Santhigiri
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Santhigiri Ashram is located in Pothencode, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala state. It is a registered Non Government Charitable Institution, housed amidst the sylvan surroundings at Pothencode, 21 Kms north of the capital city of kerala in India. It was founded by Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru in 1969. Started, at the outset, in an austere thatched hut in rustic environs, the Ashram today ocupies more than a hundred acres of land at Pothencode alone and accommodates more than 1500 inmates.
Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru initiated a new spirituality and culture to be passed on to the posterity. After Guru merged with 'Adisankalpa' (the ultimate plane of creations), His guidance emanates through His foremost disciple SISHYAPOOJITHA JANANI AMRITHA JNANA THAPASWINI to anyone who seeks it, regardless of caste, creed, religion or nationality. Hundreds of devotees, well-wishers and tourists visit Ashram daily seeking solace and remedy for various problems.
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[edit] Spirituality of Santhigiri Ashram
"God is the same for everyone, everywhere, at all times. Guru is the door to that ultimate reality", Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru said. For all those who come close to Guru experienced this truth in ever so many ways.
Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru was born in 1927 at Chandiroor, a village near Cherthala, Alleppey district in Kerala. Guru’s teachings envision a global spiritual and cultural renaissance in harmony with material progress.
Guru brings into focus the tragedy of man, who nurtures and nourishes his physical body forgetting his spirit. This vital force carries karmic merits as well as impurities, which eventually manifest as success, failure or tragedy in life.
Spirituality erases these inherited imprints in the soul. The original Indian spiritual tradition is based on this science of enlightenment (Jnana Marga). It is said to have originated with Manu, the first Guru of mankind.
The great Vedas, Upanishads and other knowledge systems were handed down from ages through this Guru-Disciple tradition. A life pattern based on the Guru-Disciple tradition of Manu gave humanity the insights into the mysteries of life - about the evolution of the soul, universe, time and objectives of life.
According to Guru, this tradition was lost at a particular historic point of time by which man lost the connection with the Supreme Light.
According to Guru, in the 3rd Chaturyuga of this Manvantara, a Guru in the Manu Lineage, by the name Satyatrana, who was the authority of the age, erred as he conceived himself as the Absolute (Aham Brahmasmi).
This is said to be the original sin of mankind against God and as a result the memory of Manu Parampara and the connection with the Supreme Light was lost to mankind’.
Several ages went by. In the 7th Chaturyuga, the Trimurthi system came into existence to uplift mankind from the spiritual fall. But the Trimurthi system also deviated from the original path as it came to be equated with the Supreme Brahmam, repeating the same error happened to Satyatrana.
Since the eclipse of the Jnana Path of spiritual experience, there emerged the Trinity and other traditions. Later, Preceptors and prophets were sent to the world at different times to restore the lost harmony with God.
Following their footsteps, several religions emerged. The great sacrifice of the masters helped humanity move forward. However the accomplishment of this mission required the advent of a fully realized Guru.
For spiritual progress, the most important thing is to get a Sat-Guru – true master. One may go wrong in choosing a real Guru. Even practitioners of demonic worship are taken to be masters and are followed. Adepts who perform Siddhi (miracles or wonders) are taken to be advanced masters. It is here that most people get misled.
The ability to influence material world is attained by the evolute as he advances, but this power is not to be put to use for reversing any natural order. That is why Guru has said that he doesn’t want to be known as a performer of miracles.
In the year 1973 at the time of the full realization of the Guru, His disciples received in vision from the Supreme Light, hitherto undisclosed facts about the mission of Guru. This spiritual completion fulfilled the will of Brahmam and restored the lost harmony with God.
[edit] Karmic, Ancestral and Spiritual Cleansing
The cause of human misery is negative karma from previous life. The seeds of failure as well as success in life lie in our soul. Thus our own deeds create our heaven and hell.
The impurity in our action is called ‘Karma Dosha’, which can be cleansed by righteous deeds and rightful prayer.
The fully realized Guru can guide our soul, leading us to righteous karma and prayer in accordance with the spiritual evolution and karmic bonds, which differs from individual to individual. Thus, each soul can be redeemed by the Guru.
The prayer done as advised by Guru brings positive energy. By the effects of this virtuous path of action and prayer, the negative energy and karmic debilities are washed away bringing about spiritual and material elevation. This transforming Grace is the essence of the Guru-disciple relationship.
[edit] Guru Pooja or Spiritual Cleansing
The findings of modern genetic science that the basic human nature is genetically determined have brought about new insights into human nature. Once a certain trait of behavior or orientation finds its way into the genetic order, its influence determines the life of the individual. The good and bad, fortune and misfortune of human life are thus decided at the time of birth.
Unless and until the bad effects of misdeeds in past births are not wiped out from one’s soul, there is no freedom for the human being.
It means a genetic cleansing is essential for giving birth to a more evolved children.
After His ‘spiritual completion’ (Avastha Poortheekaranam) in 1973, Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru could initiate this process by Sankalpam – astral contemplation.
The manes or ancestral souls are thereby purified paving the way for the birth of children free of Karma Dosham’ or bad effects of past life deeds.
The designated spiritually evolved disciple does the necessary Sankalpam for this on Guru’s instruction. This purification karma is called Guru Pooja in Santhigiri.
The children, who are born after this, bear testimony for the inexplicable dimension of this spiritual cleansing. Guru envisions the emergence of a new human race and world order through such children. In other words He holds out the promise that a global cultural renaissance will materialize through this process, leading to peace and tranquility in the world.
[edit] Soul & Spiritual Planes
The soul continues its existence after death in different astral ‘planes’ in tune with its ‘Karma Gati’, karmic propensities of the soul.
These planes are the Bhootaloka, Pitruloka, Devaloka, Rishiloka, the planes of Sanyasi, Eshwara, Brahmam and Parabrahmam.
The first four planes are related to the earth’s atmosphere and the remaining belongs to the space beyond.
Only a Guru who has merged with the Absolute Truth can guide a person to the highest material as well as spiritual attainment. That Supreme Guru is the embodiment of Absolute Brahmam, pervading all planes of consciousness, carrying in him the memory of the universe from its origin.
The celestial beings, deities, gods, prophets and Rishis constantly praise the Universal Guru. Lord Siva in Guru Gita praises the Universal Guru thus –
Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara Guru Saakshaat Parabrahma Tasmai Sree Gurave Namah
(Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, and Guru is the god Siva. Guru verily is the Param Brahma – the Supreme Being. I (Siva) salute that auspicious Guru).
The mission of Navajyoti Sree Karunakara Guru is taken forward by Sishya Poojita Janani, Amrita Jnana Tapaswini, the present spiritual head of the ashram.
A person’s karmic and negative influences are removed through self-less service offered to the fully realized Guru. In Santhigiri, Navajyoti Sree Karunakara Guru has initiated many activities in which people can participate.
First comes the community kitchen which provides free food for thousands. Then there are two dozen units mostly village and women oriented industries, engaged in the production of Ayurvedic and Siddha medicines, herbal and cosmetic products, spices, rubber and coir. Santhigiri runs two medical colleges, Santhigiri Siddha Medical College at Thiruvananthapuram and Santhigiri Ayurveda Medical College at Palakkad and Navajyoti Sree Karunakara Guru Research Centre for Ayurveda and Siddha, at Uzhavoor, Kottayam, the ancestral property donated by late Sri K.R. Narayanan, the former President of India.
