The Mission of Santhigiri Ashram

Gurucharanam Saranam

The Mission of Santhigiri Ashram

Mukundan P.R.

In the process of a fundamental evaluation of spirituality, in a life dedicated to godly love and realization of truth, it was revealed to Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru that a catastrophic error in regard to god realization had happened several ages ago, which has affected the moral and spiritual edifice of mankind adversely. This error is not only in reference to India but encompasses the whole world in its consequence.

Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru explained about the division of cosmic time zones into Yuga, Chaturyuga, Manvantara and Kalpa and the variations in dharma – the values, way of life and god realization applicable to each yuga or era which happens according to the will of Brahman. It is called the Sanatana Dharma or Manu Dharma. Sanatana Dharma means the eternal and universal dharma of mankind. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru interprets this concept in a new light and angle.

In the present Manvantara, i.e. in the 3rd chaturyuga of the seventh Manvantara, contrary to divine ordination, human logic was weaved into the practice of dharma and god realization. This error or ‘original sin’, if it may be called so, had happened 25 chaturyugas back, i.e. several millions of years ago, in the long history of the rise and fall of civilizations that may even go beyond our present solar system. What followed was a spiritual barrenness in the subsequent ages, eclipsing the awareness about the divine ordination for human evolution.

The cosmic plan of human evolution as exemplified by Sanatana dharma, the eternal religion of mankind, through the transcendental vision of rishis and sages was subsequently altered to suit the trimurthi system which followed after the great spiritual cataclysm. Trimurthi system or Hinduism, as it is popularly known today, is but a distortion and misinterpretation of Sanatana Dharma through interpolations, mystic tales, superstitious beliefs and discriminatory practices and rituals which have weaned people away from a righteous life.

Guru critically evaluates the absurdities of caste system and the negative mental and physical consequences resulting from degraded worship and social customs such as worship of evil spirits, pagan rites and rituals including sorcery, magical spells, tantric practices, untouchability, casteism, social embargo of various nature etc, all of which caused the downfall and disintegration of society.

Several sages and prophets have come in the world to lead humanity, but the religions founded in their names have, as may be seen, lost their internal cohesion and have been fragmented into many conflicting sects stifling the process of human transformation against the will of God. Instead of germinating peace, harmony and good will people have been alienated in the name of religion and castes and are being tormented. A situation prevails here that thwarts the unity of people because of the age old religious and social structures and prejudices.

The mission of Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru is to warp a new generation of people with mental and physical prowess to live up to the ideals as ordained by God exterminating social barriers and discriminations of all sorts. It calls for unshakable faith in truth, a sense of sacrifice and limitless love and faith in the oneness of humanity holding on to the guidance of Guru, the medium.

Faith is the firm determination of the mind to fix it on the merciful experiential Light of the Divine. It also means the faith in Guru, the personified Godhead, through whom the experience of the divine is imparted. One identifies and submits himself or herself in word and deed with the benevolent mission of Guru. This is the essence of Guru Margam – the Path of Guru.

Non-believers mean those who have not yet reached the above said state of mind and who follow the blind observance of tradition as well as those who are atheists. No goodness can be derived from the practice of and allegiance to degrading principles and lifestyle as it causes the destruction of virtue in the soul and the consequent fall of the individual and society.

The progress and fulfillment of a person depends on the quotient of goodness, virtue or blessedness in the soul. The merciful Guru is ever concerned about the uplift of such souls and advises the path for earning of virtue in this short span of human life. Guru exhorts us to work together for the obliteration of filth in our soul and society, accumulated by the past deeds of our ancestors and ourselves so that our progeny will be freed from the pollutions of culture and tradition.

Pollution of culture has its root in the thoughts and actions of several generations of our forefathers molded through tradition and way of god worship. Unless those cultural and soul imprints in the psyche of the society are cleansed, the transformation of the society in the desired direction becomes difficult. This goal of cultural cleansing cannot be achieved through socio-political means, as it requires the spiritual guidance of an epochal preceptor, who comes as the authority of the age by divine decree. Such a preceptor perceives the riddles of time and space, light and energy, life and death in perfect tune with the cosmic reality.

The Gurupooja of Santhigiri Ashram is this karmic, genetic, spiritual and cultural cleansing, through the spiritual intercession of Guru. Guru pooja holds out the promise and hope for a global cultural and spiritual renaissance through the birth of a new generation of children unaffected by physical, mental, cultural, spiritual and hereditary negativities. Today thousands of families from a society divided by the walls of caste, religion and class have migrated to a new spiritual movement of equality, spiritual experience and guidance. Guru created for them an enviable model of self-sufficient community living that has become the succor and hope of thousands of people, engaged in various professions, trade and enterprises in Santhigiri Ashram.
The fundamental aim of Santhigiri Ashram is thus a cultural and spiritual regeneration of humanity as expected of this ascending age of Kali Yuga in the process correcting the fundamental error occurred in the practice of Sanatana Dharma that led to societal degeneration and fragmentation worldwide, threatening the peaceful existence and growth of human society.