Adi Shankara, the originator of Advaita Vedanta, was born in
Kalady and was likely a
Nambuthiri. Many
Hindu saints and
swamis from many castes have lived in Kerala.
Sree Narayana Guru, Enadinatha, Ilakkulaccanrar, Tiruppana were all outside the Brahminical caste fold;
Cheraman Nayanar was a Kothayar; and
Chattampi Swamikal, Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi and
Swami Chinmayananda, the
Nair caste. The
Parayas of Kerala claim descent from
Vasishtha. There is a shrine in Kollengode in memory of a lower-caste saint, Paakkanar. The theatrical dance of Rapayan Tullal is narrated by a descendant of Pakkanar. The
Periya Puranam, possibly written by a Paraya, describes the Parayas. at the age of sixty. Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi is popularly regarded as the father of contemporary Hindu renaissance in Kerala for the victorious movements he led for temple rights and the establishment of
Hindu Aikya Vedi for integrating people of all castes into one religion. He is reckoned as the greatest karmayogi to uphold
Sanatana Dharma since
Swami Vivekananda internationally. Sree Narayana Jayanti (
Narayana Guru's birthday) and Sree Narayana Samadhi Day (the occasion of his
samadhi) are public holidays in Kerala.
Mata Amritanandamayi, known among her devotees as
Amma, was selected to represent the
Hindu Dharma in the World Parliament of Religions in September 1991.
Bhagawan Nityananda was another important Hindu saint widely recognized. Several Hindu movements important to the
development of Hinduism took place in Kerala. The
Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple, (one of the most ancient in India) dedicated to the Kirata
Avatar of
Lord Shiva still exists in Kerala. ==Religious education==