**Executive Summary**
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, inaugurated the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage at Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, Kerala on December 30, 2025. He emphasized the enduring relevance of Sree Narayana Guru's teachings, describing Sivagiri as a living philosophy and a journey of social awakening. The event also included the release of four books related to Sree Narayana Guru.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Sivagiri Pilgrimage:**
* The 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage was inaugurated by the Vice-President of India.
* Sivagiri is described as a way of life, a living philosophy, and a journey of social awakening.
* It symbolizes the harmonious integration of spiritual seeking and social responsibility.
* Pilgrimage infrastructure is being strengthened through schemes such as PRASAD and improved connectivity.
* **Sree Narayana Guru's Teachings:**
* Emphasizes the importance of equality, reason, and social reform.
* Upholds faith without surrendering reason, rejecting blind belief.
* Stresses service to society as greater than ritual, with love towards fellow human beings as the truest form of devotion.
* His teachings should inspire youth to uphold constitutional values of equality, fraternity, and justice.
* **Kerala's Contributions:**
* Highlights Adi Sankaracharya and Sree Narayana Guru as great contributions of Kerala to the world.
* **Book Release:**
* Four books related to Sree Narayana Guru were released during the event:
* "The Sage Who Re-imagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru” by Shri Shashi Tharoor.
* “Sree Narayana Gurudeva Divya Leelamrutham” by Brahmasree Swami Satchidananda.
* “Naam Arivakunnu” prepared by the University of Kerala.
* “Empowering Minds and Transforming Lives: Sree Narayana Guru's Philosophy of Education and Skill Development” by Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Divakaran and Dr. Suresh Kumar Madhushudhan.
**Impact Analysis**
**Youth**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to draw inspiration from the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru and uphold constitutional values.
* **Action Required:** Study and implement the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru in their lives.
**Citizens of India**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to uphold the constitutional values of equality, fraternity, and justice.
* **Action Required:** Contribute to social justice, dignity, and universal brotherhood.
**Pilgrims**
* **Impact:** Pilgrimage infrastructure is being strengthened through schemes such as PRASAD and improved connectivity.
* **Action Required:** Participate in pilgrimage activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Sree Narayana Guru: A social reformer and spiritual leader whose teachings are central to the Sivagiri Pilgrimage.
Sivagiri Pilgrimage: An annual pilgrimage held at Sivagiri Mutt in Kerala, focusing on the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru.
Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, Kerala: The location of the Sivagiri Pilgrimage and the Samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru.
PRASAD: Government of India Scheme for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive.
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice-President Highlights Enduring Relevance of
Sree Narayana Guru’s Teachings at Sivagiri
Pilgrimage in Kerala
Sivagiri is not merely a pilgrimage; it is a way of life: Vice
President .
Kerala’s Great Gifts to the World Are Adi Sankaracharya and
Sree Narayana Guru: Vice-President
Sree Narayana Guru United Faith, Reason, and Social
Reform: Vice President
Vice-President Calls on Youth to Draw Inspiration from Sree
Narayana Guru’s Teachings
प्रव तथ: 30 DEC 2025 1:40PM by PIB Delhi
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage at
the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, Kerala. Addressing the gathering, he described Sivagiri not merely as a place
of pilgrimage, but as a living philosophy and a journey of social awakening envisioned by Sree Narayana
Guru.
Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage
at Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, Kerala.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President said that “Sivagiri is not merely a
pilgrimage; it is a way of life”, describing it as a living philosophy and a… pic.twitt
er.com/PXCPAZgbX1
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) December 30, 2025
The Vice-President said that Sivagiri symbolises the harmonious integration of spiritual seeking and social
responsibility, where faith uplifts society and reason walks alongside devotion.
He noted that the Sivagiri Pilgrimage was conceived not as a ritualistic exercise, but as a movement for
awakening through education, cleanliness, organisation, work, and self-respect.The Vice-President observed that a single, powerful question posed by Sree Narayana Guru transformed
society: Why should one human being be treated as lesser than another? The Guru answered this injustice
with words that shook centuries of discrimination: “One caste, one religion, one God for humankind.”
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that the Guru’s revolution was calm, compassionate, and irreversible, rooted
in dignity, equality, and humaneness.
Emphasising the Guru’s intellectual depth, the Vice-President said that Sree Narayana Guru upheld faith
without surrendering reason, rejected blind belief, and welcomed rational inquiry. This synthesis of
spirituality and rationalism, he said, made the Guru not only a saint of his time, but a guide for the future.
Highlighting India’s civilisational ethos, the Vice-President said that Indian spirituality has always placed
love as the highest form of worship. He noted that Sree Narayana Guru lived this philosophy through
action, demonstrating that service to society is greater than ritual, and love towards fellow human beings
is the truest form of devotion.
The Vice-President stated that the great contributions of Kerala to the world are Adi Sankaracharya and
Sree Narayana Guru, whose philosophies continue to inspire humanity.
Observing that in India, pilgrimage is not tourism but transformation, the Vice-President said that Sivagiri
exemplifies this civilisational truth. He noted that saints across centuries travelled freely across regions
and languages, reinforcing India’s enduring strength rooted in harmony among faiths.
Referring to the Government of India’s initiatives, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that pilgrimage
infrastructure is being strengthened through schemes such as PRASAD, improved connectivity including
Vande Bharat trains, and the development of spiritual circuits. From Kashi to Rameswaram, he said, these
initiatives foster harmony, unity, and social cohesion.
Calling upon citizens, especially the youth, the Vice-President urged them to draw inspiration from the
teachings of Sree Narayana Guru and uphold the constitutional values of equality, fraternity, and justice.
Concluding his address, he expressed confidence that the wisdom emanating from Sivagiri would continue
to guide India towards a future marked by social justice, dignity, and universal brotherhood.
Earlier, the Vice-President offered prayers and paid reverential homage at the sacred Samadhi of Sree
Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, Kerala.
Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, offered prayers and paid
reverential homage at the sacred Samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt
in Varkala, Kerala. pic.twitter.com/Go3fGVWdNF
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) December 30, 2025
During the event, the Vice-President released four books:“The Sage Who Re-imagined Hinduism: The
Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru”, authored by Shri Shashi Tharoor, Member of
Parliament; “Sree Narayana Gurudeva Divya Leelamrutham”, authored by Brahmasree Swami
Satchidananda;“Naam Arivakunnu”, prepared by the University of Kerala as part of the 93rd Sivagiri
Pilgrimage Workshop; and “Empowering Minds and Transforming Lives: Sree Narayana Guru’s
Philosophy of Education and Skill Development”, authored by Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Divakaran and Dr.
Suresh Kumar Madhushudhan
Governor of Kerala ,Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar;Union Minister of State for Tourism and for
Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Suresh Gopi;Minister for Local Self Government, Excise, Kerala, Shri M.
B. Rajesh;Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor;President Sivagiri Mutt ,Brahmasree Swami
Satchidananda; General Secretary Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust ,Shreemath SwamiSubhamgananda; Secretary, Sivagiri Pilgrimage Committee, Sreemath Swami Saradananda; Founder &
CEO, ZOHO Corporation,Shri Sreedhar Vembu; Chairman, 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage Committee , Dr. A.
V. Anoop and other dignitaries were present.
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PR/ASM
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