A life of knowledge, simplicity, and service
The lines written by Sree Narayana Guru in Atmopadesa Satakam- 'Act for your own inner happiness, but let it benefit others as well' were reflected perfectly in the life of Muni Narayana Prasad. In contemporary Kerala, there was perhaps no other monk who lived such a meaningful and sincere spiritual life. His passing feels like the sudden disappearance of a bright star from the horizon of knowledge. Though he lived a simple life in saffron robes, everything he did was rooted in inner peace.
Yet, because his actions were free from selfishness, they naturally benefited society as a whole. His writings and commentaries on the works of Sree Narayana Guru, Nataraja Guru, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads will remain lasting contributions that continue to inspire future generations. In that sense, we can believe that he never truly leaves us or the generations to come. Even though he carried vast and deep oceans of knowledge within him, he lived among us as a simple, ordinary person, never showing even the slightest trace of it outwardly.
What made him different was that he never chased wealth or worldly success, only knowledge. Born in a small village like Nagaroor, he could have lived and retired quietly as a government employee. But his life took a different path, first through the blessings of Sree Narayana Guru, and then through the care and guidance of Nataraja Guru and Nitya Chaitanya Yati. He had an opportunity to meet Nataraja Guru at a very young age. Speaking about it in an interview, he once said:
“I was studying at R.R.V School in Kilimanoor at that time. Nataraja Guru had come to the school annual function to distribute prizes. I won first place in the musical chairs competition. I was the youngest among the prize winners, so he gave me the award with special affection and a handshake. That was my first touch of the Guru. After that, without me doing anything, destiny led me along the path of Nataraja Guru.”
The Gurukulam can be seen as a branch that emerged from the great river of Sree Narayana Guru’s teachings. After Nataraja Guru and Nitya Chaitanya Yati, it was Muni Narayana Prasad who quietly guided the Gurukulam for many years before his passing. From the beginning, the Gurukulam has followed the path of nivarthanam- a way of life that involves complete withdrawal from worldly attachments and actions.
The results or visible marks of such work are not easily seen outside. The Gurukulam does not run schools or hospitals. Muni Narayana Prasad often said that there are many people to run such institutions, but no one else to carry out the kind of work done by the Gurukulam. The meaningful books published by the Gurukulam are part of its effort to spread more light on this path. He pointed out that one of the greatest problems of the modern age is the growing distance between religions. Even though people speak about brotherhood, the feeling of “I am different and my religion is separate” has become very strong today. He used to say that this tendency to divide people in the name of religion is one of the biggest misfortunes of our time. According to him, the solution suggested by Sree Narayana Guru is that everyone should study all religions.
As part of this effort, Muni Narayana Prasad wrote commentaries on the Gospels of the Bible. He also wrote about some valuable teachings from the Quran. However, he pointed out that today, organised groups within Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity often discourage people from studying the scriptures of other religions. He said that this practice of learning only one’s own religion while also being taught to dislike others is one of the greatest problems of our time. Even in his final years, he strongly spoke against this trend. He dedicated his entire life, until his last breath, to speaking the truth with honesty and doing whatever he could to counter it.
When he first came to the Gurukulam, Muni Narayana Prasad did not know English or Sanskrit. Speaking about this, he once said:
“I learned everything only after coming to the Gurukulam. It was possible because reading was a constant habit for me. It was not just casual reading. I used to study different subjects in depth while reading. Most of my day was spent handling responsibilities at the Gurukulam. But in between, I would set aside half-hour intervals to study Sanskrit, English, the Upanishads, and other subjects. During that time, I would not meet anyone. It was through such disciplined and consistent effort that I learned all this.”
He translated and wrote commentaries on around 90 spiritual texts, including works of Sree Narayana Guru and the Upanishads. His translation of Saundarya Lahari won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2015, and his autobiography Athmayanam received an award in 2018. In 2024, he was honoured with the Padma Shri. Unlike some spiritual leaders who attract people instantly by their appearance, Muni Narayana Prasad had a simple presence. But anyone who met or spoke with him felt something unforgettable about him. He lived entirely for the happiness of others. It is hard not to wonder when someone like him will come again.