THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An alcoholic can never be a true devotee of Sree Narayana Guru, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said while inaugurating the 78th Sivagiri pilgrimage at Sivagiri Math in Varakala on Thursday. Clearly hinting at those who feign to be spiritual followers even while leading a wayward life, Achuthanandan said: “It is ridiculous to advocate Guru’s ideals when you have absolutely no right to do that.
There are people who think that they can sip Guru’s ideals and liquor at the same time. They must realise that there is no meaning in preaching noble virtues when you do not deserve to do that.” Hailing Sree Narayana Guru as a great spiritual leader, Achuthanandan said that Guru could cleanse a casteridden age that was maligned by superstitions and blind beliefs.
Delivering the key-note address, Devaswom Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran said that Guru and Gandhi were similar in their ideologies.
“Both trod the same path. When Gandhi called prayer as the meditation of the soul, Guru considered it as the golden path to peace. Gandhi and Guru never took violence as the means to meet their aim. Gandhi never wanted his struggle for freedom to be tainted by blood. Similarly, Guru was bent on embracing non-violence even when he was waging a war against the base caste practices that crushed an entire society,” he said.
The Minister also said that the way people still believe in Guru proved the relevance of his teachings.
“Whatever he preached and practised is meant for all ages. We live at a time when peace of mind is found wanting amid material prosperity.
Guru’s life and teachings have always had a profound impact on the social and financial fabric of the society,” he said.