Sri Narayana Guru

Sri Narayana Guru

A social Reformer and a Saint

Shree Narayana Guru eas born into an Ezhavafamily. The caste, Wzhavas faced a lot of social injustices during this period. He received his formal education from a local school master. He was also educated at home by his father who was proficient in Astrology. His orthodox parents also taught him Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

He was drawn into worship at local temples. Guruji condemned the social evil practices at his young age. He criticized his relatives for isolating lower caste children from prayers. During his young age itself, Nanu  used to meditate for a long time.

Nanu changing to YOGI

                He was sent to a famous scholar, Raman Pillai Asan to learn Sanskrit. He became a scholar and started writing poems. He came back to his at the age of 24 discontinuing his studies as his father became bed ridden. He then started taking care of the schools left by his father.   
     

                During this time, he started spending more time in temples. He also started lecturing villagers on philosophy. He started searching for “the ultimate truth of the universal existence”

Marriage life

                He was forcefully married to Kaliamma by his sisters. He was never interested in marriage life. So the girl stayed with her parents right from the day of their wedding.

Sri Narayana Guru – A wanderer

                Nanu spent most of his life wandering as a saint. He was called ‘Parivrajaka’ . He was called so as he wandered in the quest of Truth. He was introduced to Thycattu Ayyavu by Chattampi swamikal. Ayyavu taught him the yogic principles and made him to master the practices of Hatha Yoga.

  

Sri Narayana Jayanti is still being celebrated by his followers in the month of August and September even today.

Titles given to the legend

·         Malayalee of the century, by Malayala Manorama in 1999

·         The second Buddha, by Mahakavi Shankara Kurup

Statue of Guruji

                The firs statue of Guruji was installed in Jagannatha Temple in Thalassery in 1927. The statue was built by an Italian sculptor Tavaroli. It took him 14 months to complete the bronze statue.

Enlightment

After learning the yogic principles, Gurudevan went to the forests of Maruthwamala and spent eight long years meditating in isolation.During this period, Sri Narayana Guru is believed to attain enlightment.

Consecration of ShivaLinga

                Gurudevan was travelling through Aruvippuram where he and his disciples made a halt by a river side for the night. Suddenly Nanu started walking into the river by 12 in the midnight. The followers were shocked and also scared to stop their Guru. The Confused and astonished disciples waited for him watching the river.

               

Nanu ji suddenly started walking out of water after 3 hours with a shiva Linga idol in his hand. He then started meditating holding the idol for 5 hours with tears in his eyes.

                Later that evening, he consecrated the linga by the river side.

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 Author: Subhashini Rajendran, a freelance writer. She writes at
http://www.durofy.com/author/subhashini_rajendran/