For over a decade, dark, vicious clouds have been hovering over the Sivagiri Mutt, the spiritual arm of the Sree Narayana Dharma established by the great social reformer and spiritual Acharya of Kerala Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana Guru'scontribution to the existence of Hinduism in Kerala can never be forgotten. Had the Guru not been there, entire Kerala would have got converted to Christianity and Islam. Guru gave moral and spiritual support to the backward Hindus, organised them and gave them the mantra of ?One God, One Caste and One Religion?. This is totally different from the Semitic concept of One God. Guru'smessage was based on Sanatan Dharma, where there is only one truth. Poems and hymns composed by the Guru including Deivadashakam are in praise of Hindu gods and the temples established by him in various parts of the state have Lord Shiva'sidols. The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust (SNDST) are over a century old and are the sword arms of Hindu movement in Kerala.
In 1996, Swami Prakashananda, a renowned scholar and true inheritor of the Hindu culture was elected president of the Sivagiri Mutt. Not in good terms with the Swamiji, Swami Sashwathikananda, a political manipulator, tried to unseat Swami Prakasha-nanda and make himself head of the Mutt. Unable to muster support, he colluded with Islamic terrorist Madhani to forcibly take over the Mutt and throw out Swami Prakashananda. Muslim extremists with swords, pipe bombs, etc. were let into the divine Mutt, established by Sree Narayana Guru. The then Chief Minister A.K. Antony in consultation with BJP leader Shri O. Rajagopal, ordered police entry into the Mutt and arrested the extremists.
For several years the Mutt was under court'sadministration. Swami Prakashananda observed a fast in front of the Secretariat during the CPM rule of 1996-2001 for restoration of his right as president of Sivagiri Mutt. The CPM, which was hand-in glove with Swami Sashwathikananda humiliated him. Full support was given to Swami Prakashananda by RSS, HAV, BJP, etc. and Shri L.K. Advani visited him in front of the Secretariat, Trivandrum, where he was fasting. Subsequently, Swami Prakashananda and his disciple Swami Rithambarananda participated in several Sangh Parivar functions including Sangh Shiksha Vargas. He attended the valedictory function of International Seminar on Bhagavat Gita at Thiruvananthapuram and shared dias with Shri P. Parameswaran and the Dalai Lama.
Now after a decade, winds of change are sweeping over Sivagiri. The dark clouds are giving way to a clear blue sky with silver clouds. In a decisive victory that would have far reaching benefits for the Hindu population of Kerala, Swami Prakashananda and Swami Rithambarananda have been elected president and secretary of the Sivagiri Mutt with the full support of Shri Vellapalli Natesan, the charismatic general secretary of SNDP and a strong votary of Hindu unity in Kerala.
With Christian and Muslim population of Kerala fast nearing the half-way mark and they cornering all the benefits, the Kerala Hindus are on the verge of being squeezed to pulp. The only way out is the total unity of all Hindu organisations of Kerala, and with Swami Prakashananda leading the Sivagiri Mutt, the tiny light of hope has turned into a bright lighting. ?S.C.
