Sivagiri Temple
Location
:
At Varkala, 51 Kms North of Thiruvananthapuram
Founded by
:
Sree Narayana Guru
Main Event Between
:
December 30 to January
Importance :
Narayana Guru Breathed His Last Here The 'Sivagiri Mutt' is a 'Ashram'
founded by the immense Hindu reformer and philosopher, Sree Naravana
Guru.
Even decades after the Guru breathed his last here in 1928 AD, his 'Samadhi'
(restling place) continues to be thronged by thousands every year. The 'Sivagiri
Pilgrimage' is conducted between December 30 and January 1.
The Mutt is also the headquarter of the 'Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham', a
religious organisation established by the Guru to propagate his concept
of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Sarada Temple and Sivagiri
Mutt set in picturesque hill of Sivagiri near Varkala have now become a
place of pilgrimage with great fanfare.
Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural
shows, community feasts, group wedding, rituals all mark the
celebrations in Sivagiri hills.
Sree Narayana Guru was one of the most public reformers of India and a
contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi. His call for parity among people found a
great following.
His teachings have had a profound effect on the caste-ridden society of
Kerala and helped the state achieve great social progress when compared
to the other states of India. Founded many ashrams, the most significant
being at Sivagiri near Kollam.
