Karunakara Guru
Karunakara Guru (1 September 1927 – 6 May 1999) also known as NavajyothiSree Karunakara Guru, is a spiritual personality and head, and the founder 'Guru' of Santhigiri Ashram in Pothencode, Kerala, India.
Karunakara Guru | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 September 1927 |
| Died | 6 May 1999 (aged 71) |
| Other names | Navajyothi SriKarunakaraGuru, |
Birth and childhood
NavajyothiSree Karunakara Guru was born into a modest family in Chandiroor village in Kerala, India on 1 September 1927. As a child Guru maintained utmost cleanliness, simplicity and a regular prayer routine, and wanted to lead a monastic life.
Establishment of Santhigiri
Around the age of 14, Guru left home and became an inmate of Advaita Ashram in Alwaye, a branch of Sivagiri Mutt, founded by Sree Naryana Guru, and spent the next 17 years at the various branches of Sivagiri Mutt.
Guru received enormous love and respect from the people due to his attractive personality and vibrance. In 1957, Guru left Sivagiri and moved to a hut on a nearby hill. With the help of His spiritual mentor Khureshia Fakir, a Sufi saint, Guru received several visionary experiences. In 1968, Guru founded Santhigiri Ashram. After years of intense meditation, prayers, physical hardships, and the ebb and flow of visionary experiences, Guru attained spiritual completion in 1973. Following this, as per instruction from the Transcendental Radiance which appeared in the Ashram at the time of Guru's attainment, the followers of Guru adopted a worship system based on faith in one Universal God – the Brahman. They accepted the Path of Guru – Guru Margam – reposing complete faith in Guru as the medium to the Transcendent Supreme Plane. The doors of Santhigiri Ashram were open to all. Guru would spend hours talking to people on spiritual matters. People flocked to him with all kinds of personal and family problems and found an ocean of compassion and solace. For aspirants, he was the way to true knowledge and spiritual evolution. Guru left his physical form and merged in ‘Adisankalpam’ (the Plane of Primordial Consciousness) on 6 May 1999 (Thursday). It is believed by his adhrents that Guru will continue to be present in the world as ‘Nava Oli’ (New Light and Sound), protecting and nurturing all. Guru's teachings are continued by his principal disciple, Sishyapoojitha Janani Amritha Jnana Thapaswini, who is the spiritual head of Santhigiri Ashram now.
Santhigiri Ashram
The Santhigiri Ashram is located 21 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala.