As Kerala grapples with the grip of drug menace today, the natural course of seeking a remedy leads us to the teachings of Sree Narayana Gurudev. History has yet to witness another global leader who, like the Guru, waged countless Dharmic wars single-handedly—without spilling a drop of blood or tears—and emerged victorious through the power of Ahimsa.
As famous literary and social critic, Dr. Sukumar Azhikode aptly noted, “In his utopia, he established two check-posts with strict prohibitions—one against intoxication and the other against.” Even when Gurudev led a spiritual war against caste discrimination, he maintained the utmost composure, attentiveness, and precision in his choice of words in his literary works and spiritual discourses. A modern-day Rishi by all means, He never resorted to harsh words or excessive criticism against anyone. However, when it came to alcohol and intoxicants, the Guru—who evaluated every social crisis from the pinnacle of Advaitic consciousness—perhaps allowed himself a rare touch of sternness in his speech.
For the sage who realized God as pure consciousness and conveyed that innate state of bliss and joy through countless verses, it would have been impossible to compromise with anything that destroyed human consciousness. A great proponent of Adi Sankaracharya’s Advaita Darshana, Sree Narayana Gurudev referred to consciousness as knowledge itself, and since it is through this awareness that one attains the realization of the Supreme, the eradication of anything that alter or destroy human consciousness, and physical body, which is hailed as ‘primary means of achieving righteousness’, was inherently a part of his spiritual mission.
As far as the prohibition is concerned, Gurudev’s grass-root level campaigns brought about a profound transformation in his contemporary society. As Kerala today struggles hard to fight the drug menace and associated gruesome violence today, the hope that Sri Narayana Guru’s vision offers a path to peace is not just a matter of faith—it is reinforced by the historical truth of the transformation he once ushered in.
Intoxication: Definition and Liberation
Contrary to popular perceptions, Sree Narayana Guru’s condemnation of intoxication was not limited to toddy and arrack alone. With extraordinary foresight, he provided a profound definition of intoxication in his Smriti text, Sri Narayana Smriti. This significant work of moral teachings introduces the subject in the context of the five fundamental virtues (Pancha Dharma) that should guide human life. Alongside nonviolence (Ahimsa), truth (Satyam), non-stealing (Asteyam), and fidelity (Avyabhicharita), Guru included abstinence from intoxicants (Madyavarjana) as an essential principle.
In Sri Narayana Smriti, verse 83, he defines intoxicants as follows:
“O dear children! Toddy, opium, cannabis, tobacco, and similar substances that cloud the mind are considered as intoxicants.”
This definition, as lucidly explained in the Vedajyoti Bhashya of Sree Narayana Smriit by Acharya Dr. G. Anandaraj, is perhaps the clearest testament to the Guru’s remarkable foresight—he recognized substance abuse as a looming national catastrophe long before it became a widespread crisis. By extending the definition of Madya (intoxicants) beyond locally brewed liquor of his times to include narcotics, he urges society to interpret and internalize his clarion call for prohibition and related messages within this broader framework.
Guru further warned that all forms of transactions related to intoxication inevitably lead humanity toward a great abyss of suffering. Even though it was composed 100 years ago, Sree Narayana Smriti continues to be the timely interpretation of Vedic Dharma and holds a great relevance today.
Many people, in their rhetorical speeches, attempt to dilute the insightful spiritual message embedded in Guru’s words. They selectively interpret his teachings to suit their narrative and propagate the notion that “Guru did not prohibit anything.” However, the core principles of Sri Narayana Dharma—as expounded by the Guru in the Pancha Dharma—clearly outline four prohibitions alongside the virtue of truth: Do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery, and do not consume intoxicants. Today, in the name of freedom, the younger generation is being encouraged—often from various ideological quarters—to transgress these fundamental ethical principles that Guru so firmly upheld. Under the guise of reclaiming Renaissance values, certain forces are not only legitimizing what the Guru explicitly forbade but are also sowing the seeds of anarchy in society—leading to the very crisis Kerala now finds itself in.
The Dharmic War Against Intoxication
Long before the Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi adopted prohibition as a key agenda, Sri Narayana Guru had already opened his own warfront against alcohol. In fact, his campaign against intoxicants may date back to the very foundation of the Aruvippuram temple. His anti-liquor movement began as part of his broader reform efforts—alongside the rejection of animal sacrifice, he also eliminated the local practice of offering toddy in rituals. He established temples free from such practices, laying the moral foundation for society before delivering his grand proclamation of prohibition.
His message was clear and uncompromising: “Alcohol is poison. Do not produce it, do not distribute it, do not consume it.” This powerful declaration, now over a century old, was first delivered during the Jayanti celebrations in 1921. Around the same period, the Congress also incorporated prohibition, alongside the fight against untouchability, into its political program. Guru’s prohibition movement was actively carried forward by the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) movement and its leaders, with T.K. Madhavan playing a crucial role in spreading its message across Travancore and Cochin regions of the present-day Kerala.
Today, liquor stands as one of the primary revenue sources for the Kerala government. Ironically, what Guru led as a moral and spiritual war against intoxicants has been recorded in history as one of the most defining aspects of his social reform. Yet, while Gujarat—out of respect for Mahatma Gandhi—implemented total prohibition, successive governments in Kerala have betrayed Guru’s vision by openly encouraging the production and consumption of the very substances he forbade. Sri Narayana Guru’s warnings about government reliance on alcohol revenue remain just as relevant today. His disciple, Swamikal, once came across the cover of a book written by T.K. Madhavan, which read: “This is the era of prohibition.” Upon reading it, the Swami remarked: “Prohibition began the moment alcohol came into existence. It is not confined to any single era; it has always been necessary.” Similarly, when he heard the then government’s justification that banning alcohol would lead to loss of revenue, he retorted: “That is just because the belly grown large from excess consumption!”
De-addiction Efforts
While Sri Narayana Guru waged a Dharmic war against intoxication, he always treated the alcoholics with profound compassion. Alongside his anti-liquor campaigns, Guru was also deeply engaged in de-addiction efforts from the very beginning. In this regard, he can be seen as a pioneer, in taking progressive approach towards de-addiction even before modern interventions took shape. Many who had fallen into the clutches of addiction were rescued and restored to normal life through his guidance. In fact, a significant portion of Guru’s miraculous deeds were his successful interventions in freeing individuals from substance dependence.
On numerous occasions, Guru himself became a living example of how society should treat those struggling with addiction and how they should be comforted. Even when confronted by intoxicated individuals who verbally abused him in their stupor, he responded with nothing but empathy and patience. Rather than condemning them, Guru offered them healing. An exponent in Ayurvedic medicine, Guru viewed addiction as a disease and treated its victims accordingly. His de-addiction efforts went hand in hand with his larger campaign against intoxication, setting a model for leadership that today’s policymakers would do well to follow. In light of his legacy, Kerala now stands in urgent need of a comprehensive anti-intoxication and de-addiction movement, drawing inspiration from Guru’s unparalleled vision and humanitarian approach.
Bliss: A Philosophy that fills the Void
In the Ocean of your Glory
Of Great profundity
Let us all, together, become sunk
To dwell therein everlastingly in Happiness!
— Daiva Dashakam, Sree Narayana Guru
Sri Narayana Guru was not only a philosopher and spiritual visionary but also a keen social psychologist who deeply understood the Aristotelian principle that “Nature abhors a vacuum.” He recognized that merely declaring “Liquor is poison” was not enough; it was equally essential to guide individuals toward constructive pursuits that could replace addiction with higher fulfillment. Thus, Guru did not merely advocate abstinence from intoxicants—he offered a comprehensive way of living, designed to free human beings from the grip of intoxication while simultaneously leading them toward true and lasting happiness through the spiritual path.
Guru taught that in order to observe the Pancha Dharma (five essential moral principles) such as abstinence from intoxicants, one must also follow the Pancha Shuddhi (five forms of purification):
Sharira Shuddhi (Purity of the Body)
Vak Shuddhi (Purity of Speech)
Manah Shuddhi (Purity of Mind)
Indriya Shuddhi (Purity of the Senses)
Gruha Shuddhi (Purity of the Home)
By adhering to these five purifications, one can attain stable health, vitality, and mental clarity, thereby using one’s body, intellect, and lifespan wisely in pursuit of eternal happiness.
It is this natural state of bliss that Guru urges us to strive for when he declares in the Daiva Dashakam: “To dwell therein everlastingly in Happiness!”
The reason our youth are slipping into the underworld of intoxication is their lack of awareness about the grandeur of human life and its higher purpose. At the same time, it is worth noting that in Sree Narayana Smriti, Guru engages in the most profound conversations with the youth. This sacred text provides practical guidance for parents on raising children with righteous values and instills in students the daily disciplines necessary for an ideal life.
Guru emphasizes that students must dedicatedly practice Brahma Yajna, the worship of knowledge, which is intended for all of humanity, beyond caste and creed. Why, then, has this timeless wisdom of Shri Narayana Dharma not yet been included in our academic curriculum? If Guru’s teachings are reinterpreted in a language accessible to the present generation, it could mark the beginning of a great social transformation.
One of the most profound invocations from Brahma Yajna, which Guru prescribes as a universal meditation, is: “धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्” (“May our intellect be enlightened.”) This universal prayer stands as the greatest anti-intoxication slogan for our times—an era where chemical and ideological intoxicants cloud the mind and intellect of the youth. Guru’s vision serves as a guiding light for Bharat and the world, leading us from a dark age of addiction to an age of divine bliss (Amrutakala). Sree Narayana Smriti, which proclaims the universal humanistic ideal of “One Caste, One Religion, One God”, must be made available in every home, transcending religious boundaries. If each of us is willing to make even a small change by practicing these ideals in our daily lives, we can shield future generations from an impending catastrophe.
(The author is a fellow at the Center for South Indian Studies.)
References:
Sree Narayana Guru: A Comprehensive Biography – Kottukoyikkal Velayudhan
Life of Narayana Guru Swami – Shri Moorkothu Kumaran
Complete Works of Shri Narayana Guru: A Detailed Commentary – Prof. G. Balakrishnan Nair
Collected Works of Shri Narayana Guru – Commentary by V. Balakrishnan
Sree Narayana Smriti: Vedajyoti Bhashya – Acharya Dr. G. Anandaraj
Maunapoonthen, One World University
Shri Narayana Guru: The Prophet of Renaissance – Shri P. Parameswaran
Complete Works of Shri Narayana Guru – Muni Narayana Prasad
The Philosophy of Narayana Guru – Muni Narayana Prasad
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