Food for soul: The Santhigiri Ashram in Pothencode

Far from the madding crowd, Santhigiri Ashram is located in Pothencode in the outskirts of Trivandrum city. A place carved out of spirituality and silence just like its symbolic sky-high plush-white lotus roof, Santhigiri as the name suggests lies at the summit of silence.

Pothencode was the abode of the Buddhist monks once upon a time. In 1964, Navajyothisree Guru Karunakara reached the place and acquired a scrap of land donated to him by a local in Pothencode. After making himself a humble dwelling, the Guru began imparting his knowledge to whoever approached him for learning. The place went on to become Santhigiri, the home of divine enlightenment.

When Navajyothisree Guru Karunakara passed away, his disciple Amritha Jnana Thapaswini took the ashram under her wing. In 1980, the vision of the lotus reaching into the sky seeking enlightenment was first conceived and it later on became a reality. Since its construction the pure-white lotus has become the symbol of spirituality providing solace to the hundreds of believers who visit the ashram each day.

The lotus in itself is an architectural marvel. Standing 91 foot tall and 84 feet wide, it has 21 leaves 12 extending up and 9 facing down. The entire structure has been built in white Makrana marble and is the centerpiece of the ashram’s architectural accomplishments.

Inside the ashram there is a 27 foot tall, 21 feet wide wooden lotus bud sanctum holding the holy remains of Navajyothisree Guru Karunakara. This is shaded by an adorned 36 feet wide umbrella. Inside the sanctum, there is a stairway made of 11 steps symbolic of the Guru’s ascension to greater spiritual heights. Rising high, the stairs culminate into a golden statue of the Guru himself. There are also 12 rooms which hold the worldly possessions of the great Guru.

This is not all. Besides the chamber of the Guru, there is also a spiritual zone for self reflection and cleansing of the soul. Elephants carved in teak wood, a beautiful garden and more, there are many scenic visions in the Santhigiri ashram to feed the soul.

In September 2010, the Santhigiri Ashram opened for public worship with the ‘Santhigiri Parampara’ commencing. The movement celebrated the 84th birthday of its founder Navajyothisree Guru Karunakara and A. K. Antony, the Defense Minister of India proclaimed that the vision of the Guru was beyond the limitations of religion and caste.

-Courtsey Grihalakshmi

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