THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The book, ‘Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru’, written by Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi, and published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute, gives the readers an outline of the life and experiences of the great spiritual Master Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru (1927-1999).
The writer George Onakkur, who has written an introduction, says Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru, whom he had approached for spiritual guidance, had attained the highest spiritual realization. The life mission of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru was to reestablish the teachings of the ancient Rishis, without the barriers of caste, class and creed. Navajyothisree KarunakaraGuru had said that the Divine, in the form of an avatar, guru or prophet, appears at all crucial stages of human civilization, for its spiritual growth. This process has been going on from the time of creation.
According to Navajyothisree KarunakaraGuru, the Sanatana religion means the culture of great souls who came from time to time. But due to certain shortcomings, human life has deviated from the Cosmic Law given by the Almighty. For a long time, the humanity lost track of the true path of illumination and fell into spiritually degrading practices. In order to correct this, God sent 2444 mahatmas from the beginning of this kali yuga, to guide the human race towards the path of true dharma. They included Mahatmas like Lord Krishna, Buddha and prophets like Moses, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammad who tried to lead mankind towards the path of dharma. According to the followers of the Guru, Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru is one such great Mahatma.
Once, Guru was living at the Aruvipuram branch ashram of Sivagiri Mutt as its in-charge. One day, He decided to observe 41 days meditation on the top of the nearby Koditooki hill. On the 40th day, Rishi Sai Baba appeared before Him in a bright aura. This vision gave hope to Guru. Within the next few days, Guru found his spiritual guide - a Sufi saint by the name of Qureshia Fakir, who was popular as Pattani Swami. The saint was living at Beema Masjid near the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Guru spent seventeen years in Sivagiri Mutt.
He had to undergo many hardships and self-sacrifices. At last, Guru moved to a small hill at the nearby Sivagiri Mutt. The hill, Santhi, where the priest sat, began to be called as Santhigiri. After the spiritual wanderings with Qureshia Fakir, Guru came to a deserted place at Pothencode in 1964 and set up Santhigiri Ashram. He made a small hut there with twigs and coconut palm leaves. It was called the Parnasala. In the place of that old Parnasala, the magnificent Lotus Parnasala stands now housing the holy relic of Guru.