Amid the growing political controversy, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not back down. This morning, in a lengthy Instagram post, Vijayan reiterated his thoughts on the teachings of Sanatana Dharma and Sree Narayana Guru.
At a ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the 92nd journey of Sivagiri, Vijayan highlighted the Guru’s opposition to Sanatana Dharma, saying that its core “varnashrama dharma”, based on “chatur varnyam”, supports human activities, and the Guru urged to reject division or religion. -based roles.
Pinarayi also cautioned against using Sree Narayana Guru as a “spokesman or expert of Sanatana Dharma”.
Amid heavy criticism of the BJP, which accused Vijayan of disrespecting Sanatana Dharma and its followers, and vote bank politics, the Chief Minister, the next day on New Year’s Day, said “I stand by what I said about Sanatana Dharma”.
On Thursday, he posted a lengthy post on Instagram, repeating much of what he said at Tuesday’s event, including that Sree Narayana Guru is not a spokesman for Sanatana Dharma. He also reiterated his view on Sanatana Hindutva, saying, “An old Brahminical monarchy is being tried to be established in the name of Sanatana Hindutva.”
Responding to Vijayan’s comments, Congress leader VD Satheesan, at the closing ceremony of the trip to Sivagiri on Wednesday, alleged that the Chief Minister had misrepresented the concept and alienated the important cultural and spiritual heritage of the country. He pointed out that Vijayan effectively allowed the BJP to suit the Sanatana Dharma.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran, too, alleged that there was an attempt to “hijack” the ideas and legacy of Sree Narayana Guru.
This revived the debate surrounding the title, which began with Udhayanidhi Stalin talking about its abolition.
WHAT WELL SAID PINARAYI VIJAYAN?
The chief minister likened the concept to another word, saying: “Sanatana Hindutva is a word often heard in Indian politics.” The term has become equally popular with both casteism and casteism. What further proof is needed that what is being tried to be established by the name ‘Sanatana Hindutva’ is an ancient Brahminical monarchy?”
Vijayan said there is growing support for the view that Sanatana Hindutva is a great and glorious culture and that “its restoration is the only solution to all social ills”.
According to him, among these was the slogan ‘loka samastha sukhino bhavantu’ which means ‘may the whole world be happy’. “Hindutva is the only religion in the world that has produced such a positive vision. But those who raise this forget the preceding line which says ‘if cows and Brahmins are good then the whole world is good’,” he said.
BACK THROUGH PINARAYI
This drew criticism from all parties, especially the BJP. Former state BJP chief V Muraleedharan said the Kerala chief minister had insulted the “holy land of Sivagiri” and the “followers of Sanatana Dharma”.
Speaking to the media, Muraleedharan said: “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says that Sanatana Dharma is like royalty. He says Sanatana dharma is ‘Varnashrama Dharma’. Pinarayi’s statement is a continuation of Udayanidhi Stalin’s statement that Sanatana Dharma should be abolished.”
A former Union minister said Vijayan is “insulting Sanatana Dharma” to get vote support from “forces working against the national interest.”
“He does not make insulting statements about these other religions,” added Muraleedharan.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticized the Minister’s remarks and accused him of insulting Hinduism to get strong votes.
Congress’s VD Satheesan argued that Sanatana Dharma transcends separation from religion. It contains the essence of spiritual and cultural values of India based on the Vedas and Upanishads.
“By making such a statement, you have declared the entire Sanatana Dharma as the right of one half of the people. It is not for the people the Chief Minister is targeting,” said Satheesan.
“There is an attempt to cover Sree Narayana Guru within the framework of ‘chatur varnyam’ and ‘varnashram’ under the name of Sanatana Dharma,” said KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, adding that the Guru’s teachings cannot be surrendered to such matters.
SREE NARAYANA GURU AND THE VIVAGIRI JOURNEY
Despite all this, has Pinarayi Vijayan reopened a can of worms by talking about Sanatana Dharma? The article that got Udhayanidhi Stalin into serious legal and political trouble?
To understand this latest brouhaha regarding ‘Sanatana Dharma’, the pilgrimage to Sivagiri and the cultural significance of Sree Narayana Guru must be understood.
The Sivagiri pilgrimage is an important festival among the followers of Sree Narayana Guru. It is an annual festival celebrated for three days, from December 30 to January 1, when devotees, dressed in yellow, gather at the Guru’s Samadhi in Sivagiri.
A late 19th-early 20th century philosopher and spiritual leader in Kerala, Sree Narayana Guru led a revolutionary movement against caste-based discrimination. His symbolic declaration, “One caste, one religion, and one God for all men,” became the foundation of his work.
He has since been proposed for sainthood, but he espoused the belief that with skills, knowledge, hard work, and a clean environment, oppressed communities could become independent, fearless, and morally and financially strong.
The journey to Sivagiri, envisioned by the Guru, includes a revolutionary vision with guiding teachings such as “One in kind, one in faith, and one in God Man” and “No matter what the religion, man must be good.”
And it should be remembered that Vijayan’s words were made on a platform that celebrated this pilgrimage.