Sree Narayana Guru : A Critical Study
Contents: Prologue. Foreword. Preface. Appraisements. Translator’s note. Transliteration chart. 1. Kerala—before the advent of Sree Narayana Guru and after. 2. The inner currents of spirituality: hymns to Gods. 3. Poems spilling spiritual vision—Advaita Dipika and Atmopadesa Satakam. 4. Sanskrit poems. 5. Translations. 6. The Sree Narayana gospel and Guru’s view of life. 7. The influence of Sree Narayana literature on the Malayalam language. 8. Gurus, compatriots and disciples. 9. Installation of idols (Pratisthas) and Guru’s concept of temples. 10. Guru’s humour and sarcasm. 11. The Sivagiri pilgrimages: their message. 12. The global impact: Nataraja Guru and Guru Nitya Chaithanya Yati. 13. Guru in Smrtis. 14. The organisations. 15. Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham and the Gurudeva vision. 16. Memorials. Landmarks in the life of Sree Narayana Guru. Bibliography.
"It is a holistic, at once compelling account of a saint-reformer of modern Kerala: Sree Narayana Guru (1856-1928). Veritably a versatile genius: a sage, philosopher, poet and social revolutionary, all rolled into one, Gurudeva was a perfect, though largely inscrutable, human being who, like Svami Ramakrsna Paramahamsa, created new tracts of his own in the realms of Indian philosophy. And invested temporal life, in any form, with an air of spirituality about him—as is reflected, for instance, in his crusades against caste discriminations in Kerala or in his larger concerns with peace, universal brother-hood and co-existence.
Dr. Jayakumar’s profile of this great guru focusses on his life, historical background, socio-cultural milieu, spirituality, philosophy, poetic genius, social reforms, humour, legacy and all else that one would possibly want to know about Sree Narayana Guru. Markedly different from the sofar published studies on him, this book becomes the first ever to incorporate the English versions of Narayana Guru’s verses: in both Malayalam and Sanskrit, together with their streamlined annotations and lucidly written, insightful discussions. Which, in turn, also bring out Jayakumar’s remarkable critical acumen in highlighting the essential meaning, philosophical import and spiritual intensity of Gurudeva’s poetry.
A work of epical grandeur, developed from years of the author’s serious, persevered research, the book reconstructs not just the life-story of a legendary saint, but also the entire scenario of his activity covering over a century of Kerala’s social, spiritual and literary history." (jacket)
