28) JAGATH GURU SREE NARAYANA GURUDEV, (1856 - 1928) Honouring Prominent Saints and Temples of India:

JAGATH GURU SREE NARAYANA GURUDEV, (1856 - 1928)

Honouring Prominent Saints and Temples of India:

The Reserve Bank of India, to commemorate of the 150^th birth anniversary of Jagath Guru Sree Narayana Gurudev, issued  a 5 rupees coin in September, 2006, for general circulation both in Cupro-nickel and Ferritic stainless steel (FSS). On this occasion, another coin, in the denomination of 100 rupees, was issued as proof / uncirculated specimen.

 Jagath Guru Sree Narayana Gurudev, was a great Saint, philosopher, social reformer, spiritual teacher and poet of Kerala (India) who stressed the need for the spiritual and social upliftment of the downtrodden by their own efforts through the establishment of temples and educational institutions.

He was born into an Ezhava or Thiyya family on 22nd August 1856 A.D. (1032 of the Malayalam calendar) in the village of Chempazhanthi in Trivandrum (Kerala).The Ezhavas were treated as non-caste Hindus or "Avarnas" and faced social, economic, religious and political oppression/injustice of the "Savarnas" (caste Hindus). They were, also, not allowed access to any temples of God as well as temples of learning because they were treated as "untouchables". Narayan Guru's parents nicknamed him "Nanu" and because of his mastery in Sanskrit, poetry, literary commentaries and excellent knowledge of the Vedas and Upanishads (texts containing teachings of the Hindu religious Philosophy) etc. he was called "Nanu Asan" (Nanu, the teacher). since childhood, he sang hymns in God's praise and contemplated on the social injustices being meted out to the "Avarnas.

  Nanu would often spend time in the temples, writing poems and hymns and lecturing villagers on philosophy and moral values. 

For about eight years he became a hermit and wandered about as an “avadhoot” or “mendicant”, subsisting on the alms he received from people , “seeking the ultimate truth” (Parivrajaka) in the forests, immersed in meditation and Yoga. 

 He was instrumental in leading the “Reform movement” in Kerala and  propagated a non-violent philosophy against casteism and  inculcated new values of freedom in spirituality and social equality, thereby bringing about a sea-change in the thinking of the people. In the process he brushed aside the superstitions that clouded the fundamental Hindu religious convention of “Chaturvarna” (Four social castes or classes).

Around this time, the right to worship in a Hindu temple was the exclusive monopoly of the Brahmins and the “Savarnas” (caste Hindus). Sree Narayana’s first "revolutionary" act was to set up a temple dedicated to Shiva (one of the Gods in the Hindu pantheon) in Aruvippuram in 1888 A.D. In the temple is inscribed in Malayalam the following ideal, which epitomizes Sree Narayana creed. “This is the ideal place where all live in full harmony, without distinction of Caste or prejudice of Creed”. It was called a “Model Foundation” where everyone lived in and prayed in Brotherhood.  

Within a few years Sree Narayana established several temples in Kerala.The Ezhavas now had  temples of their own on the model of caste-Hindu temples that denied them admission, and in their temples they could worship the deities until then the exclusive right of the caste Hindus. 

Long before the “Temple Entry Proclamation” of the Travancore government in 1936 whereby government temples were open to all Hindus, the temples established by Sree Narayana had become places of  worship, of the ‘Avarnas” (non-caste Hindus). In addition, these temples made no discrimination on the ground of caste, or creed and were open to both Hindus and non-Hindus. 

The climax of his temple reform was the installation of a mirror for worship in the temple founded at Kalavancode in Sherthallai. The mirror is symbolic of Sree Narayana’s teachings that man should find his own salvation not in lifeless deities but within  himself by  uplifting  his inner self.  

Sree Narayana did not attempt to create a new religion, but he put forth the creed of “Universal Goodness”.  The essence of his belief can be summarized in the following sentence: “Oru jati, oru matham, oru daivam manushyanu” (meaning : one caste, one religion, one God for all humanity).

Sree Narayana founded two Ashrams, at Varkala and Alwaye. These Ashrams were dedicated to a great principle - Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (“all men are equal in the eyes of God” or “the Brotherhood of all”).

In 1928, he founded the “Dharma Sangha”, an order of Sanyasins who were expected to be his true disciples.

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.

All across the State, hundreds of small “Guru Mandirams”( temples of the Guru)  are devoted to the reverence and worship of Sree Narayana Guru by his followers.

   Many writings in Malayalam and Sanskrit, are attributed to him. He wrote “ Atmopadesa Sathakam” (one hundred verses of self-instruction), written in Malayalam, which is basically, the Guru’s philosophy of egalitarianism and human society based on equality and without any discriminations and “Darsanamala” which epitomize his great moral and spiritual precepts. In all, he was the author of 15 works of religion/literature in Malayalam, 17 in Sanskrit and 1 in Tamil. 

In addition, he was instrumental in the translation of three religious texts, including the "Thirukkural", "Isavasyo Upanishad" and "Ozhivilotukkam" in Malayalam. In all his works he expounded the ‘Advaita’ philosophy.

Narayana Guru's Samadhi (final resting place or memorial) is in Sivagiri, where he attained eternal peace in September 1928.

Thousands of pilgrims/devotees throng to the Samadhi every year on the “Sivagiri pilgrimage” days on 30^th December and 1^st January every year.

 Obverse of the five rupee coin issued in 2006, in commemoration of the 150^th birth anniversary of Jagath Guru Sree Narayana Gurudev. In the centre of is the Lion Capital,together with the words “Saytyameva Jayate” (Truth Always Prevails) below it, the symbol of sovereignty of the Government of India. Below the Lion Capital is the numeral “5” denoting the denomination of the coin. On the left are the words “Bharat” and “Rupiye” in Hindi and on the right are the words “India” and “Rupees” in English.There is a dotted border design on the periphery.

The reverse  of the above coin showing his portrait,  with the words "JAGATH GURU SREE NARAYANA GURUDEV" on the left upper periphery in Hindi and on the right upper periphery his name is mentioned in  English.This coin has been minted by Mumbai mint.Notice the rather small “diamond” mint mark below the bottommost dot in the dotted circular design on the outer periphery of the reverse side.







Links to other articles on coins issued on Prominent saints and temples of India: 

1) 25 Years of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board

2) Lord Mahavir: 24th Teerthankar of Jainism

3) Sant Thiruvalluvar

4) Celebrating 1000 years of Brihadeeshwarar Temple

5) Mother Teresa  

6) Jagathguru Sree Narayana Gurudev

7) Mahatma Basaveshwara

8)   Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram

9) Swami Chinmayananda : Celebrating his Birth Centenary: A Rs.10/- coin issued by the Hyderabad Mint 

10) Commemorating the Birth Centenary of Acharya Tulsi of Jainism by issuing a Rs.20/- coin 


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