Sivagiri Mutt Trivandrum

Introduction to the Sivagiri Temple

Sivagiri Mutt, Sivagiri Sarada Temple, or Sivagiri Temple, is one of Kerala's most popular pilgrim destinations. This ancient temple is located on the top of the Sivagiri hill in Varkala, Kerala. It was also called southern Benaras in earlier days.

History of the Sivagiri Temple

Sri Narayana Guru, the prominent reformer and philosopher of Kerala, dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the oppressed. The natural beauty and calm ambiance of Varkala attracted him. So, he built a hermitage atop the Sivagiri hill in 1904, which later became a major pilgrim center. Later, the Travancore State Government granted the Sivagiri Hill to the Guru. Some people near the place also offered him land. Thus, Sivagiri became the prime center of all Sri Narayana Movements. The followers of Sri Narayana Guru are called Ezhavas.

Apart from the Guru, many social reformers helped establish the Sivagiri Temple. The former socio-political activist Dr. P. Palpu and the well-known Malayalam poet Kumaran Asan were some of them. They were ardent followers of the Guru and had diverse ideas on the reformation of society and the Ezhava community.

Sri Narayana Guru always emphasized the importance of education. Hence, he established an elementary school here. He started a night school for the illiterate children of an untouchable caste, which is still present. When his disciples wanted to build a temple here, the Guru dedicated it to the deity of Knowledge and consecrated the idol of Saraswati here. Thus, the Sarada (Saraswati) temple came up here in 1912.

The Architecture of the Sivagiri Temple

Sri Narayana Guru built the Sivagiri Temple. It is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of disciples and followers of Sri Narayana Guru.

Sri Narayana Guru established the Sivagiri Temple in 1904. It sprawls over a 200-acre area. The Sivagiri temple has distinctive, multi-tiered white terraces and is situated on an elevated platform. The Sivagiri Temple is octagonal in shape. Sri Narayana Guru himself planned and designed the temple. The Guru named it Sarada Mutt and wanted to dedicate it to Saraswati, the deity of Knowledge. She sits on a white lotus, indicating that Knowledge emerges from purity.

Pilgrims can see a Sarada (Saraswati) shrine on the Sivagiri Temple premises. Sri Narayana Guru built it on a full moon day and consecrated the main idol of Saraswati here.

There is also the Guru's residence, which displays his belongings. Sri Narayana Guru breathed his last in 1928 at the Sivagiri Temple. His Samadhi is situated on a hillock near the temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims.

Its rituals are also different from other temples. While other temples perform Nivedyam or Abishekam, the Sivagiri Temple does not conduct such rituals. The devotees worship Saraswati only by reciting her hymns. Guru was a writer and poet who wrote Janani Navaratna Manjari praising Saraswati.

Guru shunned all rituals at the Sivagiri Temple and insisted on keeping the temple's hygiene standards high. His followers, till today, adhere to the Guru's words and instructions. Thus, the Sivagiri Temple is quite unique.

Along with the Guru, Dr. P. Palpu and Kumaran Asan built the Sivagiri Temple. Kumaran Asan is a famous Malayalam poet. Renowned personalities like Rabindranath Tagore have visited the Sivagiri Temple.

Festivals in the Sivagiri Temple

The Birthday and Samadhi days of the Guru are observed in August and September at the Sivagiri Temple. On Guru Deva Jayanthi day, the birthday of the Guru, processions, seminars, public meetings, debates, and cultural shows are conducted. Thousands of followers wear yellow attire and participate in the Guru's birthday procession.

The Sivagiri pilgrimage is observed from December 30 to January 1 at the Sivagiri Temple. Hordes of pilgrims from different parts of Kerala gather at the Guru's Samadhi. They propagate his concept, "One Caste, One Religion, and One God."