Vice President's Secretariat
Vice-President Highlights Enduring Relevance of Sree Narayana Guru’s Teachings at Sivagiri Pilgrimage in Kerala
Sivagiri is not merely a pilgrimage; it is a way of life: Vice President .
Kerala’s Great Gifts to the World Are Adi Sankaracharya and Sree Narayana Guru: Vice-President
Sree Narayana Guru United Faith, Reason, and Social Reform: Vice President
Vice-President Calls on Youth to Draw Inspiration from Sree Narayana Guru’s Teachings
Posted On:
30 DEC 2025 1:40PM by PIB Delhi
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage at the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, Kerala. Addressing the gathering, he described Sivagiri not merely as a place of pilgrimage, but as a living philosophy and a journey of social awakening envisioned by Sree Narayana Guru.
The Vice-President said that Sivagiri symbolises the harmonious integration of spiritual seeking and social responsibility, where faith uplifts society and reason walks alongside devotion.
He noted that the Sivagiri Pilgrimage was conceived not as a ritualistic exercise, but as a movement for awakening through education, cleanliness, organisation, work, and self-respect.
The Vice-President observed that a single, powerful question posed by Sree Narayana Guru transformed society: Why should one human being be treated as lesser than another? The Guru answered this injustice with words that shook centuries of discrimination: “One caste, one religion, one God for humankind.”
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that the Guru’s revolution was calm, compassionate, and irreversible, rooted in dignity, equality, and humaneness.
Emphasising the Guru’s intellectual depth, the Vice-President said that Sree Narayana Guru upheld faith without surrendering reason, rejected blind belief, and welcomed rational inquiry. This synthesis of spirituality and rationalism, he said, made the Guru not only a saint of his time, but a guide for the future.
Highlighting India’s civilisational ethos, the Vice-President said that Indian spirituality has always placed love as the highest form of worship. He noted that Sree Narayana Guru lived this philosophy through action, demonstrating that service to society is greater than ritual, and love towards fellow human beings is the truest form of devotion.
The Vice-President stated that the great contributions of Kerala to the world are Adi Sankaracharya and Sree Narayana Guru, whose philosophies continue to inspire humanity.
Observing that in India, pilgrimage is not tourism but transformation, the Vice-President said that Sivagiri exemplifies this civilisational truth. He noted that saints across centuries travelled freely across regions and languages, reinforcing India’s enduring strength rooted in harmony among faiths.
Referring to the Government of India’s initiatives, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that pilgrimage infrastructure is being strengthened through schemes such as PRASAD, improved connectivity including Vande Bharat trains, and the development of spiritual circuits. From Kashi to Rameswaram, he said, these initiatives foster harmony, unity, and social cohesion.
Calling upon citizens, especially the youth, the Vice-President urged them to draw inspiration from the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru and uphold the constitutional values of equality, fraternity, and justice. Concluding his address, he expressed confidence that the wisdom emanating from Sivagiri would continue to guide India towards a future marked by social justice, dignity, and universal brotherhood.
Earlier, the Vice-President offered prayers and paid reverential homage at the sacred Samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, Kerala.
During the event, the Vice-President released four books:“The Sage Who Re-imagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru”, authored by Shri Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament; “Sree Narayana Gurudeva Divya Leelamrutham”, authored by Brahmasree Swami Satchidananda;“Naam Arivakunnu”, prepared by the University of Kerala as part of the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage Workshop; and “Empowering Minds and Transforming Lives: Sree Narayana Guru’s Philosophy of Education and Skill Development”, authored by Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Divakaran and Dr. Suresh Kumar Madhushudhan
Governor of Kerala ,Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar;Union Minister of State for Tourism and for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Suresh Gopi;Minister for Local Self Government, Excise, Kerala, Shri M. B. Rajesh;Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor;President Sivagiri Mutt ,Brahmasree Swami Satchidananda; General Secretary Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust ,Shreemath Swami Subhamgananda; Secretary, Sivagiri Pilgrimage Committee, Sreemath Swami Saradananda; Founder & CEO, ZOHO Corporation,Shri Sreedhar Vembu; Chairman, 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage Committee , Dr. A. V. Anoop and other dignitaries were present.
****
PR/ASM
(Release ID: 2209736)
Visitor Counter : 317