Sivagiri-Temple - Dekho Apna Desh

Complete Guide about Sivagiri Temple

Location

Sivagiri Mutt Sivagiri Rd, Varkala, Kerala 695141
Timings

Every Day
05-00 am - 12-00 pm
04:30 pm - 07:30 pm
Entry Fee

Free Entry

Sivagiri Temple

About Sivagiri Temple

You may go approximately 3 kilometres from Varkala town to get to Sivagiri Mutt, one of the most well-known pilgrimage sites in Kerala. The Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an association of the disciples and followers of the renowned reformer Sree Narayana Guru, also has its headquarters there.The 200-acre Mutt campus is characterised by its characteristic multi-tiered white terraces, which will undoubtedly draw your attention once you arrive. The mutt, which is located on a plateau that is high, is revered. Sree Narayana Guru, a social reformer and guru, passed away here in 1928. On a nearby hill, throngs of pilgrims come to visit the Samadhi, the Guru’s ultimate resting place. The Guru’s home is also present, and within are some of his possessions.
There is a Sharada temple nearby as well. The Guru personally dedicated the centre idol, Goddess Saraswati.

Annapoorneshwari Temple Official website Link www.srikshetrahoranadu.com

The History

Sree Narayana Guru erected a hermitage on top of the Sivagiri hill in Varkala in 1904 because he was drawn to the area’s serene atmosphere and natural beauty. This hermitage eventually developed into a significant pilgrimage site. Later, the Guru was given Sivagiri Hill by the Travancore State Government, and other locals also handed him property. As a result, Sivagiri became the hub of all Sree Narayana Movements.

Along with the Guru, a large number of social reformers contributed to the foundation of the Mutt at Sivagiri. Some of them included the renowned Malayalam poet Kumaran Asan and Dr. P. Palpu, a former sociopolitical activist. They had strong opinions about how society and the Ezhava community could be reformed and were devoted disciples of the Guru.

Sree Narayana Guru recognised the value of education and emphasised it constantly. As a result, he built an elementary school here. Also established was a night school for the uneducated members of an untouchable caste. The Guru consecrated the Goddess Saraswathi statue here and dedicated the temple to the Goddess of Knowledge when his pupils wished to construct one. The Saradha (Saraswathi) temple was built here as a result in 1912.

Architecture :

The Guru himself conceived and constructed the octagonal-shaped Sivagiri Sarada shrine. The Sarada temple at this location contains windows, which is quite unusual for a temple. The Guru intended to dedicate it to Saraswathy, the Goddess of wisdom, and gave it the name Sarada Mutt. The goddess is depicted sitting on a white lotus, signifying the purity of knowledge emerging.

The rites differ from those at other temples as well. In contrast to other temples, Sharada Temple does not engage in any rituals like nivedyam (giving food to the deity) or abhishekam (pouring oil, ghee, and other substances on the idol). Instead, worshippers are free to venerate the goddess while chanting hymns. Guru, who was also a writer and poet, praised the Goddess in his poem Janani-navaratna Manjari.

The Guru insisted on maintaining strict sanitary standards on the temple grounds in addition to consecrating a symbolic deity and forbidding all tantric rites. The temple is now also governed by the Guru’s teachings, making it distinct from other temples throughout the globe.

Festivals :

At Sivagiri Mutt, the Guru’s birthday and Samadhi day, which fall in August/September, are celebrated with great significance. On the occasion of Gurudeva Jayanthi, the Guru’s birthday, vibrant processions, discussions, seminars, open forums, and cultural performances are held. Thousands of followers march in the parade while dressed in yellow.

The Sivagiri pilgrimage, which is held from December 30 to January 1, is another significant celebration in this area. At the Guru’s Samadhi, where he spread the idea of “One Caste, One Religion, and One God,” hundreds of pilgrims dressed in yellow clothing now congregate from all regions of Kerala.