| Temples & Legends Of Kerala |
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| Temples & Legends Of India |
INTRODUCTION |
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| It was
probably Kunchan Nambiar who first drew pointed attention to the evils that were creeping
into the Nair society. And it was left to Chattampi Swamikal) tackle them. He worked in
close co-operation with Sri Narayana Guru 'in the common cause of Hindu social and
religious regeneration. He called upon his own fellow castemen to raise them and become an
example other communities. Sri Narayana Guru's
reforms were more elaborate. He realized that temples were necessary for the average man
and as the Izhavas and Thiyyas were not admitted to the temples of higher castes, he
himself consecrate shrines in several parts of Kerala for the worship of Izhavas and
permitted entry into them for Pulayas and other low castes, considered inferior to the
Izhavas on the social scale. He advocated Intermarriages between the various castes
as the best means of evolving a casteless Traditionally Kerala is associated with the charming myth of Parashurama, the avatar of Vishnu, who perform penances to atone for his sin of having killed his Mother and the Great God rewarded the devotee for his austerities by reclaiming Kerala from the depths of the sea. According to legend, it was Parashurama who brought Brahmins to Kerala from the Aryan north and gave them land. |
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About Introduction |
