Sivagiri Mutt Sivagiri Mutt is a famous ashram in Varkala, founded by the philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana Guru's tomb is also located here. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days 30 December to 1 January. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill near Varkala. Even decades after the guru breathed his last here in 1928; his samadhi continues to be thronged by thousands of devotees, donned in yellow attire, from different parts of Kerala and outside every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30 December to 1 January. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of his disciples and saints, established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the samadhi day are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group wedding and rituals mark the celebrations. The Universities of Kerala's MBA's college IMK is located near Sivagiri.
The biographer of Rabindranath wrote ;
" Rabindranath met the preceptor of Thia tribes at Varakal who worked for the social and educational, and economic development of Thia tribes. The poet becomes pleased after being introduced with him."
In 1904 the Guru gave up his life of a wanderer and decided to settle down in a place to continue his spiritual practices. He chose Sivagiri at Varkala, twenty miles north of Thiruvananthapuram. He started a Sanskrit school in Varkala and poor boys and orphans were given free education regardless of their caste Temples were built at different places – Thrissur, Kannur, Anchuthengu, Tellicherry, Calicut, and Mangalore. It was in the year 1912 he built the Sharada Devi Temple at Sivagiri.
The disciple of Ashram arranged to give Rabindranath a warm reception .
While delivering a lecture in Ernakulam he referred this ashtam.
The Swarajya of Madras wrote on 21st nov;
" at travancore.... perhaps the most important feature of his visit was the meeting which took place with Swami Sree Narayan Guru at Varkale in the Swami's own ashramam. He was imresely impressed by the saintly character of th Swami and his deep experience of religious truth....."
