Brahman Sreenarayana guru into Tamil : Vijayakumar Kunnissery
88. Who translatedhe book Brahman Sreenarayanaguru into Hindi : H. Balasubramaniam
89. The book Narayana Guru Swami written by : M.k. Sanu
90. The film Yuga Purushan is directed by : M. Sukumaran
91. The Actor play the role of Sreenarayana guru in the film Yuga Purushan : Thalaivasal Vijay
92. The novel Narayaneeyam written by : Perumbadavam Sreedaran
93. The book Guru Deva karnamritham written by : Killimanoor Kesavan
94. The book yugapiravi written by : K.Vasudevan
95. The lines "One Caste, one Religion, One God for Man" are mentioned in :Jathimemamsa
96. Who is known as "Buddha of Kerala" : Sreenarayana guru
97. International Center for Sree Narayan Guru studies situated in : Navi mumbai (Maharashtra)