Nanu to Sree Narayana Guru- a journey that changed Kerala’s social landscape

PTI Thiruvananthapuram: The iconic doctrine of Sree Narayana Guru-- One Caste, One Religion, One God for Man, which encapsulates the spirit of universal brotherhood, has gained renewed global recognition. Pope Francis, while addressing the faith leaders and representatives gathered on Saturday at the Vatican, highlighted the Guru’s teachings as profoundly relevant in today’s world, marked by rising intolerance and divisiveness. Sree Narayana Guru first articulated this revolutionary philosophy on August 28, 1921, rooted in the principles of Advaita Vedanta.

According to the Sivagiri Math, which he founded, the Guru envisioned a practical, inclusive spiritual approach to everyday life. Born in 1854 as Nanu to Madan Asan and Kuttiyamma in Chempazhanthy near Thiruvananthapuram, he mastered Tamil, Malayalam, and Sanskrit under his father’s guidance. In 1877, Nanu pursued advanced studies under the renowned scholar Kummampilli Raman Pillai Asan in the traditional gurukula system.