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The 'Sivagiri Mutt' is a 'Ashram' founded by the great
Hindu reformer and philosopher, Sree Naravana Guru.
Even decades after the Guru breathed his last here
in 1928 AD, his 'Samadhi' (restling place) continues
to be thronged by thousands every year. The 'Sivagiri
Pilgrimage' is conducted between December 30 and January
1.
The Mutt is also the headquarter of the 'Sree Narayana
Dharma Sangham', a religious organisation established
by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste,
One Religion, One God'. The Sarada Temple and Sivagiri
Mutt set in picturesque hill of Sivagiri near Varkala
have now become a place of pilgrimage with great fanfare.
Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public
meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group wedding,
rituals all mark the celebrations in Sivagiri hills.
Sree Narayana Guru was one of the greatest social reformers
of India and a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi. His call
for equality among people found a great following.
His teachings have had a profound effect on the caste-ridden
society of Kerala and helped the state achieve great
social progress when compared to the other states of
India. Founded many ashrams, the most important being
at Sivagiri near Kollam
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