Narayana Guru desired that all religions be studied with impartiality and devotion, and that the knowledge gained be equally shared. The message, ‘Whatever the religion, it is enough if man becomes good’, was given during a 1923 discussion with his disciple Sahodaran Ayyappan about religious conversion. The discussion ensued after an opinion arose from Dr. Palpu, another disciple of the Guru, that Buddhism should be embraced. Dr. Palpu was influenced by Ambedkar, who, disgusted with the suffering within Hinduism, advocated conversion to Buddhism. The Guru emphasized that moral purity (in action, word, and thought) is more important than the religion one follows.
Religion was confined within the guise of devotion. It was for this reason that a philosophy rejecting religion took shape in Guru's thoughts. Guru was more indifferent to religious differences than to religion itself. He wished for religion to be close to humanity. This message was born out of a strong belief in human love. Guru's contribution was his attempt to view religion from a new perspective.
The ‘Sarva Dharma Sammelanam’ (All-Religion Conference) held in Aluva in 1924 was the culmination of Narayana Guru's idea of ‘One Religion’.It took place at Advaita Ashram, a place free of caste, religion, and God. This conference was the second All-Religion Conference in the world and the first in Asia.
The 'Sarva Dharma Sammelanam' served as a platform to demonstrate the unity and shared essence of all religions, allowing common people to grasp their core principles. Attendees were greeted with the Guru's message: ‘Not to argue and win, but to know and to inform’. Scholars representing Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam participated, and the Guru announced plans for an inter-religious study facility at the proposed Sivagiri school. This conference marked India's first instance of inter-religious dialogue.
