Hinduism in Kerala

Kerala is home to Hindu saints and swamis of all castes. Vaikunda Swami, who was the first among the saints of Kerala [ [http://www.education.kerala.gov.in/englishmedium/historyeng/chapter9.pdf www.education.kerala.gov.in] Towards Modern Kerala, 10th Standard Text Book, Chapter 9, Page 101. See this Pdf] was a Nadar. Narayana Guru, Sant Enadinatha, Sant Ilakkulaccanrar, Sant Tiruppana were all Sudra, Cheraman Nayanar was a Kothayar, Chattampi Swamikal and Swami Chinmayananda were of the Nair caste, and Adi Shankara was a Brahmin. The Harijan Parayas of Kerala claim to descend from Sant Vasistha. [ Dr. C. I. Issac, "The Origin of Syrian Christians of Keralam" ] Kollengode has a structure near Thirthala-Koottanad Road, in memory of a Harijan saint, Sant Paakkanar. [ P. 94-5"Tourist Guide to Kerala: The Land of Lavish Lagoons" By V. Subburaj, Various ] In the Rapayan Tujjal, the narrator (dancer-reciter) is a Harijan and a descendant of Sant Pakkanar [(Kr̥ṣṇavāriyar, P. 193 "A History of Malayalam Metre")] . The "Periya Puranam", possibly written by a Paraya, describes the Parayas. Further, the "Vishvakarma Purana" was written by a sonar (goldsmith).

The official festivals of Sree Narayana Jayanti (Narayana Guru's birthday) and Sree Narayana Samadhi Day (Narayana Gurus passing away) are celebrated by the Keralites in memory of a great Shudra reformer of their society.

The modern Hindu Karma yogi saint Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) is was from the Arayan caste (fisherman). She was selected to represent Hindu Dharma in the World Parliament of Religions in September 1991. [ [http://www.amritapuri.org/amma/pwr93/pwr93.php] ] Bhagawan Nityananda is another important Hindu saint reognized worldwide.

Several Hindu movements important to Hindu history took place in Kerala. These were Shankara's Advaita, Vaishnava Alwar, and Shaiva Nayanar.

Kerala has several ancient Hindu temples. In the medieval Alwar "Divya Desam" text, out of 108 Vaishnava temples all over India adored by the Alwars, eleven of those are in Kerala. [ [http://www.templenet.com/Kerala/kerala_dd.htm] ] The Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple, (one of the most ancient in India) dedicated to the Kirata avatar of Lord Shiva still exists in Kerala.

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