MY GURU
Sree Narayana Guru
Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928), honored as a ‘Brahma Jnani’ (enlightened soul), dedicated his life and years of rigorous penance to the welfare of the world. His mission to shed light on an ignorant world continues even now, as he remains in the state of “Mahasamadhi (in a different dimension)”.
Guru was an extraordinary philosopher, spiritual leader, social reformer, poet, writer, farmer, teacher, scientist, physician, economist, tantric, monk, and much more. Above all, he remained a Spiritual Guru guiding us towards the profound joy of spirituality in subtlety. An example of his extraordinary stature is that the court once decreed, “The court is where the Guru sits,” as an honor and recognition towards his immense knowledge and wisdom.
Guru did not align with any specific religion or ideology. His teachings were rooted in Sanatana Dharma, the eternal truth that transcends all boundaries. His followers came from all walks of life—irrespective of country, religion, caste, profession, or language. He never asked anyone to change their name or faith to become his disciple. For him, spirituality was about embracing the universal essence that unites all, beyond the limitations of outward identity.
“Sri Narayana Guru has taught us the timeless principles of Panchadharma and Panchashuddhi, that everyone should practice in their lives.
The five elements of Panchadharma include Ahimsa (non-violence), Sathyam (truthfulness), Astheyam (non-stealing), Avyabhicharam (faithfulness), and Madyavarjanam (abstinence from intoxicants).
Shuddhipanchakam refers to the purity of the body, purity of speech, purity of mind, purity of senses, and purity of household.
PANCHA DHARMA
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Ahimsa is the noblest of all dharmas. "It is the sacred practice of causing no harm to anything —through thought, word, or deed." Those who practice Ahimsa are loved and trusted by all beings, big and small, as a child trusts its mother.
Sathyam (Truthfulness)
Truth is the eternal essence of the universe—Brahman. The universe exists in Truth. So, always speak the truth and never lie. Truth is what remains constant, unchanging, and eternal—yesterday, today, and forever. Guru speaks of this Universal Truth, which is beyond time and illusion. What is not eternal, what changes, is called Maya (illusion). A person who lives in truth is indeed a yogi. Whatever he says is bound to come to fruition, for their words are rooted in the eternal."
Astheyam (Non-Stealing)
Abstaining from taking what belongs to others is the essence of ASTHEYAM. This sacred principle transcends the mere act of theft, guiding us to refrain not only from physical stealing but also from coveting what others possess, even in our thoughts. Stealing, in any form—whether through thought, word, or deed—leads to harm and dishonor, disrupting both the individual and the collective harmony. "When we avoid coveting or taking what isn't ours, we create peace and goodwill."
Avyabhicharam (Fidelity)
"Fidelity is the commitment to never think of, look at, speak to, or engage with other women/men in a way that fosters wrong thoughts or intentions." It is a steadfast dedication to upholding the honor, trust, and respect of your partner, ensuring that every action reflects your unwavering commitment to the bond you share. "Infidelity destroys not only position, wealth, honor, knowledge, and reputation but also harms the very soul. Therefore, never fall into the trap of infidelity."
Madya Varjanam (Abstinence from intoxicants)
“Alcohol is poison - don't make it, don't give it, don't drink it”. It destroys the intellect (Budhi Bhramam). "The person who makes alcohol will have a foul smell, his clothes and house will be smelly, leaving an unpleasant smell on everything he touches." A drunkard is hated by his wife, father, mother, children and even by God. Toddy, opium, ganja, tobacco, narcotics and other similar substances cause harm to our intellect. They are all categorized as intoxicants, leading to the deterioration of clarity and mental well-being.
Shuddhipanchakam refers to
PANCHA SUDDHI
Purity of the body
The body must be kept clean and free from impurities. This involves physical hygiene, proper diet, exercise, and rituals like bathing, ensuring a healthy vessel for spiritual practices.
Note that the food we consume is not just to fill our stomachs; it holds knowledge. Choose food with life and consciousness (plant-based food). Avoid food with conscience that carries karma and complex memories (animal meat).
Purity of senses
Everything we perceive through our five senses eventually becomes part of our memory. The senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) must be controlled and focused on positive, uplifting experiences to nurture pure thoughts. Pure thoughts are essential for the intellect to grow. Without them, the intellect becomes narrow and limited, leading to a deteriorating world as we see today. Avoiding sensory distractions helps maintain inner peace and supports deeper meditation
Purity of mind
“The mind should be free from negative emotions like anger, jealousy, greed, and grudges. Meditation, mindfulness and contemplation help bring clarity, calmness, and focus for spiritual growth. A pure mind requires patience, sacrifice, repentance, selflessness, hygiene, love, respect, humility, discipline, obedience, gratitude, kindness, harmony, compassion etc.
Purity of speech
Speech should be truthful, clear, kind, polite and beneficial. By avoiding harmful words, gossip, or lies, one creates harmony and peace, fostering an environment conducive to spiritual progress.
Purity of household
A truly pure household is one where harmony, selfless love, and moral values flourish. Keep the home clean, follow daily rituals with “selfless” devotion, and create a positive environment for spiritual growth for everyone. Ensure the house gets sunlight and fresh air.
Avoid the following- Entertainment(TV or any other media), Quarrels with family, arguments, or offensive language. Instead, fill the space with calming, positive sounds to nurture peace. Remember, everything we see, hear, and experience becomes a part of our memory and shapes our culture.
In such a home, as Sree Narayana Guru said, offering a fallen flower in worship, without harming any plant or flower, will bring prosperity and blessings into your life.
"Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavanthu"
OUR GREAT GURU envisioned a world where all creatures —humans, animals, plants, and every creature—live as soul siblings (Athma Sahodharangal). All are equal before the Cosmic Power. This vision was inscribed at Aruvippuram Ashram after the consecration of the Aruvippuram Shiva Prathishta, as follows:
VISION
"Jaathibhedam mathadwesham
Aethumillaathe sarvarum
Sodaratwena vazhunna
Matrukaasthanamaanithu"
Sree Narayana Guru’s sacred Aruvippuram Prathishta, where the above single verse of 32 letters, penned at the age of 32, became an eternal beacon of unity, equality, and divine wisdom, lighting the path for generations to come
Guru's Words of Wisdom
MISSION
“Things done for your inherent pleasure should also benefit others.”
Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) offered the world the “8 Pilgrimage Goals” to create a world aligned with the vision of the Guru Parampara. Spirituality and materialism are two sides of the same coin, and the Guru’s goals guide us to balance both aspects of life.
The first three pilgrimage goals focus on spiritual progress:
Education
Cleanliness
Devotion to God
The fifth, sixth, and seventh goals emphasize material well-being:
Agriculture
Trade
Crafts
The fourth goal, Organization, bridges the spiritual and material aspects:
Organization
The eighth and final goal is Technology. Guru’s vision was to use technology to spread and implement the first seven pilgrimage goals worldwide:
Technology
The 3 main consecrations of Sree Narayana Guru.
(1) Aruvippuram Prathishta
By joining just two pieces of rock with his penance, Sree Narayana Guru shows the world the great secret of “how creation takes place in the universe” and how high a human being can reach through spirituality.
Modern science is not able to understand this universal secret, as it lies in subtlety. It can only be experienced through spirituality by crossing other dimensions.
Sree Narayana Guru showed us the path to reach this state through the two other consecrations – Sivagiri Sarada Prathishta and Aluva Adwaithashram
(2) Sarada Pratishta
The Sivagiri Sarada Pratishta represents the Tatva (principle) that awakens from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge, symbolizing the qualities of an ideal woman. It is a woman’s responsibility to protect “Dharma” in the world. When a woman is virtuous, the world becomes virtuous, as all are born through a mother, regardless of gender.”
Even though a lotus grows in muddy water, it remains untouched by the dirt. From that very mud, it blooms into something beautiful and spreads joy to others, unaffected by its environment.In the same way, a woman should remain pure and unwavering in the face of any hardship she may encounter—moving through life neither attached to nor detached from anything.
Women should be selfless, impartial, self-illuminating, and always stand on the side of truth and righteousness. Only then can a woman fulfill her duty by creating a good generation, protecting her family on the path of truth and righteousness, and ultimately guiding them to self-realization.
(3) Aluva Adwaithashram
All the consecrations by Sree Narayana Guru ended in Aluva Adwaithashram, where the Guru advised the ‘Dhyana Margam’ (meditation). “Meditation is a special state between waking and sleeping”. When you wake up, you are in the 3rd dimension with body consciousness, and when you sleep, you are in a state without body consciousness.” In meditation, one leaves his body consciousness and starts merging with the universe consciousness. Knowledge can only be gained through meditation. Everything that is not experienced is just information. When one reaches the peak of selflessness through meditation, the universe blesses them with Athma-Njanam (self-knowledge). Thus, by attaining self-knowledge, one can join two stones with the power of their Tapasya (penance), just as Sree Narayana Guru did in the Aruvippuram Prathishta.
