Essential biographical data of Nārāyaṇa Guru. (Ref: Appendix-I, The Word of the Guru, Nataraja Guru)
1854
- Birth 20 August at Vayal Vāram house in Chempazhanty, a village ten miles north of Trivandrum, capital of Kerala, south India.
- Parents: Māḍan Āśān (father) and Kuṭṭy Amma (mother).
1872
- First part of education concluded. Death of mother before he is 18.
1877
- Higher studies in Sanskrit at Karunāgappalli.
1844
- Death of father. Goes to Aruvippuram. Period of wandering. Settles down on bank of river. Śiva temple established. Composition of earlier poems, incorporating Śiva mythology into Advaita Vedānta.
1894
- Finds Kumāran Āśān and takes him to Bangalore for education. (Kumāran Aśān later becomes poet of Malayalam renaissance.)
1897
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Composition of Ātmopadeśa-Śatakam, original Vedānta textbook, at Aruvippuram.
1901
- Role of Guru recognised by public. State census records him as erudite Sanskrit scholar.
1903
- Association known as Śrī Nārāyaṇa Dharma Paripālana Yogam (S.N.D.P.Y.) founded. (This body has now a very large membership all over the Malayalam-speaking region.)
- Tours Cochin State. Wider public response. State exempts him from attending courts. Travancore Law Report notices his influence in helping to decrease litigation.
1904
- Settles at Śivagiri, Varkala, on the coast, 25 miles north of Trivandrum.
- Founding of temples at Anjengo and Perungoṭṭukara.
1906
- Founding of temple at Trichur.
1907
- Founding of temple at Cannanore.
- November, Severe attack of cholera.
1908
- Founding of temple at Tellicherry.
1910
- Founding of temples at Calicut and Mangalore.
1912
- Founding of Śāradā temple at Śivagiri, Varkala.
1913
- Establishment of Advaita Ashram at Alwaye, near Cochin.
1916
- Widespread celebration of his 60th birthday throughout the West Coast and elsewhere, marking further recognition as a spiritual leader and Guru. (Note: there is uncertainty of his year of birth, which the Guru left unrecorded).
- Composition of Darśana Mālā about this time, representing a high level of mystical literature.
1918
- First tour of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
- Śrī Nārāyaṇa Smṛti (Dharma Śāstra) written as a guide to his lay followers.
1921
- Conference on Brotherhood at Alwaye.
1923
- Second visit to Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
1924
- Conference of All Religions at Alwaye, inaugurating study of comparative religions and suggesting the foundation of a University for the Science of the Absolute (Brahma-Vidyā Mandiram).
1926
- Visits Coimbatore and Nilgiris. (7,000 ft plateau).
1928
- Serious illness. Attains samādhi (passes away peacefully) at Varkala, 20 September.
