Governor Arif Muhammad Khan to Dedicate Santhigiri’s Vishwa Jnana Mandiram at Kozhikode

 

Kozhikode: Kozhikode, the land known for social harmony and compassionate culture, is dedicating to the nation a beautiful prayer hall named ‘Vishwa Jnana Mandiram’ – meaning, the abode for Cosmic Knowledge. The beautiful building is at Kakkodi Anavkunnu, a small hillock near Kozhikode city.

Her Holiness Abhivandhya Amrita Jnana Tapaswini, the spiritual head of Santhigiri Ashram, will light the lamp in Vishwa Jnana Mandiram on Wednesday, April 9 at 9 in the morning, and inaugurate the Prayer Hall in the presence of thousands of Guru’s devotees and well-wishers. An oil painting of Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru, the founder Guru of Santhigiri Ashram will be placed in the mandapam at the center of the Prayer Hall. After the rituals, Sri Arif Mohammad Khan, His Excellency, the Governor of Kerala will dedicate the Vishwa Jnana Mandiram to the nation on Thursday, April 10 at 10.30 AM.

Various conferences to be held on the 8th, 9th and 10th of April will be inaugurated by Kerala Ministers P.A. Muhammad Riaz, AK Sasheendran, Ahmed Devarkovil along with Member of Parliament M.K. Raghavan. A host of prominent people from socio-political, religious, artistic, and cultural fields will attend the inaugural function. That includes Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan, Santhigiri Ashram General Secretary Swami Gururatnam Jnana Thapaswi, MLAs Ramesh Chennithala, M. K. Munir, T. Siddique, Thotthal Ravindran, P.T.A. Rahim, Muslim Youth League State President, Panakkad Syed Sadikhali Shihab Thangal, Bharatiya Janata Party State President K. Surendran, Kozhikode Valiya Khasi Panakkad Syed Nassar Shihab Thangal, INTUC State Present R. Chandrashekharan, Mathrubhumi Chairman P.V. Chandran, Mathrubhumi Managing Director M. V. Shreyams Kumar, Jamaat Islami Kerala Ameer M.I. Abdul Aziz, Samasta National Education Council Member E.P.K. Moideenkutty Master, Santhigiri Ashram President Swami Chaitanya Jnana Thapaswi, CPM District Secretary Mohanan Master, Indian Union Muslim League District President M.A. Razaq Master, Swami Vivek Amritanandapuri (Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt), Thiruvananthapuram Palayam Imam Dr. V.P. Suhaib Maulavi, D.C.C. District President K. Praveen Kumar, Bharatiya Janata Party District President Adv. V.K.Sajeevan, Jamaat Islami Assistant Amir P. Mujeeb Rahman, Malayala Manorama news editor P.J. Joshua, former Regional Director of Archaeology Department, Padmasri K.K Muhammad, Brahmakumaris District Coordinator Rajayogini Jalaja, Chelannoor Block Panchayat President Sunil Kumar, Kuruvatur Gram Panchayat President Saritha. T, Kakkodi Gram Panchayat President Sheeba P, Kakkodi gram panchayat members Mohanan Kaitamoli, Ajitha N, Girish Kumar and EMN Upashlokan, Kuruvatur gram panchayat members Somanathan. U.P, Shinu KP, and Nisha Pilakat, and environmentalist T. Sobhindran.

The unique Prayer Hall, which has three stories, has a width of 108 square feet and a height of 72 feet. Each floor has 12 petals in the shape of a fully expanded lotus, totaling 36 petals. It is built on 34 pillars with amazing sculptural beauty. The central mandapam is situated on the ground floor and has a width of 21 feet; adjacent to it is a ‘balalayam’ rich with artwork. The floor of Vishwa Jnana Mandiram is covered with Makrana marble from Rajasthan. On the upper floors is a museum that houses the items used by the Guru.

Concept designing was done by Victor Paili from Alappuzha. The illumination design of the building is by famous cine photographer S. Kumar. He also designed the illumination of the famous Lotus Parnasala at Pothencode. Well-known film director and sculptor Rajeev Anchal is also involved in supervising the construction work. The portrait of the Guru is done by famous oil painter Joseph Rocky Palakal. The Prayer House on top of the hill, the surrounding natural beauty, and the colorful views of the sky will enthrall the mind of people in Kozhikode in the coming days. Another uniqueness of Vishwa Jnana Mandiram is that anyone can enter it regardless of caste and creed.

As instructed by the Founder Guru, it was in December 1995, that the ashram devotees bought thirteen and a half acres of land for the ashram in Anavkunnu, a barren hill. In the first phase, trees and fruit trees were planted on the land divided into terraces. In 2005, during the visit of Her Holiness Shishyapoojitha, the activities as a branch ashram started after lighting a lamp in a temporary building. On January 5, 2014, the stone was laid for the Prayer Hall by Abhivandhya Shishyapoojitha during her pilgrimage to North Kerala. The construction was not easy on the steep hilly terrain. The Prayer Hall is dedicated to the nation with the fullness of self-sacrifice of Guru’s devotees from children to adults.

The celebrations related to the dedication of Vishwa Jnana Mandiram have attained the character of a national festival in every way. The festivities started with a music fest on the Kozhikode beach. On April 6, the world’s largest sand painting will be drawn in Freedom Square. The art festival called ‘Mannin Varna Vasantham’ is being staged under ‘Beyond the Blackboard’, an organization of painters. Apart from the art and cultural celebrations, the city will also witness charity activities. On April 8, as part of the ‘Karunyam Health Scheme’ of Santhigiri Ashram, a free mega medical camp will be held at Kakkodi West Murri Govt. U.P. school, with the participation of health experts from different medical departments.

Vishwa Jnana Mandiram Dedication Ceremony

Her Holiness Gurusthaniya Shishya Poojitha, who will arrive at Kakkodi on April 7, will be received by sanyasis, citizens, and devotees with Poorna Kumbham. Her Holiness will light the lamp in Vishwa Jnana Mandiram on 9th April. The dedication of the Prayer Hall is on 10th April.

Swami Gurusavith Jnana Thapaswi, Head of Santhigiri Health Care & Research Organization, Swami Atmadharman Jnana Thapaswi, Honorary Editor T. Sashimohan, Ashram Advisor (Operations) M. Radhakrishnan and P. M. Chandran, Deputy General Convener of Culture Department participated in the press conference.