Sree Narayana Guru was an embodiment of all virtues, values and rare qualities seldom found in human race. He was a mystic, a philosopher, a visionary, a scientist, a social reformer and a poet, all blended into one. To millions of his devotees, Sree Narayana Guru is an incarnation of God. He was a saintly contemplative man who could impart wisdom and give enlightenment to a seeker of truth. His teachings are straightforward and simple, bringing out spiritual, moral and material revolution.

Sree Narayana Guru was born during India's darkest phase. The British ruled the country and the Indian Culture was at its most decadent. The twists and turns given by the custodians of Hindu Religion to Adwaita philosophy and Varnashrama led Hindus into a caste ridden society, dividing man against man and degrading a vast section of society into untouchables. Religion lost its credibility as a spiritual binding force. Places of worship were the monopoly of so-called upper castes. The lower castes were denied entry into temples. They were forbidden to walk along the public roads. They were denied education and employment. They were not allowed to wear proper clothes to cover their nakedness. It was at this time of misery that the Guru was born as a harbinger of hope and succour, a crusader of freedom and self-respect.

Sree Narayana Guru was born in a South Indian village, Chempazhanti in Kerala, on 26th of August 1855. Guru grew up seeing the pathetic condition of the fellow beings and the inhuman treatment inflicted upon them. His childhood incidents gave an indication that he was gifted with supernatural qualities to remove the sufferings of the poor and ignorant. After his education in Sanskrit and Ayurveda, he set out in search of truth. He wandered around in plains and forests. He learned Vedic philosophy and Upanishads. He also studied Tamil books like Tirukkural, Tirumandiram, Tiruppakazh, Tiruppavai, Vedanta Jnanavaddil Kattilai, Ozhaivil Ozhukkam, Sivapuranam etc. He did an intense penance in a cave at Marutvan hills sustaining himself on berries and tubers and drinking from mountain brooks. Just as Siddhartha became awakened under the Bodhi tree at Gaya and became Gautama Buddha, Narayana Guru emerged as an enlightened Guru from Maruthvan.

Sree Narayana Guru, instead of remaining in solitude and enjoying the divine bliss for himself, opted to utilize his spiritual achievements and wisdom, Atmavidya, for the betterment of humanity. He interpreted the quintessence of Vedic philosophy in its purest perspective and propounded the theory of universal brotherhood of mankind. The practical application of Sanatana Dharma and eternal truth in the day-to-day life of humanity was his greatest achievement. Guru placed the dignity and self-respect of mankind at the highest pedestal above all the religions and believed that the individual should have the freedom to choose his religion. He believed that if the religious strife is to end, every one should be taught the virtues of other man's religion and he should learn it with an open mind. This will reveal him that the fundamentals of all religions are the same. Religion does not mean sectarianism. It means a belief in ordered moral structure of the universe. It transcends Hinduism, Islam, Christianity etc. It harmonizes and brings forward the truth. True Knowledge of the religions breaks down the barriers between faith and faith. In this context, Guru gave the message "Whatever be the religion, it is enough if man becomes good". He neither made any religion nor propounded one.

Today everybody speaks of one world, of one humanity, of the essential unity of religion and of irrevocable solidarity of mankind. More than hundred years ago Sree Narayana Guru had presented his ideal of man as "One in kind, one in religion and one in God". Guru's audience was the neglected, hated, hunted and tabooed pariah, who saw in him a ray of hope. He was a savior for the persecuted masses of the world that toiled and moiled in sunshine and rain to feed, cloth and fatten those high-ups in the society, whose prerogative it was, in turn, to sin against man's dignity and self respect. In this modern era of a shrinking world to a global village, thanks to the information explosion and communication revolution, we can hope that the vision of Guru for a "One world government" and "One world humanity" may become a reality.

Guru lived with the caring benevolence of a compassionate Buddha and a loving Jesus. He set the pace of new revolution with personal examples, such as giving the pariah a chance of live the highest ideals of the Upanishads and eschewing all differences of caste and creed by opening places of worship and education where every man could assemble, work, learn and live in fraternity. He had emancipated vast enslaved section of the society from disgrace, superstition, practice of evil rituals and absured customs. In a nut shell, he filled the gap of a renaissance pending since ages to offer millions of masses Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. He revealed through his own life that how the Advaita philosophy, that the supreme one alone prevails and all that we see and experience are only its variegated manifestations, could be practically applied in the day to day life of humanity.

Guru revolutionized the existing social, religious and philosophical system. As a first step, he consecrated a "Siva" idol at Aruvippuram in Kerala at a time itwas the prerogative of Brahmins to install idols and lower castes were denied entry into temples. . At the temple entrance, he displayed a message:

"Without difference in caste Or rancor of religion This is a model place Where all live in brotherhood."

The Aruvippuram consecration, which happened in 1888 in effect,demolished the very foundation of age-old tradition of consecrating idols and building temples by coterie of the so called high priests alone. It also destroyed the monopoly of priesthood. Slowly and steadily, his axe started falling on the mindset of the people. He made the pariah to believe that they are lower to none. He made them to believe that they have to learn to stand on their own feet. He helped them to save themselves from superstitious beliefs and to do away with the self-destroyed rituals, customs and dogmas practiced by them out of ignorance and in the name of religion and tradition. He wanted the temples to be the center for purity and development.

Guru did not stop at consecration of temples. He realized that lack of education and reasonable means of livelihood made people live like slaves. The schools then run by government and the upper caste hindus did not allow the lower caste people. Guru soon set out a plan to open education facilties at temple premises and mobolsed teachers. He also planned cottage industries like weaving and handicrafts to improve the livelihood of peopole. Guru consecrtaed several such temples all over Kerala and created facilities for education and employment. He also created an Organization by name "Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam" to carry forward his mission. Later many schools and institutions of higher education were started by SNDP Yogam. Mass movements like "vaokkom Satyagaraham" opened the eyes of the ruling class and subsequently public schools were also thrown open to the lower castes. Guru was thus the pioneer of education revolution in Kerala.

From dust he made men of dignity who became resourceful as leaders in all walks of life and who gave literature a new tilt and meaning to trumpet the message of social, political and economic change. His wisdom was unique. His ability to analyze the cause and find solution was great. His capacity to co-ordinate different talents for the achievement of his objectives was beyond imagination. His disciples include great poet like Kumaran Asan and then atheists, rationalists, intellectuals, innumerable devotees, high dignitaries etc. in India and abroad. He could inspire them all. He never argued about anything. He never criticized anybody. He was a man of composure and action. While he was liberating the people from age-old ill-conceived traditions, he never said a word against the then so called custodians of superstitious traditions and vested interests. Within a short span of time Guru could transform a state once called by Swami Vivekananda as "Lunatic Asylum" to a state of self respecting, forward looking, tolerant society. Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Acharya Vinoba Bhave visited Sree Narayana Guru at his abode in Sivagiri, Varkala at Kerala and paid glowing tributes.

Sree Narayana Guru had written over 62 books in Sanskrit, Malayalam and Tamil put together. Most popular among them are "Atmopadeshashadhakam" (one hundred verses of self instruction) written in Malayalam and "Darshanamala" written in Sanskrit. His universally acceptable lofty messages are reflected in these books. Some of Guru's messages are:-

One Caste, One religion, One God for man.

Whatever be the religion, it is enough if man becomes good.

Ask not, think not, and say not caste.

Acts that one performs for one's own sake should also aim at the good of other men.

Gain freedom through education.

Gain strength through organization.

Gain prosperity through industry.

Liquor is poison: make it not, sell it not and drink it not.

Of one in kind, one in faith, one in god is man, of the same womb, one same form, difference none there is at all.

Guru set his own examples by living throufgh the ideals in his messages. The entire life of Guru was full of activities for the welfare and prosperity of the mankind irrespective of caste, creed, religion and language. He was epitome of original thinking and creativity.

Also read: "Life and Teachings of Sree narayana Guru" - A textbook for students published by Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti.