Renaissance saint stood for a casteless society: Swamy Rithambarananda

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Swamy Rithambarananda, the general secretary of Sivagiri Dharma Sangham Trust, has said on the occasion of Sree Narayana Guru’s 162nd birth anniversary that the Renaissance saint had dreamt and strived for a casteless society. The Guru was first in the tradition of Rishis to issue a proclamation against casteism. His clarion call for a casteless society had come at a time when royal edicts ensured adherence to manmade casteist practices.

The Guru’s idol installation in 1888 at Aruvipuram was the very first declaration of his lofty, casteless society concept. All his subsequent messages and installations were aimed at freeing man from bondage. The social atmosphere during Guru’s time in Travancore, Cochin and Malabar was vitiated. The vast majority of the people were crushed under the caste yoke. The Guru emphasized the elimination of caste during his initial phase and later stressed on education, hygiene, the fear of God, farming, trade, handicrafts, industry and science and technology training.

He also fought to eliminate superstitions and decadent practices and paved the way for a higher form of worship. Thus he became exalted and the father of Kerala Renaissance. But there had been deliberate individual and concerted efforts to misinterpret Guru’s teaching and debase his contributions. Such elements were misusing the high court’s observation that Guru mandirs are not temples and the Guru is only a social reformer. His consecration of 54 temples, composition of numerous hymns and opposition to idol worship were also being used out of context to denigrate him. But it is left to the devout to determine the Guru for themselves and what mode of worship to adopt.

“India is a secular democratic country.  The Constitution grants one the absolute right to believe in one’s own religion, set up religious institutions to spread one’s belief and thereby propagate one’s traditions and customs through licit means”, says Rithambarananda. He pointed out that 2016 is an important year for followers of Sree Narayana Guru. Now more and more people and nations are coming forward to imbibe the Guru’s great vision and humanitarian message. Karnataka is officially celebrating Guru Jayanti this year. The Centre and Sri Lanka had issued postal cancellations as a tribute to the Guru.