Santhigiri

Santhigiri Ashram is located at Pothencode, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala state. It is a registered Non Government Charitable Institution, housed amidst the sylvan surroundings at Pothencode, 21 km 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 occupies more than a hundred acres of land at Pothencode alone and accommodates more than 1500 inmates.

Santhigiri Ashram, recognized by the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India is a Social and Scientific Research Organization. Research is focussed on the teachings of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru, i.e. the science related to the soul and its cosmic relation with human life and experiences. The research takes into consideration the genetic as well as karmic and astral influences the human being is subjected to and its resolution. It is also conducting research on the influence of spirituality in medicament and helps to improvise and standardise the quality of Ayurveda and Siddha medicines.

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), leaving His physical body, His guidance emanates through His foremost disciple SISHYA POOJITHA 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.

Spiritual Vision 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.citequote

For all those who come close to Guru experienced this truth in 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 (the soul) 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. He uttered the words 'Aham Brahmasmi' meaning 'I am the Supreme God'.('Aham Brahmasmi' - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10, one of the five great utterances found in Vedic literature).

According to revelationary vision received through the medium of Santhigiri Guru lineage, this is said to be the original sin of mankind against God. As a result the memory of Manu lineage and the connection with the Supreme Light was lost to mankind.

Several ages went by. In the 7th Chaturyuga, the 'Trinity' system (the worship of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara - the trinity gods of creation, sustenance and dissolution) came into existence to uplift mankind from the spiritual fall. But the Trinity system also deviated from the original path as it came to be equated with the Supreme God, repeating the same error happened to Satyatrana.

Since the eclipse of the Path of Enlightenment (Jnana Marga) of spiritual experience, there emerged the Trinity and other spiritual 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 Navajyoti Sree Karunakara 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 the Supreme God (Brahmam) and restored the lost harmony with God.

* Chaturyuga (Age quartets). The time period of one creation is said to be the age of 14 'Manus', the human ancestors, which is known as 'Manvantaram'. Therefore there are 14 'Manvantarams', at the end of which the present creation dissolves into the Supreme Light of God. As per this time scale, the creation has reached its middle age, i.e. the 7th 'Manvantaram' which is headed by Vaivaswata Manu.

One 'Manvantaram' is divided into 71 age quartets. An age quartet comprises four ages or Yugas - Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali. The Present time is the Kaliyuga of the 28th Age Quartet (of 7th Manvantaram) with a total duration of 4,32,000 years. This Kaliyuga began 5200 years back approximately.

Karmic, Ancestral and Spiritual Cleansing

According to Guru, the cause of human misery is negative karma from previous life. The seeds of failure as well as success in life lie in the soul. Thus our deeds create our own 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 the soul, leading him or her to righteous karma and prayer in accordance with the spiritual evolution and karmic bonds of the soul, 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.

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, i.e. astral contemplation.

The manes or ancestral souls are thereby purified paving the way for the birth of children free of bad effects (karma dosham) of past life deeds.

The designated spiritually evolved disciple does the necessary astral contemplation (Sankalpam) for this, on Guru’s instruction. This purification act is called 'Guru Pooja' in Santhigiri.

Guru envisions the emergence of a new human race and world order through such cleansed generation of children. A global cultural renaissance will materialize through this process, leading to peace and tranquility in the world.

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. Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru has mentioned about ten spiritual skies or planes. These planes can be the evolutionery layers of the soul (or consciousness), from the gross to the subtle, merging finally with the Supreme Consciousness, GOD.

These planes are - Bhootaloka (gross materialistic plane), Pitruloka (the abode of ancestors), Devaloka (the abode of angels, Devas etc), the planes of Rishi and Sanyasi (the abode of seers and sages). After these planes, which are in the earth atmosphere, the soul goes into deep spiritual space, losing name and form. These planes are called the abode of Eshwara, Brahmam and Parabrahmam, the Supreme abode of Light.

Only a Guru who has merged with the Absolute Truth (Supreme abode of Light or Parabrahmam) 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 (Skanda Puranam) praises the Universal Guru thus –citequote

"Gurur Brahma, Gurur VishnuGurur Devo MaheshwaraGuru Saakshaat ParabrahmaTasmai 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)."citequote

A person’s karmic and negative influences are removed through self-less service offered to the fully realized Guru. In Santhigiri, Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru has initiated many activities in which people can participate.

Other links

http://www.santhigiriashram.org - Santhigiri Ashram website.http://www.siddhavani.blogspot.com - a newsletter on health from Santhigiri siddha Medical Collegehttp://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/05/stories/2006040502970200.htm