Swami Aanantha Theertha

The role of Swami AananthaTheertha in the history of Payyanur is remarkable.  Member of the rich Gowdasaraswath Brahmin family of Thalassery, Anantha Shenoy later became the disciple of Sree Narayana Guru (he  was the last disciple of Guru) and became Swami Anantha Theertha who selected Payyanur as his work field.  He fought agianst the social evils like untouchability, cast system and such evils and worked hard to uplift the backward classes.  He founded  Sree Narayana Vidyalaya (popularly known as Ashramam in Payyanur).   This Ashram  had played a vital role in the development of the backward community as well as it has a major impact on the social and cultural life of Payyanur

Swamiji Statue

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Swamiji Samadi Mandapam

Gandhi Mavu

On  12th March 1934, Mahatma Gandhi visited  this Ashram and it was really a recognition for this institution and Swamiji, who was a great freedom fighter also.  In memory of his visit, Gandhiji planted a mango tree in the Ashram compound and the tree  was later called as “Gandhi mavu”, which is still green and yield a special variety of mango.. .