Sivagiri temple is a village in the Varkala municipality of Kerala’s Trivandrum District. It is a pilgrimage centre in Varkala Town, where Sree Narayana Guru’s grave or samadhi is present. Guru also built the Sarada Temple. The main deity in the Sarada temple is Sarada Devi, the goddess of Knowledge. Sivagiri temple timings are from 5 AM to 9 PM.
Thousands of devotees visit his tomb annually during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days, from December 30 to January 1. Guru established this temple to promote his concept of “One Caste, One Religion, One God.” On this page, we will give more information about the temple. So, read the page thoroughly to know more.
Sivagiri Temple History:
Contents
The natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere drew Sree Narayana Guru to Varkala. He erected a hermitage atop the hill in 1904, later becoming a prominent pilgrimage destination.
The Travancore State Government granted the Guru Sivagiri Hill, and several locals offered him property. As a result, Sivagiri became the heart of all Sree Narayana movements.
Aside from the Guru, numerous social reformers assisted in establishing the Mutt in Sivagiri. Dr P. Palpu, a former socio-political activist, and Kumaran Asan, a well-known Malayalam poet, were among them.
They were devout Guru disciples with different beliefs about transforming society and the Ezhava community. Guru always stressed the significance of education. So, he built an elementary school here.
The Architecture of the Temple:
The Guru himself planned and designed the Sarada temple. The temple is octagonal. The Sarada temple in this location contains windows, which are unusual for a temple.
Sarada Mutt was the Guru’s name for the temple he planned to devote to Saraswathy, the Goddess of Knowledge. The goddess is seated on a white lotus, symbolizing the emerging purity of Knowledge.
Sivagiri Temple Timings
Below are the Sivagiri temple timings.
Temple opens at 5 AM, closes at noon, again at 4:30 PM, and closes at 9 PM.
Major Festivals:
The Birthday of Sree Narayana Guru is in August. So, we can see people celebrating this day at the temple. People conduct colourful processions, debates, seminars, public meetings, and cultural shows on his birthday. Guru’s death day is in September. Hence, people will perform some other programs on that day.
The pilgrimage is another prominent festival from December 30 to January 1. Thousands of pilgrims dressed in yellow from all across Kerala will gather for the Guru’s Samadhi these days.
How to Reach the Temple?
By Air:
Thiruvananthapuram Airport is the nearest airport to the temple.
By Rail:
The Varkala railway station is the nearest railway station to the temple. Thiruvananthapuram railway station is 41 km from the temple.
By Road:
The temple has good road facilities from all the nearby cities. So, you can easily reach the temple by road.
These are the different transport modes available to reach the Varkala temple. Hence, you can comfortably get to the temple.
Contact Details:
Address:
Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom ,Varkala,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695141.
Email Id: sivagirimutt@gmail.com
Temple Contact Number: 9400066230
The official website of the temple.