Sivagiri Temple

Sivagiri temple was founded near Kollam by Sree Narayana Guru. This temple is referred as the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala which is nearly 46 kilometers from Trivandrum.

Sree Narayana Guru was a godly man as well as a social reformer. He was never selfish and his main objective was to purify the menace of discrimination in the state. He provoked and promoted harmonious environment that was unbound from communal antagonism.

Sree Narayan Guru invented the slogan ‘Oru Jati, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam’ which meant one caste, one religion and one god. He sermonized that eventually spirituality is the only one that shoots from humanity.

Sree Narayana Guru settled in Varkala and began his altruistic activities in certain fields such as he initiated a charitable school. He constructed a Mutt and Sarada temple.

The goddess Saraswati was seated in her white lotus. He tackled all the common commands of tradition such as constructing bathrooms, windows, taps and showers for his mutt and gave away with usual traditional practices of offering food or giving oil bath to the idol. The deity at Sarada Mutt was instated on the full moon day. The Sarada temple and the Sivagiri Mutt are established in a scenic hill near Varkala and today have gained great prominence as a pilgrimage with fanfare.

The Sivagiri Mutt became the hub of all reformist movements and is the head quarters of ‘Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham’. This is an organization focusing religion and is established by the Guru only to sponsor his concept.

As Sivagiri Mutt became the nucleus of all actions, the Guru stayed here until his death.

The Mutt now protects his tomb and numerous devotees visit the holy land during the year ends or beginning of the year.

Wearing yellow clothes as an indication of surrendering to their Gurus values, they assemble at the temple and owe to abide by the virtues.

Even after decades, his Samadhi is thronged by numerous devotees every year. Sree Narayana Guru was not only a social reformer, but also was a man of great accomplishments. Today also colorful processions, public meetings, community feasts, debates and seminars, cultural shows and group wedding feature the celebrations in the Sivagiri hills.

His teaching had significant effect on the backward society of Kerala and was of a great assistance in social progress. Varkala is accessible from Trivandrum airport and has the best roadways. Ernakulam and Trivandrum are the adjacent railway stations.