When a philosophical system, firmly rooted in logic, is conceptualized in light of experience, it becomes part of metaphysics. Metaphysics is the inquiry into the nature of life and existence. Truth can be approached in two ways. One is rooted in beginnings and endings/revelation and tradition. The second is based on the free flow of logic and thought. The former is called religion, and the latter, philosophy. A special characteristic of Indian philosophy is its emphasis on the inner world.
Darshanam or Vision is an insight into the essence of life. Its function is to help the individual soul recognize its fundamental nature. Beyond merely seeking paths to liberation, such philosophical insights significantly influence the shaping of life and guide action. Sree Narayana Guru is another pivotal link in the lineage of revered gurus like Buddha, Mahavira, Gautama, Kanada, Kapila, Badarayana, Jaimini, Shankara, and Ramanuja, who offered humanity such insight into life.
What distinguished Narayana Guru from others was his ability to synthesize the essence of all Darshanams and give shape to a new humanistic philosophy. Yoga, Tantra, Shaivism, and Advaita are the Darshanams that influenced Guru, as evidenced from his texts. During periods of spiritual unrest, he experimented with Yoga and Tantra. He understood Shaiva Darshanam through Tamil Bhakti literature and Advaita through Vedanta texts. Examining Shankara's Advaita philosophy and discerning the specific ways in which it differed from Guru’s vision is helpful in gaining a better understanding of Guru’s philosophy.
Narayana Guru presented his philosophical vision through his own works like ‘Atmopadesa Shatakam’, ‘Advaita Deepika’, ‘Brahmavidya Panchakam’, ‘Arivu’, ‘Daiva Dasakam’, ‘Darshanamala’, and ‘Vedanta Sutram’. In Narayana Guru, we find a staunch non-dualist renunciate and an exceptional poet.
A significant aspect of Narayana Guru's life was his close association with Sree Vidyadhiraja Chattampi Swami. While residing with Chattampi Swami in Vamanapuram and Thiruvananthapuram, he had the opportunity to meet Thycattu Ayyavu Swami. From Ayyavu Swami, who had mastered numerous Siddhi practices through Yogic exercises, Guru was able to acquire Yogic sadhanas. Yoga is a path to reach the higher states of mind through concentration. Guru utilized his Yogic and ascetic powers for the liberation of a community.
In ‘Darshanamala’, Guru defines Yoga as the merging of the mind with the Atman (Self). Yoga is the uprooting of vasanas (latent tendencies) and fixing the mind on the inner parts of the body. It can be understood from his hymns that Guru practiced Yoga in his early days and considered it a path to divine realization. Guru was living as a complete Karma Yogi when he composed Darshanamala for the students of the Brahma Vidyalaya. It is likely that works such as ‘Subramanya Kirtanam’ were composed in the same period.
