The Malayalam Calendar is a sidereal solar calendar used in Kerala. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE, the beginning of the Kollam Era.
Sree Narayana Guru was a philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer in India. He led a reform movement against the injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala in order to promote spiritual enlightenment and social equality. His famous quote was "one caste one religion and one god for all men".
Varkala is a major coastal municipality situated in the northern suburb of Trivandrum, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the headquarters of Varkala Taluk and important government institutions such as the taluk office, court complex, office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Legal Metrology Inspector office, Excise Circle and Range office, RTO, Treasury and Mini civil station are situated in here. It is one among the oldest municipalities of Kerala established on 1980.
Chattampi Swamikal was a Hindu sage and social reformer whose thoughts and work influenced the launching of many social, religious, literary and political organisations and movements in Kerala and for the first time gave voice to those who were marginalised. Chattampi Swamikal denounced the orthodox interpretation of Hindu texts citing sources from the Vedas. Swamikal strived to reform the heavily ritualistic and caste-ridden Hindu society of the late 19th century Kerala. Swamikal also worked for the emancipation of women and encouraged them to come to the forefront of society. Swamikal promoted vegetarianism and professed non-violence (Ahimsa). Swamikal believed that the different religions are different paths leading to the same place. Chattambi Swamikal led a wandering life like an adutha and throughout his intellectually and spiritually enriched life maintained many friends from different regions of Kerala. He authored several books on spirituality, history, and language staying with these friends.
P. A. Backer was one of the new-wave Malayalam film directors of the 1970s and 1980s.
Kumbalathuparambu Ayyappan, better identified as Sahodaran Ayyappan, was a social reformer, thinker, rationalist, journalist, and politician from Kerala, India. A vocal follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was associated with a number of events related to the Kerala reformation movement and was the organizer of Misra Bhojanam in Cherai in 1917. He founded Sahodara Sangam, and the journal Sahodaran and was the founder editor of the magazine Yukthivadi.
Sivagiri is an area in Varkala Municipality of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala. It is a pilgrimage centre of Varkala Town where the tomb, or samadhi, of Sree Narayana Guru is situated. It is a place where Guru built the Sarada Temple dedicated to Sarada Devi. The tomb is an attraction for thousands of devotees every year, especially during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days from 30 December to 1 January.
The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, otherwise known as Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, is in the Kudroli area of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. It was consecrated by Narayana Guru. It is dedicated to Gokarnanatha, a form of Lord Shiva. This temple was built in 1912 by Adhyaksha HoigeBazar Koragappa.
Nattika is a small village in Thrissur district of Kerala state, South India. It is centrally located about 25 km from Thrissur, Kodungallur, Irinjalakuda, Chavakkad, Kunnamkulam and Guruvayur. Nattika is beside the Arabian Sea. There is a beach in this village called Nattika Beach. Nattika Beach was previously known as Attakuzhi Bandhar Kadapuram. Nattika is on the west coast of Thrissur. Conolly Canal is the eastern border of Nattika. There is a private bus stand in Thriprayar. Nattika is 60 km away from Cochin International Airport and 25 km away from Thrissur railway station. Modern transportation and better communication facilities are available in the village. This is an assembly constituency.
The Cherai Gowreeshwara Temple is one of the main Hindu temples in Kerala State of South India. This temple is situated in the village of Cherai in the picturesque Vypeen island, sandwiched between the Arabian sea and the beautiful backwaters of Cochin. The temple is maintained by Vijnana Vardhini Sabha. This is the only temple in Asia that has a chathurmukha kovil. It is also known as Malayala Palani after the famous Subramanya Temple in Tamil Nadu. The main deity facing east is Subrahmanyan, but the temple is dedicated to the deity facing west, Sree Gowreeswaran or Lord Siva, one of the trinity of Gods in Hinduism and father of Subrahmanyan. The other deities are Parvathy, Siva's consort, and Ganapathy, the elder son, completing the family quartet of Lord Siva. The Gowreeshwara Temple festival is one of the main festivals in the Ernakulam district. The festival is conducted every year towards the end of January or early February. The main attractions are the Kavadi Utsavam in honor of the deity, Subramanian, and the Pooram, a magnificent display of caparisoned elephants, usually 25 to 30 in number. The temple was established by Sree Narayana Guru, saint and social reformer of Kerala, who fought against caste oppression and other social evils prevalent till the early twentieth century. The temple, right from its inception, was open to people of all castes and religions and is a living symbol of communal and religious harmony.
Chempazhanthy is a village in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram City, the capital of Kerala state in India, which lies about 7 km north. Chempazhanthy became notable after the birth of Sree Narayana Guru. There was a small hut called "Vayalvaaram" where Sree Narayana Guru was born, in the Malayalam Era year 1032 in the Malayalam month of 'Chingam' under the star 'Chathayam'. His father was Maadan. His mother was Kuttiamma. They had four children, one boy (Guru) and three girls.
The Sree Narayana Jayanthi Vallam Kali or Boat Race, at Kumarakom, Kerala is held in September every year during Onam festival. More than 1,000 oarsmen in boats of different sizes and shapes participate. Even though snake boats participate in this race, the importance is given here is for iruttukuthi, in which about 50 oarsmen row. The successful iruttukuthi wins the Sree Narayana Ever Rolling Trophy.
Hinduism is the largest religion in Kerala and Hindu lineages together make up 54.8% of the population of the state according to the 2011 census.
Peringottukara is a village in the western coastal side of India, located on the western side of Thrissur district, Kerala. The village is much famous for Vishnumaya Temples. Peringottukara village includes kizhakkumuri, vadakkumuri, and peringottukara center. Peringottukara village has main two junctions, the four-way junction, and three-way junction. The four-way junction has a petrol pump, three-star hotel, hypermarket, nationalized bank, Co-operative banks, and grocery stores. Peringottukara 3 way junction also has the same facilities. There are Chathan Seva temples at Peringottukara, such as Kanadi Kavu, Avanangattu Kalari, and Devasthanam. Among these Avanangattu Kalari is the biggest and oldest Temple. The biggest building, Shiva Parvathy Vishnumaya Terracotta Statue in Kerala is situated in front of the Peringottukara devasthanam, Its height is 52 ft.
Kottathur is a settlement in Ayroor village situated on the eastern part of Ayroor Village of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala state, India. The Pamba River flows by the southern side of the settlement, providing fertile soil. The settlement is in the parliamentary constituency of Pathanamthitta; the representative is Mr.Anto Antony.
Janardana Swami Temple is a 2000+ year-old temple situated in the municipality of Varkala city in Thiruvananthapuram district. It is also known as Varkala Temple. Janardana Swami is a form of Vishnu. It is a very well-known temple in Kerala, about 10.9 km west of Kallambalam on NH 66 near the sea, 25 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city, 8 km south of famous backwater destination Kappil and 2 km from Varkala Railway Station,14 km north west of Attingal municipality. It is situated near the Arabian Sea and has been referred to as Dakshin Kashi. The temple is near Varkala Beach, believed to have medicinal properties since the waters wash the nearby medicinal plants. It is also an important Ayurveda treatment center. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of a Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without casualties.
Sree Narayana Polytechnic College (Malayalam: ശ്രീ നാരായണ പോളിടെക് നിക്ക് is located in Kottiyam near Kollam, Kerala in southern India. It is named after the Saint and social reformer "Sree Narayana Guru". SNPTC was founded in 1957, by the Sree Narayana Trusts, Kollam under the initiative of the secretary, the late Sri.R.Sankar, former chief minister of Kerala. In the period 2006–07, the college celebrated its Golden Jubilee.
Sree Maheswara Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Koorkenchery in Thrissur city of Kerala state. The main idol in this temple is Lord Shiva which was consecrated by Narayana Guru himself in the Malayalam month of Chingam in the year 1092. There are sub-shrines for Parvathi, Ganapathi, Murugan Ayyappan, Navagrahas and serpent deities here. Even though Lord Shiva is the main deity of the temple, Thaipooya Mahotsavam, a seven-day festival dedicated to Lord Subramanya, is the main festival held in this temple.
Ezhava is a caste in Kerala. Shiva is a Hindu god. Siva idol was consecrated by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru at Aruvippuram, in 1888. Ezhava Siva refers not to Siva as God but to the tongue-in-cheek reply given by Sree Narayana Guru when questioned by a group of Brahmins about the legitimacy of a non Brahmin consecrating a temple. This was a major break from tradition as installation of idols by non Brahmins was considered blasphemy and Sree Narayana Guru belonged to the lower caste Ezhava community. The sarcasm was meant to highlight the immorality of Brahmins who denied social spaces and the right to worship from the lower castes.
Sree Sundareswara Temple is one of two prominent temples consecrated by Sree Narayana Guru Devan in Kannur District, the other being Sree Jagannaatha Temple, Thalassery. The temple is located in suburban Talap in the Kannur district of Kerala, India, approximately 2 km away from Kannur Railway Station, and 3 km from Kannur New Bus Stand, Thavakkara. The temple has Shiva, in the form of Sundareswara, as its main deity.
