Sri Narayana Jayanthi
Encyclopedia
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
, billava
Billava
The Billava, or Ilava people make up one of the largest Hindu communities of the Tulu ethnic group in India. They are also found in the Kannada-speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala, including Kasaragod district...
and idiga
Idiga
Idiga or Ediga is a Hindu community of people concentrated in south central areas of Karnataka. Idigas are involved in soma and Ayurvedic medicine developers in ancient days who are classified as Somavanshi Kshatriyas. In some parts of Karanataka they also called deevaru which means islanders...
communities of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Karanataka and Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Its also called Chathayam Dinam in kerala. It marks the birthday of Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru
Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society...
, greatest Social reformer of India. It is celebrated in all over world by the above communities.
The birthday of this great saint is celebrated on the Chathayam asterism of the Malayalam month of Chingam (Leo). In a society broken into fragments by casteism and economic inequality, he emphasised the gospel of 'one caste, one religion and one god.' Even though the Guru accepted the fundamental principles of the Vedic religion, he revolted against caste-based ascendancy, caste discrimination and sectarianism.
Communal harmony processions, conferences, floral tributes, community prayers, feeding for the poor and community feasts marks jayanthi celebrations.