Santhigiri observes its Silver Jubilee in Tamil Nadu; Celebrations begin in January

 

Chennai: To commemorate the completion of twenty-five years of activities of Santhigiri Ashram in the state of Tamil Nadu, elaborate celebrations will begin on Friday, January 5, 2024. The Ashram Guru Apparent (Gurusthaneeya) Her Holiness Shishyapoojitha Amrita Jnana Thapaswini will perform the lighting of the lamp for the completed Darshan Mandir and also lay the foundation stone of the Silver Jubilee Complex at Cheyyur in Chengalpattu district on the 7th of January. Shishyapoojitha is the word and way of Santhigiri Ashram. This is the first time Her Holiness is coming to Chennai. Santhigiri Ashram President Swami Chaitanya Jnana Thapaswi, General Secretary Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi and around 100 sanyasi-sanyasinis, brahmachari-brahmacharinis and devotees are accompanying Shishyapoojitha on the pilgrimage.

The Ashram is located amidst the scenic landscape of Cheyyur, on the Chennai-Pondicherry East Coast Road (ECR). On the 6th of January 2024 at 10 am, Shishyapoojitha will be received by representatives of the area and members of the local community with Purna Kumbh. This will be followed by Guru Pooja, Aradhana and Guru Darshan. The Honourable Minister of Minorities Welfare, Govt of Tamil Nadu Thiru. K. S. Mastan will inaugurate the proclamation meeting at 4 pm. MP Thiru. Subburaman Thirunavukkarasar, MLA Thiru. S. T. Ramachandran and others from various political, social and cultural fields will attend the function.

At 9 am on the 7th, Her Holiness will also lay the foundation stone of the Silver Jubilee Complex along with the lighting of the lamp of Guru’s Dhyana Math and Darshan Mandir. The general conference (Pothusammelanam) to be held at 11 am will be inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Milk and Dairy Development, Government of Tamil Nadu Thiru. Mano Thangaraj. The Honourable Minister for Food and Civil Supplies of Kerala, Shri. G. R. Anil will be the Special Guest for the occasion. The Former Governor of Mizoram Shri. Kummanam Rajasekharan, Kancheepuram MP Thiru. G. Selvam, MLA Thiru. Panaiyur Babu, former MP Vijila Sathyananth, AICC Secretary Thiru. Viswanathan Perumal, Gokulam Group Chairman Shri Gokulam Gopalan, AVA Group of Companies Managing Director Shri A. V. Anoop, BJP National Executive Committee Member Shri. P. K. Krishnadas as well as several other dignitaries across various states will attend the function.

On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations at Santhigiri Ashram Cheyyur, free medical examination and distribution of medicines will be held from 9 am to 2 pm, under the joint auspices of the Thiruvananthapuram Santhigiri Siddha Medical College and the National Institute of Siddha in Chennai. In the evening, there will be Deepapradakshinam (Deepam Processsion), Sathsangam and various cultural activities.

Santhigiri Ashram started its activities in Chennai about a quarter of a century ago in 1997. The earliest prayer gatherings were held at the house of a devotee of Guru – Shri. K. S. Paniker – and in 2005, devotees and well-wishers dedicated a ten-acre plot of land in Cheyyur to the Ashram. Organic farming was the first activity to start there. A temporary prayer centre was opened in 2015, followed by a community kitchen for distribution of free food, a residential building and a cowshed.

The Prayer Hall (Prarthanalayam), Darshan Mandir, Dhyana Math, Ayurveda-Siddha-Yoga Wellness Center and Educational Complex will be established in the first phase. Annadanam (distribution of free food) will also happen on a daily basis.

Santhigiri Ashram has been carrying out many philanthropic and social outreach activities across the country and in different parts of the world for over half a century. The Cheyyur Branch is the fourth branch of Santhigiri Ashram in Tamil Nadu. Swami Manuchith Jnana Thapaswi, Swami Bhakthadathan Jnana Thapaswi, Dr. G. R. Kiran, K. S. Panicker and Vijayan S. informed in a press conference that the various Ashram branches are functioning based on the teachings of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru – towards the welfare and prosperity of the people of each and every region, and that the Cheyyur Branch will also play host to such social outreach activities in and around the area.