Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Movement

This movement was based on the approach of reinterpreting Hindu religion in search of self-determination. The Sri Narayana Dharam Paripalana Movement was the movement for the propagation of Sri Narayana Guru Swamy’s philosophy among the Izhavas (toddy tappars) of Kerala. Until 1935 the Izhavas belonged to the SC category. They were considered to be unapproachable by the clean castes.Izhavas that formed about 26% of the Kerala’s total population suffered from many religious, political and economic disabilities. Around the turn of the century a charismatic leader Sri Narayan Guru Swamy gave them a new religion of one God and one caste which transformed their life styles and outlook. He established a set of religious institutions parallel to that of the variety of Brahmanical Hinduism. This helped Izhavas both to gain self-respect and to adopt a protest ideology to challenge the religious, economic, educational and political supremacy the upper castes.