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Gurucharanam SaranamBiography of Navajyotisree Karunakara Guru Revised

Edition, 2010Publishers Note

Santhigiri Ashram through its research wing has been publishing books and journals on health, peace and

spirituality in line with the teachings of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru, whose vibrant and exalted

vision augurs well for a civilizational change in the dawn of this millennium. The Great Master lived

almost an obscure life away from the blitz of propaganda and publicity. He liked it that way. But, the

fragrance of a flower spreads on its own by the natural breeze. The divine fragrance of Gurus life has

spread far and wide today through the little murmurs and whispers of a devoted community of believers. The life of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru was an open book, for He lived always among the people, as

one of them. However, very little is known about His inner self, which was unfathomable by any human

standards. He was close to the devotees hearts as the embodiment of love, yet He was incomprehensible

to human intelligence. He was simple outwardly and unimaginably holy. Yes indeed, He was the perfect

picture of divinity, God in human form, whose touch, glance, speech and experience raised the human

spirit to an exalted plane of transcendent joy.We have tried to draw here a small outline of Gurus earthly existence for the benefit of posterity. The

narration of His life is based on bits and pieces of information provided mostly by Guru Himself and His

contemporaries. It has already been published in Malayalam by the title Poovum Mullum (Flower &

Thorn), compiled by Dr. C.V. Babu, University of Delhi. This is more or less a free translation of the

same into English. We prayerfully submit this work at the lotus feet of our Guru, Navajyothisree

Karunakara Guru.Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi

Executive EditorChapter 1 : Birth and Childhood

Chapter 2 : Life of RenunciationChapter 3 : Under the Tutelage of Guru

Chapter 4 : Spiritual Impasse

Chapter 5 : SpiritualCompletion

Chapter 6 : Consecration of Prayer Hall

Chapter 7 : Merging in the Adisankalpam


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Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru was born at Chandiroor in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday,

1st September, 1927 (Malayalam Era 1103). Chandiroor is a beautiful village, as the name itself suggests,

i.e. the land of the moon or the moon-lit land, in Alappuzha district of Kerala. Here the lustrous white

patches of sand resemble a silvery carpet as if laid by the Almighty in preparation for the Divine

ordination. The beautiful, tranquil, verdant paddy fields, groves and trees bearing abundant fruit give the

land an air of surfeit and plentitude justifying the epithet Gods Own Country. Lulled by the constantcaress of a mighty ocean and soothed by the cool waters of the Western Ghats, lotus bearing ponds and

lakes, God could not have found a better place for His earthly sojourn. The month

ofChingam (Malayalam Calendar) orSraavan has a special cultural and spiritual significance in the

Indian tradition. As per astrology, the star ofChoti (Swaati) in the month ofChingam is especially

hallowed for various reasons. Guru was born on the 16th ofChingam under the auspicious starChoti.The divine child opened its eyes to see a small oil lamp shimmering tranquil aura! Then a thatched little

hut made from the leaves of the blessed kera (coconut) tree. The first moments of the Divine on the earth,

among mortals! Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru - the soul chosen and ordained byBrahman (God

Almighty) to rebuild the evolutionary and empirical edifice of the unfolding transcendental truth; the

reformer of the conceptual aberrations of theManu lineage; the first manifested ofBrahman; thePrimordial Preceptor even toManu - the First Guru of mankind. Transcending all spiritual planes in the

cosmic manifestation, He became one with theBrahman and of theBrahman! According to the vision of

Sri Aurobindo, the Supramental Lightdescended upon ear th on 24th November, 1926, which is

celebrated as Siddhi Day at Aurobindo Ashram. Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru was born a little over

nine months after this descent of the Supramental Light.ChittekkadHouse had nothing to boast of power, pelf, education, social status or family name. It was a

lower middle class family and Smt. Karthyayani, Gurus mother, was not known for any extraordinary

qualities, either in worldly matters or spiritual wisdom. However, she had some special experiences when

she was carrying Guru. She had the visions of thousands of celestial beings in different attires coming in

procession to prostrate before her. She could not understand what it meant. Some of them in that grouplooked like rishis, some like angels and Christian priests with long gowns and there were women

inpurdah. Some were telling the beads in their hand. People with different looks and attires appeared in

front of her uttering prayers. They silently moved aside, after bowing before her. Several among them

looked like noble souls, but she could not understand their religious identities. They appeared and bowed

even when she moved about. These experiences lasted till the delivery. She used to tell her younger son

Aravindan that while she was carrying Swami Mon (Guru) she had experienced great ethereal bliss and

was able to see celestial appearances. In her womb was the great soul through whom these celestial beings

were to get deliverance!In those times, there were hardly any vehicles and doctors. When the mother developed labour pains, the

village midwife was summoned. It was past midnight, but still the delivery did not take place. No one in

the house slept. The few people who had assembled there became restless and concerned. While the

puzzle and anxiety continued the grandfather (mothers father) went to the pond in the house-yard and

began to wash up in order to pray. Standing waist-deep in water, he prayed with a heavy heart. At this, a

pregnant cow appeared from nowhere. It collapsed in the house-yard whining loudly, writhing in pain and

anguish. In a few moments, it had become breathless and dead. The villagers had never seen such a cow

in their village. The birth of the child took place soon after this incident.


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The midwife was wiping the face of the newborn when it started crying loudly. She was astonished to

hear the masculine voice of the child, not expected from a just born baby. Hardly a day had passed when

the child was visited by sickness. Its body became cold like a clod of mud. Big blisters appeared on the

body. The illness became severe by the day. The child did not cry or consume water or milk. It just lay

there, still and silent. The people at home and from the neighbourhood were perplexed and looked at each

other. It was the ninth day and the illness reached a critical stage. The child was laid on a plantain leaf.Everybody felt the icy approach of death. The grandfather once again entered into the pond, bathed and

prayed standing in waist-deep water. O God! Save the child if it is destined to live, otherwise. He had

hardly finished the prayer, than the childs cry reached his eardrums. The child had shown signs of

improvement. Slowly it recovered and became hale and hearty. The personification of the Divine Light in

the mortal world with its accompaniment of pain! Parents named the child Karunakaran and it grew up as

a symbol of divine effulgence and joy.The Childhood of Guru: One day Gurus father was sitting on a cot in the house watching the little child

joyfully giggling and thumbing the floor lying on a small mat. Recognizing the father it started to crawl

slowly on its knees towards him. The father looked at the child with great affection. The child reached to

embrace that shore of parental love. Getting hold of his foot thumb, it smiled and looked at the father.Immediately the father drew him to his bosom with great affection and kissed it profusely. A rare moment

of fatherly love and warmth! Four months after Gurus birth, the father became bed ridden. When Guru

was nine months, this shore of love went deep under the ocean of time. Mother, widowed now, found it

hard to bring up the child.As years passed, the child once grievingly thought of its father. That night when he slept, he saw a dream.

There was a person. Then another person pointed at this person and said, that is your father. Father was

slowly disappearing from him like a withered dream. Guru had no way to have contact with the fathers

family. He spent the childhood with his mother. His maternal uncle, Sankaran by name, looked after him

and his mother. Apart from the uncle, the maternal parents also lived in the house.Guru was still a crawling infant. Once, the child passed urine inside the house. Upon this, the mother

slapped him tenderly and said, You should go outside and urinate. The child never urinated in the house

after this incident. It would climb down the doorway to the courtyard whenever it wanted to urinate and

crawl back slowly holding on to the door sills. Guru as a child was extraordinarily conscious about purity

and cleanliness. He would not step into dirt and mud around the house. He made footwear for himself

with the strong cowl of areca nut leaves. From early childhood, Guru maintained absolute purity and

avoided contact with all types of filth and dirt. It is true to the saying cleanliness is next to godliness. The

child habitually commenced daily prayers from the age of three years.Gurus life became increasingly focused and disciplined as he grew up. He would get up early in the

morning and go for a bath in the nearby pond. He would wash, bathe and change clothes in the morningsand evenings. It was a rigorous routine of physical and spiritual discipline. After bathing he would burn

incense sticks and sit down to pray. No one knew to whom he prayed or for what he prayed. He would

drink water and eat food only after the prayers. As a child, Guru liked white rice and plain

coconut chutney. He would choose a neat place to eat spreading a towel as his seat. His dress was the

traditional dhoti with a kaupeenam (loincloth) beneath.


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There was a family temple in the mothers house. The grandmother would occasionally take the child to

the temple. Once when Guru was about the age of five, his grandmother took him to this temple. At the

temple, the child was immersed in prayers and lost in spiritual bliss. It was time to return. But Guru did

not want to return and wanted to stay on in the temple. He was about to tell this to his grandmother.

Suddenly he heard a voice, These are ignorant and insensitive people. Do not speak to them thus. Guru

then silently went back with his grandmother.Guru did not seek or desire anything from others. He was also beyond others subjugation. He found joy

in sharing eatables with his childhood companions. But he would not join company with them or play. He

liked solitude and silence, which were his companions. He did not have any interest in the playful life

natural to children. The little lad would spend lonely hours watching the myriad phenomena of nature; the

sunrise in the eastern horizon, where the endless green fields and the vast expanse of dark backwaters

met; the rays of the sun tickling colourful shades on the water filled paddy fields. Guru would keenly

watch all this during his solitary musings.One day a few children of his age from the neighbourhood came to Gurus house inviting him to play.

Guru was reluctant, but the children insisted. The grandmother also supported the children. Go and playwith them, she said. Guru still made no moves. Then Raphael, a boy in the group, physically lifted Guru

and took him to the playground. Then one of the boys took a banana stem and fixing it on the ground

asked Guru to hold it tight. Another boy came running quickly with a sickle and swiftly cut the stem. The

sickle cut the stem and unfortunately the hand of Guru too. The wound started oozing blood. This made

the children run away from the scene in panic. Guru sat there alone sobbing and trying to swallow the

pain. Then Raphaels mother came there and dressed the wound. After this incident, the children did not

try to call Guru to play. Thus ended Gurus childhood plays!People could not understand Guru in his childhood because of the rare blend of his character and

distinctive qualities. Who could have understood the divine presence, the incomprehensible, eternal, pure

effulgence radiating through him? The pure inner effulgence of Guru radiated an unbroken flow of purity,quietude and joy. He could see a face filling his heart from the time he could remember. He was unable to

speak due to this internal presence. This silence continued even when he started to walk. He just giggled

when somebody spoke to him or would just hum yes or no. Beyond that no words would come out. Even

at the age of three, the child did not speak. The parents gave medicines, offered prayers and offerings at

some temples. He was made to perambulate Kanichukulangara Temple withpandam (a traditional torch

burned with oily cloth). He performed another ritual holding lighted wicks and also did daily prayers at

the family temple. At the end of all this, the child started to talk a little. He was five years old then. He

spoke only few words, rarely still. The words were cryptic emerging from the internal presence. Guru was

like a mike producing the sound. Guru thought this internal presence was inside everybody. Others

thought Guru was dumb seeing his inability to speak. It was much later Guru realized that this internal

presence was not there in others. It took still some more time to recognize the internal presence as Lord

Sri Krishna. In the realm of spiritual ascendancy, the position of Sri Krishna had been incomparable. Sri

Krishna, who had attained the formless transcendental state, was the internal presence guiding Guru. This

internal presence lasted till the age of nine years after which it slowly disappeared. Now Guru was able to

speak normally. But until that time, he could not go to school.Once, a copra trader in the village lost a large amount of money. The trader was very sad and frantically

searched every place he visited for the lost money. When Guru went for the morning bath, he found the


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money. He went to the trader and said that he had got the money and immediately handed over the bundle

of money to him. This incident endeared Guru to all the people in the village. Augustine was Gurus childhood companion in the neighbourhood. Once, Augustine, his brother, Raphael

and sister, Annie were alone in the house, as their parents had gone for a wedding. They had left some

rice and provisions for them to prepare food. The children decided to cook paal-paayasam (puddingwith rice and milk). Thepaayasam was prepared and the children immediately sat down to eat. They had

hardly taken in one or two mouthfuls than were overcome with nausea. Augustine went to Guru and took

him to the house to tell him about the fiasco that was theirpaal-paayasam. Guru took a small quantity

and tasted it. He asked them, didnt you add salt to this? On adding a little salt, the paayasam tasted

good as it should.There was a mango tree in Gurus house. It stood near the pond in the house yard. Guru liked the tree

more than the other trees in the compound. The mango tree bore fruit in abundance. There were no other

mango trees in the neighbourhood with such dense population of mangoes. The mangoes of that

benevolent tree were greatly delicious. One day a ripe rotund mango fell. Guru picked up the mango and

buried the fruit as it was without even tasting it. The seed germinated and the sapling began to grow. Heplanted a banyan and a jackfruit tree also beside this, all of which grew very well. When Guru left home,

the family tied a goat near the plants and the goat ate up everything except the mango plant, which

subsequently grew and flourished to become a big mango tree. It was hearth to many birds which made

homes beneath the shades of its leaves and branches. This tree had some uniqueness. It had mangoes

throughout the year. Because of this, it became the haven for children as well as squirrels and birds that

perched atop enjoying daily feasts of sweet ripe mangoes.Guru liked the cool shade of this mango tree. Its canopy, always in bloom with mango flowers and buds,

wafted sweet smell in the air. One day Gurus uncle decided to cut down this mango tree. However, the

intervention of Guru saved the tree presently. There were other varieties of mango trees in the house yard.

But Guru liked this particular mango tree which he himself had planted and which gave him the tastiestmangoes in all seasons. When Guru became absorbed in spiritual matters, the contact with home was rare.

In his absence, this tree was cut down. Guru became very sad when he came to know about the cruelty

meted out to his mango tree.When Guru was ten years old, the uncle decided to conduct the remarriage of his mother. The little boy

requested him not to send his mother in remarriage. But nobody listened to the child. They took it as the

bickering of a ten-year-old boy. The mothers remarriage took place and she went to Ezhupunna in

Cherthala talukalong with the stepfather. His name was Kochu Sankhu.Guru could not get proper education as he had not attended school. However, he went to a traditional

teacher (Asan Kalari) for some time, where he learnt to read and write and some arithmetic. Maliyekkal

Kumaran Asan was the first teacher. Then Poovathil Kunjan Asan taught Guru and a few other students.

Augustine Kunju, Chathan, Chavadi, Moideen Kutty, Krishnan, Narayananan, Peter, Damodaran,

Pathumma and Thevan were Gurus companions. The first three persons completed their studies along

with Guru. In the Asan Kalari, Guru stood first in studies. But Guru took no interest in the studies. If he

was made to sit down to learn, he would become lost in thoughts and thus forget to study. By the age of

12, this non-formal education also came to a stop. Therefore, Guru did not pick up the craft of learning

through books.


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From the second marriage of his mother, a child was born. Guru was taken to the stepfathers house to

look after the child. The stepfather was an alcoholic and often quarreled after coming back from his

drinking sessions. This character of the stepfather was unbearable to Guru. However, in the presence of

Guru the stepfather would not quarrel. At that young age too, the presence of Guru was able to overpower

all malevolent tendencies in others. Gurus uncle occasionally visited him and wanted to take him back

home. But for long two years, Guru had to remain there as the stepfather would not accede to theavuncular requests.Chapter 2 : Life of RenunciationFrom childhood itself, Guru wished to lead a monastic life and wanted to join some ashram. While at the

house of his stepfather, he wore a rosary as if in preparation for a pilgrimage to Palani in Tamil Nadu,

famous for its Subramanya temple. The observance of vritam (austerities) also began. If his mother gave

food at her times of physical impurity or without bathing, Guru would not eat. He would just decline the

food smilingly. However, he never made any complaints. Occasionally, he was entrusted to buy fish from

the market. As he had to obey the parents, he would go up to the fish market. But invariably, by the time

he reached the market, it would have been closed with all the fish sold out. He would return home withoutfish and hand over the unspent money to the parents.It was almost two years since he started the vritam to go to Palani. But save the vritam, the pilgrimage

never fructified. Those who saw him asked, When is the pilgrimage to Palani? Guru would reply When

the time comes, I will go. Is there any harm, if the vritam is a little more? When the children of his age

went to school wearing good clothes, Guru went to work in a nearby coir factory producing coir mats, the

whole day shuttling from one spinning wheel to the other.Guru spent two years with the stepfather. He was now 14 years. One day his stepfather came home

terribly drunk. He shouted extremely foul words, crossing all limits of civility. Gurus mind was deeply

hurt. That night Guru left home. He spent the night on the veranda of a village prayer hall nearby. In the

morning he got up and went to Kumaran Asan, who first taught him the alphabets. Guru informed him of

his desire to join an ashram. The teacher sat there for a few moments, quietly thinking. Then he got up,

and instructing the children to study, took Guru along with him. There lived a person called Krishna Pillai

at Aroor, who had been in contact with some ashrams. Asan decided to meet him. Krishna Pillai, when

informed of the boys desire, said, There is an ashram of Swami Agamananda at Kaladi. They decided

to take Guru there. Asan arranged a local acquaintance to accompany Guru to the ashram at Kaladi (near

Kochi). The person sent by the Asan dropped Guru at the gate of Agamananda Ashram and returned.

However, the ashram authorities asked Guru to go back the same evening, saying that children were not

allowed to stay at the ashram. Helpless and alone, Guru walked in the direction of Aluva town.Advaita Ashram of Sree Narayana Guru is situated at Aluva. On the way, Guru heard the conversation of

two persons and understood that they were going to the ashramghatfor bathing. He followed them as he

did not know where the ashram was. They walked and entered into what he thought was a house. Guru

hesitated a little, but soon found himself standing in front of the vast ambience of a bathing ghat. He

bathed in the cool and clean waters and felt fresh from the physical and mental fatigue. He then went

straight into the Advaita Ashram. The swami in charge of the ashram was sitting on a chair in the lawn.

Guru went near him whereupon the swami enquired about his visit. Guru told him about his desire to lead


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a monastic life. The swami called the ashram officials and instructed them to arrange an accommodation

for him at the ashram.The following day the ashram officials enquired from him the reason for his visit. When they learnt about

Gurus desire to stay at the ashram, they informed him that there were enough people at the ashram and if

they required additional people, they would inform him. The head of the mutt came there. Listening to theconversation, he said immediately, Do not send him away anywhere. Let him stay here. Swami

Sanakarananda, the head of the mutt, had recognized the divine sparkle in the boy and his ardent spiritual

desire. With the kind-hearted intervention of the swami, Gurus ashram life thus took off. It was the continuity of a life of sacrifice threading through countless births. Two years at the Aluva

Advaita Ashram and Guru quickly familiarized himself with the ashram routine. The joy of ascetic life

never diminished in him, but was ever growing day by day. Nobody could dither him from his ineffable

spiritual conviction. The doors of sacrifice had opened before him, foreboding a future civilizational

change that would alter the spiritual graph of mankind. Who could have dispirited the bidding of the

immortal Universal Self? The sun may lose its warmth, the moon its soft rays, the stars their twinkle, the

mountains their might, the ocean its salinity, but never the divine self its essential nature.

There was always the sparkle of divine effulgence in Guru. He never idled away time. He had the habit of

tirelessly working on the jobs entrusted to him. He never made complaints nor was he disillusioned with

anybody. The efflorescence of his inner tranquility reflected a perennial joy even while engaged in the

otherwise mirthless routine of life. Guru tied just a cotton towel around his waist. The short built, ruddy,

fair complexioned lad of great magnetism attracted the attention of all. The wisdom beyond the fecundity

of age, unshakable steadiness in truth, benevolence brimming with grace, chaste godly love, humble and

ennobling behaviour! Guru stood out from the rest. However, his prodigious qualities, sense of sacrifice

and elevated character disturbed the peace of some at the ashram. This budding life of selfless service was

soon uprooted from the Advaita Ashram and planted at Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala. The luminous and blessed character of Guru inescapably attracted the attention of the people. They

enquired about this young boy at Sivagiri. As he had come from the Aluva branch, he was called Aluva

Karunakaran. As a prelude to the greatness that lay ahead, Guru had to undergo many experiences that

called for physical toil, steadiness of mind as well as sagely purity and perfection. Seventeen long years

of service at Advaita Ashram and Sivagiri Mutt proved to be the stepping stones in that direction. Initially, Guru was entrusted with the responsibility of collecting flowers for the worship at Sarada

MuttandMahasamadhi (resting place of Sree Narayana Guru). Guru loved all jobs. He had no

discriminating thought on the type of job one did. He would do all jobs neatly and perfectly with equal

care, be it small or big, high or low, in the eyes of the world. He had an inherent quality to respect and

love the jobs entrusted to him. He swept the lawns, worked in the kitchen, served guests, assisted the head

of the mutt, performed worship at theMahasamadhi of Sree Narayana Guru the list of duties was long

for that karmayogi. He also blended love and humility with his work. But in the eyes of the majority of

the people at Sivagiri, Guru was only a good servant.Through hard work and sacrifice, over a period of time, Guru became privileged to perform Guru

Pooja andPushpanjali - worship and rituals - at Sarada Muttand theMahasamadhi. People now called

him Karunakaran Santhi. The devotees observed a divine aura enveloping Guru when he


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They were speaking the truth. The situation was such at the time. They contested that they would not be

able to see even a stone put for the Samadhi Mandiram. But Guru was firm in his faith. I would go from

here only after seeing that, he said. Then one of his companions said that one should not hope to die

seeing that. I would die only after seeing it. When Guru said this, all of them laughed. Guru used to pray

and contemplate for the construction ofSamadhi Mandiram. He performed worship at thesamadhi those

days. He mentally calculated the height of theSamadhi Mandiram 75 feet. That should be the elevationofSamadhi Mandiram of Sree Narayana Guru, he decided. Then he measured 75 feet taking short

footsteps. It was like the culling of fire from a log of wood. Guru struggled to build the edifice of

the Samadhi Mandiram internally with utmost sincerity and tireless prayers. For long eight years that

internal fire of contemplation and prayer continued. In the silent hours of night, he would pray walking up

and down under thesantenu and jackfruit trees east of thesamadhi. So deep was his desire that

sometimes he broke down and wept praying. He would sit in the corner of thesamadhi during free hours

and get transfixed in deep meditation.In the eighth year thus a proposal came up for the construction ofSamadhi Mandiram. The height of the

structure was also decided - 72 feet. An elevation up to the age of Sree Narayana Guru! Guru felt sad

when he knew about the height, for he had desired an elevation of 75 feet. But when he came to knowthere was a dome of 3 feet above, he felt happy because now the height would be exactly 75 feet. His

prayers and deep desire took concrete shape within ten years.Guru had shifted from Sivagiri before the completion of the Samadhi Mandiram. It was after three years,

one day, Guru came to Sivagiri Mutt. A bell tolled just when he entered Sivagiri. He enquired what the

matter was. He was then informed that it was the day of completion of the work ofSamadhi

Mandiram. The bell was tolling on this auspicious occasion. Gurus joy knew no bounds. He began to

weep with tears of joy. It was the moment of fulfilment, the culmination of eight years of heartfelt

prayers, submissions and contemplation.Guru once said recollecting those experiences, When you live here (at Santhigiri), whatever way youdesire this institution to grow, it would grow accordingly with the strength of your heartfelt prayers.In the ocean of mundane life, Guru was searching for the bank of spiritual enlightenment and guidance.

What was that divine luster which filled his heart till the age of nine? Whom shall I ask, he wondered.

He enquired from the monks living at Sivagiri Mutt. But none could give him an explanation. Several

saints and holy men visited Sivagiri those days. From them too, he enquired, but there was only

disappointment. People at Sivagiri Mutt tried to teach Guru vocal and instrumental music, Vedic rituals

and transcendental knowledge but his mind did not glue to all this. The great visionary felt learning and

academic exercises to be futile. Such was the depth of his inner inkling of truth. The light of truth does

not emanate from the pages of books darkened with ink. He felt disillusioned with the inane scholastic

verve and began to look for a Guru who had had spiritual experience. That was what was required. Thesearch was for that. However, despite his best efforts, his desire remained unfulfilled. Months and years

withered away.One day, a famous scholarly monk came to Sivagiri. His name was Swami Jagadeeshwarananda. He was

for the past 21 years teaching Logic and Vedanta at Benares Hindu University. He was a teacher as well

as a seeker. It was this sage who taught Brahma Sutrato Swami Agamananda. When Guru told Swami

Jagadeeshwarananda about his experience, he said, I know this is true. Years before, Dr. Sivanandan had


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told me about a similar experience. I have also read it in books. Now I hear it from you. As for me, I have

no such experiences. I could not even see the flicker of light of an incense stick to talk to you about this.There was an S.N. Sadyalam (an eatery) at Varkala run by Sri Gangadharan Mudalali. His sister had a

daughter. Guru was those days performingpooja and rituals at the Sarada MuttandSamadhi of Sree

Narayana Guru. Guru was a gentle, attractive young lad. A blazing young ascetic! This girl began to likeGuru. Hers was a blind desire unmindful of the consequences and limitations. Unable to control herself,

one day she opened her heart to Guru. She told Guru about her desire. A mind that loved all beings

equally in divine adoration! Disgusted by the selfishness and carnality of the request, Guru fumed with

anger. He bluntly told her that he did not desire such a life. Her heart broke. However, she continued to

keep the fire of passion burning in her heart.One day, she went near the rivulet where Guru used to go for his morning ablutions. She stood there

waiting for Guru. It was dark as the dawn had not still brightened. There was a piece of paper in her hand

in which the place of meeting and time were mentioned. When Guru encountered the girl there with the

letter, he was shocked and told her that somebody had cheated her. She had thought the letter was written

by Guru. Guru informed her that he was not literate to write a letter. Guru again told her softly that hismission in life was different and sent her back. The satanic spirit that had come with the promise of

wealth and enjoyment was repelled by Guru. But the girl, who succumbed to that spirit, could not survive

the tragedy that followed. The sinful souls who had forged the letter were waiting in the darkness. They

pounced on her and mutilated her body in that pre-dawn hour. Unable to bear the shock and tragic fate,

she ended her life that day. The police registered a case and started interrogation. But, the real culprits had

to undergo severe hardships later and had to repent their inhuman act. One of them even confessed his

crime on his death bed.Guru toiled day and night at Sivagiri. His physical body was offered as a sacrifice in the kitchen fires of

Sivagiri Mutt. He had to do the worship at thesamadhi, prepare and serve food to all. Guru would gladly

accept jobs given by others. He only prayed that he should have the time to complete the assigned tasks.He hardly got the time to sleep. Everybody would have slept, but there would be jobs waiting for Guru

before he got a chance to curl up with whatever little slice of night was left. Guru would not like to rest

until and unless the jobs of the day were completed. This meant very late nights and he prayed

beseechingly before going to sleep that he should be able to get up early for the morning chores. Nobody

bothered to think about the grueling life of Guru. But Guru never complained and smilingly went about

radiating love. His purity of mind and humility made people feel happy. He behaved with all in equal

measure without the slightest arrogance and egotism. Thus lived that benevolence among men! The long days of ceaseless work made Guru fall ill one day. Sankarananda Swami, the head of the Mutt,

then instructed Guru to thenceforth undertake only the work in the prayer room. The kind-hearted Swami

also made arrangements for Gurus treatment. For the next two-and-a-half years, Guru worked as theassistant of Swami Sankarananada. Guru learnt many things during this period. The affectionate attitude

of Swami Sankararanada became a salve for the Gurus thorny life at Sivagiri. Guru learnt from the

Swami the working and status of the different institutions of Sivagiri and how people in different parts of

the country regarded Sivagiri.A life of godly love, of asceticism and piety, of brilliant actions and initiatives! The life of Guru was a

matchless confluence of all these. In the path of that crusader, colleagues as well as ashram authorities


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dug the mines of hatred and treachery. Guru did not justify himself or argue his case before others. His

mind thirsted to love all without bounds. He took on himself the odium and aggression of others and

diluted it in the churning sill of endurance. Guru tried to bring closer to him those who had some

virtuousness left in the remote corners of their mind. Such goodness in people is the result of accrued

virtue of many births.A realsanyasi is fearless and truthful. For the same reason the mortals loathe him. The prominent people

at Sivagiri Mutt tried to discover some faults to pillory Guru. When they were unsuccessful, they

transferred Guru from one branch to another. Further still, they cut short the funds to those branches.

Guru was not perturbed by all this. He fulfilled the necessities with the inadequate sum. Sometimes he

was able to save some amount, which he kept for other necessities that arose occasionally. The branch

ashrams where Guru lived began to be frequented by more people. After the two-and-a-half years spent as

the companion of Swami Sanakarananada, Guru was transferred to several branch ashrams of Sivagiri

Mutt Aruvipuram, Kunnumpara, Chempazhanthi, Thrissur, Anapara, Kanchipuram and Mambalam.Guru was now at the Aruvipuram branch ashram as the in-charge there. An in-charge with no assistants!

He struggled without a helping hand to run the ashram and the routine activities. By the time all the workgot completed, the night would have gone far, leaving him behind. There would be very little time left to

sleep and relax the muscles. This aggravated the physical problems which he had already suffered and

which still lingered. Nobody cared and enquired about his problems. The rigours of hard, incessant work

wore him out and he eventually fell ill. One day, when he got up early in the morning, as he did usually,

he fell down unconscious. He recovered only after six in the morning. He had lost consciousness for

about two hours. Well known physicians, Dr. K.N. Pai and Sri Kakakudi Padmanabhan Vaidyar, were

summoned. Both of them treated Guru in turn. But the treatment did not help Guru.Gurus mind was now in agony. It hurt him like thorns. What is the use of my life? I could not gain

anything spiritually. The body is also wrecked now. I could not yet find a Guru of spiritual experience to

guide me. The young mind, scorched by the fire of uncertainties, sank down to gloomy depths. It burntlike a pit of coal, unknown to others. Guru flipped through the pages of his brief life. I have met

innumerableswamis and saints and enquired about spiritual experience. But there was only

disappointment. Nobody could show me the shore of enlightenment.The well known monks at Sivagiri Mutt - Swami Sachidananda of Maruthwamala, Swami Brahmananada

of Palghat, who would float himself on water for hours, Swami Sachidananda of Aluva Advaita Ashram,

the disciples of Swami Sivananda Paramahamsa and Alathur Sivayogi, Kuttalam Sankarananda Swami

all stalwarts, but I could not gain anything. What have I achieved through ashram life? Guru thought in

reminiscence. I could not earn anything in life myself, nor could I share spiritual truth with my co-

travelers thesanyasis (ascetics) and the common man. I had forsaken my home with a strong desire to

lead a life of renunciation and penance. I left my mother, who gave me birth, and the land I was born.Guru had known the life of several brahmacharis, the celibates, and was convinced that many of them

travelled on the wrong track. Therefore, he did not try to interact with them.Brahmacharyam or a life of

celibacy is the taintless purity of truth in human life. Brahmacharyam is the sacred sacrifice of an ascetic,

who has renounced worldly life. That sanctity of truth should be vigilantly kept. It is only then the path of

re-establishing the dharma could be embedded in the historical passage of time, with discrimination of


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truth and untruth, in the institutions of family, society and the nation. A soul of such experience and

enlightenment as a guide in life was far from realization in Gurus life.Guru, as in-charge of Aruvipuram branch ashram, struggled hard with the tedium of physical work.

Slowly his health deteriorated. He did not mind it, however. There is no sacrifice that could weigh down

spiritual realization. He finally took a firm decision that he should realize the truth. The enquiry shouldcontinue to impart light unto the world creaking under the burden of sin and self-destruction. What would

be the benefit otherwise of this life? No, there is no stopping from the striving ahead. Guru took a

spiritual vow to climb the Kodithooki Hill near Aruvipuram for 41 days. It was the place where Sree

Narayana Guru had meditated. He decided to go there and meditate. Somehow time should be found for

spiritual practice despite the burden of work, Guru decided. There is a cave on top of the hill, where Sree

Narayana Guru had performed penance for some time. Sree Narayana Guru was a perfect sage, a pitcher

filled with selfless service and taintless sacrifice.Every day, after performingpooja, Guru would climb up the Kodithooki hill. There he started practising

unbroken meditation in the mornings and evenings. Going up and down the hill was time consuming and

there was the tedious routine of work. Despite all odds, the meditation continued. It was the fortieth day.As usual, Guru climbed up and stood on top of the hill. Suddenly something miraculous happened. There

was a brilliant blinding light in the atmosphere and in it was the bust and visage of a divine soul. Seeing

that figure, Guru trembled and began to lose his senses. It was his first ever spiritual vision with naked

eyes. The form in the auricle of light blessed Guru and disappeared. Completely shaken, Guru sat down in

contemplation. After a while when some fear crept into his mind, he got up and started to walk back to the

ashram. The mind was now dancing with unexplainable joy. Such an experience was the first in his life.

With great exhilaration and scintillating joy, he reached the ashram. Whose vision was that, he began to

think. He could not recognize the figure he saw in that vision, however hard he tried. He had not seen

such a figure earlier.After several months, Guru had an occasion to go to Neyyattinkara town near Thiruvananthapuram. Hewent into a tea shop in the town. Seeing in the shop a framed picture in a glass cube, Guru enquired

whose portrait that was. For, it was the figure he saw at the top of Kodithooki hill in a bright avalanche of

light. The picture was of Shirdi Sai Baba. So it was Rishi Shirdi Sai Baba who appeared before Guru in

vision and became an auspicious omen for the spiritual journey ahead. Now the dark curtain of

uncertainties of spiritual life slowly lifted and the doors of transcendental truth and realization began to

open, one by one.

Chapter 3 : Under the Tutelage of GuruOn the day that Guru got this vision of Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri Vijayan of Karikulam Poovvar was camping

in the Aruvipuram Ashram for the night. He was a close aide of Guru. In the morning Sri Vijayan

conductedpooja at the temple and at the portrait of Sree Narayana Guru, situated in the southern block of

the temple. He sat there and meditated for some time. Suddenly he got up and approached Guru with a

never before show of reverence and care. You are a good soul, Vijayan said. Can you come with me to

a place? I shall introduce you to a divine soul. Guru listened. His heart was throbbing with joy and

curiosity. He entrusted the responsibilities of the ashram to other persons and set out on the journey with

Vijayan. The long awaited journey to the pristine, blissful goal of self-realization. By evening they


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reached Beema Masjid near Thiruvananthapuram city. In the south-west direction of Beema Masjid, there

was an area full of wild bushes. The divine sage whom Vijayan referred to lived in the bushy area. To the

west of this, the great Arabian Sea roared. Vijayan took Guru near the hedge. A man was sleeping there

on jute bags which served him as a rug. There was none besides him. That was the sage Vijayan promised

to introduce Guru to. A gigantic dark figure with long hands! Khureshia Fakir, known also as Pattani

Swami! Guru stood before him motionless enjoying the blissful moments of that first meeting. The shore and the ocean had begun to wear the blanket of dusk. Vijayan went near the sage and prostrated

before him. He informed him about the person who had come along with him. Alright, alright let it be in

the morning. The words of Khureshia Fakir came out with the accompaniment of the roar of the Arabian

Sea. Guru spent that night at Beema Masjid. The place was reverberating with the roar of the sea and the

splash of waves. Tomorrow morning I should meet that Swami, Guru thought and tried to sleep. As the

signs and sounds of the approaching dawn became vivid, Guru got up. There was a canal to the east of

Beema Masjid. He went there and took a bath. His mind was full of excitement at the days meeting with

the sage. He was still bathing when he saw him coming along the canal. Khuereshia Fakir! He walked

clad in a lungi, holding a satchel in his hand. He was moving ahead. Guru immediately came out from the

water and walked quickly towards him in wet clothes. The swami suddenly turned and looked. Hisprofound and reddish eyes were now fixed on Guru. Guru stood in front of him with reverence and folded

hands.Arent you the one I saw yesterday, he asked. Yes, Guru replied. The waters of the canal reflected the

limitless sky up in the horizon.For what have you come, the Swami asked.For peace; whatever is required for peace of the soul, Guru replied.The swami came and embraced Guru; like the shore embraces and accepts the forlorn waves tossed about

in the wide and deep expanse of the sea. The swami wept embracing Guru. The turbulent waves rested a

while in the bosom of the shore, in the rhythmic throb of nature. The glorious blessed meeting of Guru

and Disciple!You are the heiryou are the heiryou are the heir. The swami said these words three times. He then

took out a piece of paper from his satchel and wrote down a mantra. He handed over the piece of paper to

Guru and instructed, Chant this mantra during the three turns of the day. You will see two signs either in

dream or wakeful state. Then come and see me. He said this and walked ahead. Guru stood there beside the silent flow of the canal watching that benevolence walking away. There was

nothing equal to that universal love. The union between guru and disciple! It is the rare confluence of the

divine grace that spreads across the cosmic planes. Thus Khureshia Fakir, popularly known as PattaniSwami, became the blessed mentor of Guru. It was the fulfilment of a long-held desire of the Guru for a

preceptor. However, it was not to be the end of a journey but the beginning of a great saga of spiritual

discovery. Guru began to practice the mantra initiation of Pattani Swami. As predicted by the swami,

Guru got experience. He saw two signs in dreams within three months of the initiation. As per the

instruction, he went and told his master about the experience. Pattani Swami listened and said,

everything is there, but there would be delay. Continue the practice.


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Through the practice ofmantra initiation Guru was ascending certain spiritual heights. This made the

spiritually inimical forces to react in opposition to Guru. With the passing of each day, people around him

began to be unhappy with him. The bond of love was suddenly ruptured. Love soured into hatred. Hatred

pitched itself into virulent criticism, enmity and intolerance. Guru spent one year drinking the searing

potion of malice and aggression of others. The island of hope and refuge now was only his Guru. Their

occasional meetings gave him consolation.Pattani Swami asked Guru to get married in order to cross a spiritual plane. The unusual advice perplexed

Guru as he had taken a vow of celibacy. The Guru knew the mind of the disciple; therefore he suggested

an alternative to cross the spiritual embankment. Find out a whore and gain her reverence. You should

make her and her husband serve you. In the process you may have to suffer a lot of criticism and bad

name, the Swami warned Guru. Guru accepted the instruction in word and spirit. He was ready to

undergo any trouble to avoid a conjugal life. Soon he began to observe the ascetic method suggested by

Pattani Swami. The ordinary people around him did not understand Gurus conduct, which created a lot of

misunderstandings among them. Now, in the minds of the people, there was odium, enmity and sarcasm

for Guru. The depth of it increased unbearably. One day a person menacingly approached Guru and

pushed him about and then hit him. Guru had not done any harm to that person or to the people there. After this incident, Guru locked up the Aruvipuram temple and handed over the key at Sivagiri Mutt. The

officials of Sivagiri mutt wanted to initiate criminal proceedings against the physical assault on Guru.

But, Guru did not like the idea and stopped the initiative. Several unfortunate incidents took place in the

family of the person who assaulted Guru. His wife became mentally imbalanced and died within a month

of the assault on Guru. After four years, the child of the dead woman also suffered mental derangement.

Guru cured the child and some others affected by the same problem later.While living in the confines of Sivagiri Mutt, Gurus heart thirsted to serve humanity. Those days Guru

was in charge of the Sivagiri kitchen and store. The ashram kitchen was his main work place. Guru ran

the affairs selflessly and truthfully in an impeccable manner. He brought down the expenditure to half.Guru served food to all with a heart full of purity and benevolence. The food was tasty and abundant.

There would be still some food left after all the people ate to their surfeit. The ashram officials did not

like to give the balance food to outsiders. But Guru would give it to hungry poor people without others

knowing about it. Once, a poor devotee came to Sivagiri. He was very hungry and tired. But, nobody gave

him food. Gurus mind was deeply hurt by this. He gave his own share of food to the hungry visitor. The

officials seized this opportunity to take action against Guru, who went hungry that day. Guru felt deep

pain and could not sleep that night. I am unable to give even a morsel of food to others, Guru thought

sadly. His heart was heavy. He wept and prayed that night that even if it were a piece of tapioca, he

should be in a position to share it with others.Under the tutelage of Pattani Swami, Guru was ascending the realms of transcendental experience step bystep. Gurus elevation made the satanic spirits jittery and jealous. They turned against Guru. The

companions of Guru in Sivagiri who loved him till then became antagonistic without any particular

reason. Guru did not involve in the group quarrels at Sivagiri and kept himself aloof from them. Guru

adopted a line of non-attachment and the ethics of humanism. He loved the contestants of both groups

equally. But, all of them now turned against Guru. Sivagiri as a whole was now against Guru. Swami

Sankarananda, the head of the mutt, was fond of Guru. There were a few other colleagues and devotees


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who loved Guru. All of them were now unhappy with him. Guru did not understand the reason, for he had

not done anything to harm the relationship by his word or action.Kumara Swami alias Naadan Kumaran was now the President of Sivagiri Mutt. The power struggle had

reached a climax. They tried hard to pillory Guru. However, they could not find any ground to act against

him. At last they weaved a story of theft and stamped it on him. A small bronze lamp disappeared fromSivagiri. Authorities registered a complaint with the police, alleging theft. The secretary of the ashram

briefed the sub-inspector who came for investigation. The President of the Trust, Kumara Swami, pointed

to Guru and said, It is Karunakaran who daily opens and closes the prayer hall. Nobody else enters

inside. Gurus face reddened with protest. However, he did not lose self control or get angry. He said to

the president, Swami, I am also an heir to this place like you. Whatever right I have, you too have that.

You should remember this while talking. After speaking thus, Guru went out of the room. The sub-

inspector realized that the case of lamp-theft was a fabrication. The truthfulness of Guru was so evident.

He was like a wick burning in the fire of sacrifice. That effulgence was self revealing and could not be

hidden.Guru was unable to continue the life at Sivagiri owing to the harassment and accusations from people. Hefelt suffocated in that atmosphere of hostility and cruel apathy. Guru wished to go somewhere from

Sivagiri. But where could he go? He had left his home and relatives years ago. He never went back as he

had lived the life of asanyasi at Sivagiri Mutt and its branch ashrams for several years. He did not know

an independent life. He had no savings either. At last, he decided to go and see Pattani Swami, his Guru.

Handing over the key of the Sree Narayana Gurusamadhi, where he had performedpooja for six years, to

the authorities, Guru proceeded to see Pattani Swami at Beema Masjid.It was night when he reached Beema Masjid. Pattani Swami was not there. Then he decided to go and

look in the bushes behind Beema Masjid, where Pattani Swami used to sleep. However, he was not there

too. Guru decided to wait for him there. He waited in the hedge alone. There was thick darkness around

and the hissing sound of the ocean lashed at the eardrums. From the deep bay of the ocean, biting coldsneaked into the bush uninvited. Guru could not sleep. He was hungry and fearful. The night crept ahead.

It must have been about 2 a.m. Guru saw a shadow approaching the bush. It was a woman. She came and

stood in front of Guru. She was a Muslim woman. She placed some food in front of Guru wrapped inside

some leaves. She looked at Guru carefully. She realized that it was not the person she expected. However,

he was hungry, she thought.Beema informed me that he was hungry and to give him food. That is why I brought food. I thought it

was Ustad(master) who was hungry, she explained. Guru respected her wish and accepted the food. It

was non-vegetarian, which Guru did not eat. However he ate the food to assuage the burning fire of

hunger. She watched him eating and continued, You are a good believer. Otherwise Beema would not

have informed me. You should therefore pray and study the holy books. The woman had come with thefood, prompted by a spiritual vision from Beema in a dream. Beema is the presiding deity in Beema

Masjid.Pattani Swami came in the morning. He said immediately on seeing Guru, You suffered on account of

hunger, isnt it? Never mind. But you should go back to Sivagiri at this moment. Nobody is there. These

words hurt Guru like sharp thorns in the heart. He had left Sivagiri deciding never to return. He tried to

convince the swami that there were two other extra people when he left Sivagiri. But still, the Guru


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insisted and asked him to go back. How do I again step into Sivagiri? I had left with a decision never to

go back, Guru said again to Pattani Swami. But the swami ordered him again, You should return to

Sivagiri immediately. Nobody is there.One should not disobey the words of Guru. To obey his words, I will just step into Sivagiri and then will

go to my house, Guru thought. He had never desired to go back to his house. Since there was no otherway, his thoughts now went in that direction too. How can I live in the house after years of life in an

ashram? The people at home have absolutely no such culture. Therefore, if I went, it would only

accentuate my detachment from worldly life. Whatever it be, let me follow the words of Guru. Thinking

thus, he rose to go back to Sivagiri. His mentor gave him one rupee and fourannas and said,Take lunch from Thambannur Grant Hotel and catch a bus from there. Guru returned to Sivagiri in order

to honour the words of his guide. Guru reached Sivagiri Mutt again. He stepped inside and drew water

from the well in front of the office to wash up. At that instance, he heard a lamentation from the office. O

God, things have come to this sorry state! It was Swami Kaivalyananda. He came out from the office and

saw Guru standing in front. With surprise and happiness he said hurriedly, My dear Karunakara! Come

fast. Nobody has lit the lamp at thesamadhi today.Guru realized only then the pathetic situation that prevailed. How true were the Gurus words! After

washing up, he went and lit the lamp at thesamadhi and did whatever was required. There was rice

porridge for the evening meal. After eating, Guru went and sat down on the platform in front ofSarada

Mutt. Then Swami Kaivalyananda came there and sat down with him. The Swami began to explain about

the greatness of sacrifice and service and the difficulties associated with it. For example, he quoted the

lives of Sri Kelappan, T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, Mannath Padmanabhan, Vaikkom

Parameswaran Nair et al who had led the Vaikkom Satyagraha, undergoing great difficulties in life. There

would be difficulties when serving in public organizations as these are congregations of different types of

people. Therefore, he advised Guru to continue the service without getting bogged down by difficulties. It

is not proper to leave the organization. People living here have come owing to various circumstances in

life. They have not come here in search of transcendental truth and realization. They would not

understand the greatness of sacrifice and selfless service of a renunciate. Didnt you see, the swami

continued, When you left, it was orphaned. It would be so when people like you, who have love and

sacrifice in them, leave. That night, Guru decided never to leave Sivagiri under any circumstances. It

reflected Gurus truthful readiness for sacrifice, the selfless desire for a life of service for the good of

humanity.One day after this, Pattani Swami came to Varkala in search of Guru. Guru was at Sivagiri Mutt then.

Pattani Swami sat under a huge cashew nut tree near the tunnel at Varkala. He sent Vijayan to Sivagiri to

fetch Guru. When Guru came, he said to him, Do not go from here. You will have a change from

Sivagiri. Stay on and everything will get cleared. I had to come to see you. I am going on a big journey. It

would be long before I return. Saying thus, he took out one rupee and gave it to Guru. Pattani Swami

then went away.One day Guru was distributing sandalwood paste to devotees after the prayers at Sivagiri. One among the

crowd showed his finger and asked Guru to put the paste on it. Guru put the paste on his finger and the


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man put it on his forehead. He showed his finger again and asked Guru to put the paste once more. Guru

did not like the behaviour of this person. He asked him to stretch his hand and take the sandal paste as he

was in a hurry. The person seized this opportunity and started a ruckus. He scowled, There are some

children of boatmen here, creating a stink. One gets stunk with these people. Guru replied, It is not your

mistake. Either it is a fault in you or in your upbringing. The person then went to Swami Narayana

Teertha and complained. Swami Narayana Teertha came along with him and scolded Guru. Guru did notspeak then. When Swami Narayana Teertha was sitting with Aruvipuram Chellappa Panicker and Swami

Arya Bhattan, Guru went and said to him, If you see a mistake, you can correct it. But it should be after

knowing the truth. It is not fair that you speak like other ignorant people. The Ashram committee met that day and took some decisions. Swami Gitananda and Swami

Kumarananda came and informed Guru, The committee has decided that you should go on a trip

(pilgrimage). We are telling you this with affection and not with any ill-will. They were finding an alibi

to avoid Guru. Guru understood their state of intolerance. He replied, Good decision. If you wanted, you

could ask me to leave from here. Whether to undertake a pilgrimage or not and when to undertake the

same leave it to me. If I do it on your advice, would I be any better? Let me stay here for a few more days.

Allow me food for four more days. I will go then.The four days that Guru requested for were over. It was a Thursday. Guru did not go to eat food. He sat

on the sill of the baalalayam(outer periphery) from the morning without having any food. The news

spread outside. Food was brought from outside by those who loved and respected Guru. Guru thus spent

21 days on the veranda of the baalalayam. There is a hill to the north of Sivagiri. Sri Gangadharan

Mudalali, a benevolent person, donated a piece of land to Guru on the slope of this hill near Varkala

College. A small thatched hut was built at this place. If one looked from here to the north and east, a few

houses could be seen scattered in the distance. To the west of the hill-slope was the thick foliage of a

large cashew nut plantation. The place was desolate and uninhabited. Guru shifted from the active life of

Sivagiri Mutt to this lonely hut on the hill. It was a Thursday and the day of Utradam star. That day,

four householders brought food for Guru. Guru bade adieu to Sivagiri forever after seventeen years ofselfless service without any remuneration and any encumbrance to the institution.The hill where Karunakaran Santhi lived came to be called Santhigiri. That was the beginning of

Santhigiri Ashram. In the initial period, Guru went to Sivagiri Mutt daily, sometimes two or three times in

a day. But later, he could not find the time. Guru traversed many stages in spiritual experience. Several

people helped Guru in his spiritual activities after the estrangement from Sivagiri. Special mention should

be made of the families of Sri Vidyadharan Kanakkan, Sri Gangadharan Mudalali, Sri Govindan and Sri

Sahadevan. For twelve years Guru lived near Sivagiri. During this period, he also undertook spiritual

journeys with Pattani Swami.Even six months after Pattani Swami left Guru, there was no news of him. Didnt he return from histrip, Guru wondered. Let me go and search for him, Guru decided and went to look for his mentor at

the usual place, near the sea shore at Beema Masjid. Fortunately, Pattani Swami was there. Seeing Guru,

Pattani Swami said, You did not get spiritual experience, isnt it? Now you may go back only after

getting it. Guru thus began to stay with Pattani Swami. It was a period of avadhoota or spiritual

wanderings.


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Pattani Swami took his disciple to Thakkala, near Thiruvananthapuram. In the day time, they wandered in

the hilly, remote and desolate places nearby. At sunset, they would come back to the lawns of Thakkala

court. The other disciples of Pattani Swami would also assemble there at night. Occasionally, Pattani

Swami would praise Guru in the presence of his other disciples. You do not know him. He is great soul.

But Guru did not feel happy about this frequent praise.One day the swami and his disciples were sleeping in a row in the lawns of Thakkala Court. The night

had begun to recede into the lap of dawn. At around 3 a.m., Guru had an extremely wonderful

transcendental experience. The whole cosmos metamorphosed into a blissful ball and entered into his

body. He felt as if his body was shrinking like a custard seed. Pattani Swami then hit him and asked,

Were you afraid? Guru replied, Not internally. Then there is salvation, Pattani Swami informed.After this spiritual experience, Gurus nature changed totally. He was like a lunatic now. Even when he

saw oncoming vehicles, he would not move away. Pattani Swami arranged a person to look after Guru.

He asked Thakkala Parameswran Pillai to take a few days leave for this purpose. He looked after Guru for

some time. Pattani Swami and the disciples would go around the temples in the area during day time.

Guru was able to see the deities and spirits at those places with naked eyes. At the Thakkala PeerukannuSahib Samadhi also, the same experience occurred. The sojourn of the swami and disciples continued for

long. After visiting Kattuva Sahib hill and Padmanabhapuram Palace, they reached a place where

Kalliyankattu Neeli, a fierce female spirit, had taken abode. Pattani Swami asked the disciples to sit

down and meditate. Sri Parameshwaran Pillai then had the vision of Kalliyankattu Neeli as a yakshi (a

female spirit). When Pattani Swami asked her to leave, she disappeared. Then he asked Guru, Did you

see anything? Guru replied in the negative. Then Pattani Swami said, No evil spirit would come in front

of you. He then began to praise Guru.They continued their journey, travelling through Tamil Nadu. At one place, they saw a clean temple

within a walled complex where daily worship was taking place. They rested near the temple. At night,

Pattani Swami ordered Guru and the other disciples to go inside the temple. When he returned, PattaniSwami asked Guru, How did you feel?It is good, a clean place, Guru replied. They had not come across any such clean temple in Tamil

Nadu. Pattani Swami entered the temple. He beckoned Guru to come along. The other disciples waited

outside. When Guru entered the temple, Pattani Swami asked Guru to spit on all the idols. The Hindu

disciple hesitated to spit on those idols of demigods. But it was the order of his master. One cannot

disobey the words of ones guru. He began to spit on all the idols one by one. After doing this, he came

back to the swami. Pattani Swami again ordered, Go and kick on the chest and feet of all those idols.

Guru had since childhood worshipped these deities. How can I kick those idols, he thought and felt aball of desperation in the heart. However, he felt relieved that he was obeying the orders of his master. As

instructed, he kicked all the idols on their chest and feet and came back. Next, Pattani Swami ordered

Guru to take a piece of pottery and collect his urine. When Guru brought his urine, Pattani Swami asked

him to sprinkle it on all the idols. Guru did not mind the inner feeling of consternation any more to obey

the words of his mentor.


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The swami and disciples then continued their journey ahead. As they went on, a sudden feeling of fear

gripped Guru. Should have I done all that in the matter of faith, he wondered. The swami knew the

torment of his disciple and therefore began to speak about the difference in the merit of eating the leftover

food of asanyasi and that offered to a demigod. He further said in conclusion, all those spirits who

inhabited the temple have attained salvation today. For a long time, they were suffering in that place.Guru gained spiritual experiences through Pattani Swami. Not only that, he gained freedom from physical

limitations through the methods of Pattani Swami, who made him carry big fish on his head through busy

main roads and walk to places with the fishing hook in hand. He also used to lock Guru inside filthy and

bloody slaughter houses in the night. Once, Pattani Swami began to pray and meditate to know about

Gurus soul. The meditation continued for three days. On the third day, at around 1.30 a.m., the swami

suddenly got up. He slapped Guru on his thigh and said, You are very great. God is not revealing you to

me fully. Guru was taken aback by the pitched voice of that great man. Guru completed his spiritual wanderings with Pattani Swami. He had received spiritual experiences

mostly at Thakkala, Thiruvithamcode, Kanyakumari, the beach west of Beema Masjid, Sankhumukham,

East Fort, Vallakkadavu, Manakkadu Samadhi, Poonthura, Kovalam, Sucheendram and Kattuva Sahib.One day, Pattani Swami asked Guru to remove the clothes worn by him. When Guru removed his clothes,

Pattani Swami took them and tore them into two pieces. He gave one piece to Guru to wear it. He then

gave Guru a slap and shouted fiercely, Run. Guru was shocked and wondered where to go. He had no

experience of wandering alone. Neither was he able to live with worldly ways. He could not think about a

way to lead his life. He had no idea about the aim in life. He felt like an orphan again. But it was the order

of his master and could not be disobeyed. He ran wearing that rag of cloth.It was intended to be a spiritual wandering for Guru. He began to feel the pangs of thirst and hunger. He

was alone now. He was not accustomed to begging from others. His hunger and thirst became unbearable.

However, in that journey he received plenty of experiences. He got the required help for food and clothes

without asking for it. Experiences beyond words! He had received enough internal experiences for self-development, spiritual elevation and to rise above gloriously. Those experiences led Guru to a path of

transformation. At the end of this wandering, he went back to Pattani Swami and explained all his

experiences. Listening to them, the eyes of Pattani Swami filled with tears. He said to Guru, Now you go

wherever you like. You will get everything. It was a blessing in parting. Both then boarded the train to

Thiruvananthapuram. From Thiruvananthapuram, Pattani Swami went to Vallakkadavu and Guru went to

Varkala. Their contacts continued for the next six- and -a-half years.

Chapter 4 : Spiritual ImpasseAfter completing the spiritual wanderings, Guru reached Varkala Santhigiri. He spent one-and-a-half

years there in solitude. The rich experiences and transcendental visions Guru received during his spiritual

wanderings were unforgettable. Those glorious experiences could be achieved only through supreme

sacrifices in life. The service done by Pattani Swami to elevate Guru to those spiritual heights was

invaluable. He elevated the disciple to the fourth plane in spirituality. It was during this period, Guru interacted with many Siddhas - miracle men. Kalladi Masthan, Poonthura

Swami, Vatti Swami, Chunnambu Swami and Nagercoil Mulagu Swami were some among them. Their


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activities amounted to spreading among people the viciousness of the demonic spirits with whose help

they performed certain miracles. Through the words of Pattani Swami and through self-experience, Guru

realized that these miracle men did not follow the path to peace and self-realization.Guru went to an ashram at Varanapally which was under construction. He was living at Varkala

Santhigiri then. Granting the wish of the ashram office bearers, Guru stayed there till its completion.There was a sick person near Varanapally. His problem was that if he touched cold water, his whole body,

from the feet to the head, would become sensitive. He had become sick thus from the practice of yoga.

Guru tried to cure him by making him stand back to back with Gurus body. It took one-and-a-half years

to cure him completely.Guru had realized the different aspects ofyoga (meditation), bhakti (devotion) andjnanam (knowledge).

After performing the consecration of the ashram at Varanapally, Guru returned to Varkala Santhigiri. It

was the first consecration done by Guru. Several years passed after the establishment of Varkala

Santhigiri. People who loved Guru brought food for him in that hut. He spent seven years and four

months thus in silent prayer. One morning, on the first day of the Malayalam month ofVrischikam, three

persons came to the Gurus hut in the manner of a pilgrimage. They were masons from Varkala. Theycame to Guru and said, We wish to have food here tomorrow. Please grant us permission. Guru agreed

to fulfil their wish. The next day, they came with the necessary provisions for cooking food. That day

they took food with Guru. That was the beginning of Santhigiris annadanam (free offering of food). It

was the fulfilment of Gurus long-cherished desire. There was the Grace and Will of God behind this

fulfilment, making annadanam an integral part of Santhigiri Ashram.From the next day, they made it a regular practice. Several others also started to do the same. In that

month itself, hundreds of people came in this manner. They were helpless people suffering from various

diseases and difficulties in life. Guru gave them holy ash and holy water vibuti and theertham. Those

who received it experienced healing and relief from difficulties. The crowd of visitors increased day by

day. Guru did not do any rituals, but only prayed for those who came. When a year passed thus, Gurucould not find time to visit Sivagiri. Santhigiri had become popular among people. Even up to 1 a.m.,

people flocked to the Gurus hut. Guru took upon himself the divine service of healing people, helping

relieve their pain and difficulties. This had created great goodwill for Guru among the people. A few youths, who were associated with some ill-motivated and vested interests at Sivagiri Mutt, began a

campaign against Guru. But it did not succeed. The relentless flow of people to Guru continued. Three

years passed thus. The devotees submitted various offerings at the feet of Guru, including vessels and

other articles. The value of the articles in those days itself was around Rs. 20,000. Within a span of four-

and-a-half years, a building of moderate size, a prayer hall and a well were constructed and an

institutional style of functioning brought into place.Regularly, devotees at Varkala Santhigiri took Guru to their houses to consecrate their prayer rooms

according to their belief and faith. People from different castes and religions approached Guru for this

purpose. Muslims would get a silver egg and silver sword wrapped in silk consecrated in their houses.

The householders would henceforth perform prayers sitting in front of this. Christians also got

consecrations done through Guru according to their faith. Guru did not permit the worship of low spirits

such asMatan, Maruta, Bhadrakali, Yakshi etc. Mostly, he installed the portrait of Sree Narayana Guru.

That also was not compelled. There was a practice of prayer sittings for 21 days or 41 days for those


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wishing cure for diseases. During those days, Guru himself did the worship and recited prayers for the

devotees. He gave holy ash and holy water to all. That was the only practice. Guru did not do any other

rituals or practice oftantra, mantraetc. People coming to Guru commonly received experiences. Those

who had experiences began coming to the ashram a few times in a week. Guru would speak to them for

their spiritual uplift and enlightenment.He talked those days about Sree Narayana Guru and his own Guru, Pattani Swami, and about

the Trimurthi tradition (the traditional Hindu worship of the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and

Maheswara).When Guru reigned at the spiritual plane of demigods, the plane of celestials, he venerated

Sree Narayana Guru and the Trinity. It is the third plane in spiritual elevation. The devotees who came to

Varkala Santhigiri were advised to follow the same system of worship. Those who followed it under the

advice of Guru started getting miraculous experiences. People crowded the ashram like flies on a piece of

jaggery. All of them were seeking a solution to their problems, diseases and afflictions from evil spirits. Pratyakshavaham Dharmam has been mentioned in the Bhagavat Gita, i.e. the truth is revealed on its

own. Guru received visions of truth. Not only that, he started getting revelatory words. Within a flash of a

few seconds, the demigods and deities of fierce forms appeared in submission and veneration. Thesespiritual beings through the medium of Gurus disciples gave necessary instructions for the cure of

diseases and problems. As per that information, Guru would advise the people by when and how the

disease would be cured. The healing occurred invariably even before the time predicted. Many disciples of Guru got elevated in the matter of spiritual visions (Extra Sensory Perceptions). Several

people were healed thus through the help of visions. Many receivedmantra initiation from Guru. The

flow of people had increased greatly. Those days, Guru did thepushpanjali (ritual worship) himself.

During this period, four persons received a significant vision that Guru should not perform the rituals

henceforth. Guru had reached the spiritual stature of the divinities being worshipped. Hence, this

visionary instruction was received. This, they informed to Guru. However, Guru continued to perform the

worship.One day, Guru was performing the morning prayers at 9 a.m. Hundreds of people were present in the

prayer hall. Suddenly something strange happened. A ball of light, of blue and white aura, fell on the

prayer tray held by Guru. It flew up from the Gurus hand and fell in the north-west corner of the prayer

hall. All those present witnessed it. It was then revealed that Guru should not worship the deities and only

the disciples should perform the prayers. After this, Guru did not perform or recite prayers for the

devotees in the prayer hall.Occasionally, Guru would call all disciples and speak to them. The topics would be the spiritual

experiences and visions of the people coming to the ashram. He would first ask the devotees to describe

the visions. The people who received the visions and those who heard about them did not understand the

meaning or purport of those visions. They did not have the intuition also to decipher those visions. They

would therefore first describe these to Guru, which is the right practice. After listening to the experiences,

Guru would ask them to reveal the experiences, if appropriate, in public, with Guru explaining the

meaning and significance of those visions and revelations.Once, a disciple saw Guru and the Trinity at the same spiritual elevation and Sree Narayana Guru, a step

above, on the fourth spiritual plane. After some time, the disciple saw Guru and Sree Narayana Guru


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sitting at the same spiritual elevation. After a few days, there was yet another vision that revealed Guru

sitting above the spiritual plane of Sree Narayana Guru. These were intimations of the various spiritual

stages and Gurus ascension of these stages in the course of time. It was a revelatory vision showing the

difference between the stages of a deva (demigod), asanyasi (ascetic) and a rishi (sage).There is a spiritual stage in the

Trimurthi system denoted as the third spiritual plane. When one reachesthat plane, whatever visions and oracles are received would be felt as truth. Thus, one would try to do

everything as per these. The experiences would be actualized also in the way one wishes. But, this would

last only till the completion of this spiritual stage. When one moves ahead to the fourth stage, all sorts of

trials and difficulties would take place. The whole world would turn against the person who has reached

that state. This would be the work of highly inimical spirits in the spiritual planes which would be

creating insurmountable problems in the life of this soul. They would try to mislead him in many ways.

This experience would continue till he reaches the sixth spiritual stage. It is in similar circumstances Jesus

said to Satan, Satan, you leave me. Satan mercilessly led Jesus to the cross where Jesus, the Messenger

of God, bewailed O God, have you forsaken me? It occurred when Jesus had crossed the third spiritual

stage. In the same spiritual stage, Prophet Mohammed suffered great persecution and fled from Mecca to

Medina. The prophet once exclaimed, Jinns rule the world. The great Buddha had mentioned aboutMara and his family for these polluted and fallen souls. Buddha died after eating contaminated pork

offered as alms.The disciples of Guru received intimation through visions that Guru also had reached this critical stage in

spirituality. Guru realized that dangerous episodes of calamity were approaching him. One evening, he

addressed his devotees and told them, Soon, among you seated here, ninety percent will desert me.

Nobody could believe this. Everybody said, How can I, How can I? But, before long it happened. Guru

had known it. He did not follow the path of miracles orsiddhi, assiddhi was not beneficial for the

development of spiritual experience. It was in fact a hindrance to spiritual growth. There was an inherent

purpose in Gurus life. That awareness and aim protected Guru from falling into the treacherous ravine

ofsiddhi. The crucifixion of Jesus was the unfortunate consequence of the trail of miracles that the greatsoul performed. When he was drained of his spiritual brilliance, the demonic forces hooked him in a trap. The satanic forces worked against Guru too when he was ascending the fourth stage. They tried to prevent

the spiritual progress of Guru. In order to dilute and nullify the spiritual brilliance of Guru, he was made

to give initiation even to people possessed by evil spirits. Through initiation, the Guru has to accept half

of the disciples virtues and vices. If the disciple goes astray, it affects the Guru spiritually. People now began to get estranged and go away from Guru on flimsy grounds. Somebody left because

Guru did not help him recover a treasure. Some people left on the ground that Guru should not have

crossed the stage of Sree Narayana Guru. The person who saw this vision turned against Guru and went

away. Without any rhyme and reason, people cast aspersions on Guru. The things Guru said wouldhappen did happen. Wherever Gurus fame had spread, now was infamy. Guru became angry when things

went wrong. He began to thrash the disciples who had visions as he thought it was due to their mistake

that the intimations were going wrong. But things got only worse. The devotees left Guru one by one. The

public now looked at Guru with contempt. They ridiculed Guru, insulted him, harassed him and spread

hateful propaganda against him. Those who were close to Guru and loved him did not go to him anymore.


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Now doubts cropped up in the mind of Guru. He was passing the days in extreme torment. Those days an

avadhoota - a spiritual wanderer - came to Varkala Santhigiri and said, Word is Truth, Truth is

Guru, Guru is God.Gurus mind became clear at once and all doubts vanished with these words of the

avadhoota.Guru occasionally went to the vacant house of Sri Gangadharan Mudalali at Poolanthara, Pothencode,near Thiruvananthapuram. The narrow path from Pothencode to Poolanthara was rough and deserted. The

house was surrounded by wild bushes and creepers. The place had very little human habitation. One or

two mud houses stood at some distance. The people were uncultured and utterly poor. Sri Gangadharan

Mudalali donated a piece of land at Poolanthara in 1964 to Guru. It was a quiet and elevated place. Guru

built an ashram there in the same year with mud walls and a thatched roof. There was a veranda for that

small structure. The walls were whitewashed. This was used as thepooja room and the place was called

Guhananda Ashram. Pattani Swami, the Gurus mentor, had performed the consecration of Guhananda

Ashram. Rishi Sai Baba, Lord Subramanya and Sree Narayana Guru were worshipped here. In the

evenings, the devotees lit a lamp and sang bhajans (devotional songs).Guru lived at Varkala Santhigiri. He rarely came to Guhananda Ashram. He stayed for one or two days onsuch occasions. Guru had made arrangements with some of his disciples to light the lamp. These included

Sri Appu Pillai, Sri Divakaran Pillai, the sons of Sri Bhaskaran Panicker, Sri Parayil Sasi and his brothers.

One Sri Janardhanan Pillai, who lived nearby, took care of the other things. Somebody from the

neighbourhood would also come at night to give company to the disciples of Guru at Guhananda Ashram.

Sometimes, somesanyasis from Varkala also stayed there. The ashram had only one small thatched

prayer room. It was used for all other purposes as well. It was an ashram for namesake only. Later, a

small thatched structure was built near this prayer hall. It had a small kitchen and a hall for serving food

which could accommodate not more than half a dozen people. The floor and half-built walls were made of

mud. They used to paste the floor with cow dung to purify the place. About fifteen householders from Poolanthara and Pothencode were associated with the ashram. Sri N.Kochu Narayanan Mestri, Sri Sukumaran, Smt. Sukumari and Sri Nellikkad Falgunan, Sri Divakaran

Pillai, Sri Arjunan Panicker,

Sri Bhaskaran Panicker, Sri Damodharan Panicker, Sri Sadanandan Panicker, Sri Chellappan, Sri

Janardhanan Pillai, Sri Pattalam Appu Pillai, Sri Chandran Pillai, Sri Krishna Pillai and Sri Paraman Pillai

and a few members of their families were among them. Some of these devotees observed vritam

(austerities) on Sundays. Those who observed vritam would come to the ashram on Sundays. Guru

would come here once in a month from Varkala on Sundays and spend the day with these devotees. On

the anniversary day of the ashram, disciples from Varkala Santhigiri also came here. Guru, his close

disciples and those having spiritual visions were undergoing several difficulties. In those days, a

revelation was received that Guru should live in isolation, away from the company of people. Therefore

he remained quiet for two months. Again the same intimation was received. Guru then came to the

Pothencode Guhananda Ashram and spent seven months in solitude. The work on Guru Vihar at Vaikkam was in progress during days. It was a cave used by Sree Narayana

Guru. The owner of this cave requested Guru to visit the place once in a week and Guru acceding to his

request went there weekly. On those trips, he occasionally stayed at the house of Sri Kuzhivila

Kadalikkad Gopalan Master at Vaikkom Mel Kadakkavur. It was Guru who laid the foundation stone for

the Guru Vihar prayer hall. On one occasion, some householders were talking to Guru about their


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problems and illness. Then a few youths came there and began to scold Guru. Guru then discontinued his

visits to that place.Again intimation was received to go to an isolated place. Along with this, two lines of a mantra were also

revealed to two disciples, one male and one female, from the Light. The male received Aum Sree

Karunakara

Guru Parabrahmane Namah and the female

Aum Sree

Karunakara

Guru SatyapradayaNamah. The name of Brahman as revealed from the Light of Brahman! It was also intimated that

this mantra should be chanted and potentiated. Those who received the mantra, informed Guru about it.

But Guru did not allow the disciples to chant this as it had his name in it. One day, early in the morning, Guru and Kada

poovum mullum

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