Sivagiri row: what is the outrage about?

Sub: History

Sec: Personality

Context:

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan used the inaugural event of the 92nd Sivagiri pilgrimage at Varkala to slam what he saw as attempts to appropriate social reformer Sree Narayana Guru into the Sanatana Dharma fold.
In his opinion, the attempt to portray Sree Narayana Guru as a champion of Sanatana Dharma ran counter to the renaissance leader’s humanist message and his work to eradicate casteist oppression.
He also called for the abolition of the regressive practice where men are required to remove their shirts before entering temples.

Importance of Sivagiri Madhom:

Sivagiri Madhom, established by Sree Narayana Guru, holds great cultural and religious significance in Kerala, especially for the Ezhava community.
The Guru’s efforts in the late 19th century to challenge caste discrimination, including the consecration of a Siva idol for all castes to worship, laid the foundation for social reform.

Political Context:

The Ezhava community constitutes about 23% of Kerala’s population.
Sivagiri Madhom has consistently maintained a politically neutral stance, trying to distance itself from any political party or ideology.
However, the BJP has been making a concerted effort to gain ground in Kerala, particularly by attracting the Ezhava community.

Sree Narayana Guru:

Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) was a prominent social reformer, philosopher, and spiritual leader from Kerala.
He belonged to the Ezhava community, considered an oppressed caste in the caste hierarchy prevalent in Kerala at the time.
Guru opposed the superstitious practices and ritualism prevalent in temples, which were often controlled by upper-caste Brahmins.
Sree Narayana Guru’s philosophy, “One Caste, One God, One Religion for mankind,” aimed at eradicating caste-based oppression.
He also founded the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam) in 1903, which focused on the social and educational upliftment of oppressed castes.
One of his most significant acts was the consecration of a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram, a place near Thiruvananthapuram, in 1888, challenging the Brahminical control over religious rites.