Santhigiri Avadhuta Yatra Begins Tomorrow

Pothencode: The ‘Santhigiri Avadhuta Yatra’ to commemorate the spiritual odyssey of Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru, the founder of Santhigiri Ashram, on the eve of the 25th Navoli Jyotir Dinam, will commence from May 1 to 4, from Chandirur Janmagriham, the birthplace of the Guru. The disciples and devotees of Guru are undertaking the Avadhuta through the sacred spots associated with him to remember Guru’s self-sacrifice, hardships, and spiritual experiences in those places.

Santhigiri Ashram President Swami Chaitanya Jnana Thapasvi and General Secretary Swami Gururatnam Jnana Thapasvi will lead the yatra which is being organized under the auspices of Santhigiri Atmavidyalaya. The Avadhuta Yatra will go through twenty-five places that have witnessed Guru’s travails. The Yatra comprises sanyasins, brahmacharins, and grihasthashramis of Santhigiri Guru Parampara.

The Avadhutha Yatra starts on the morning of 1st May from Guru’s birthplace in Chandirur at 5 am. It will reach Kaladi Agamananda Ashram by 7 pm. The Yatris will reach Aluva Advaita Ashram from there at 9 am.
Then the caravan will reach Cherthala Chandirur Kumarthupadi Guru’s family temple around 11 am. Proceeding from there, the Yatris will reach Vanchipura on the shores of Kaitapuzha backwater near Guru’s birthplace around 1 pm. It will arrive at Karthyayani Temple around 3 pm, then Ezhupunna Bhajana Mutt at 5 pm. From there the caravan will go to Haripad KP Vaidyar’s house for a halt at night.

The Yatris will reach Varkala on the morning of May 2, the second day of the journey. Prayers will be offered at Varkala Papanasham beach at 7 am. From there, the Yatris will reach Shivagiri Mutt at 11 am. From there, the Yatra will go to the place near Shivagiri Mutt where Guru started the Santhigiri movement making a hut using bamboo and coconut leaves. The place had been donated to Guru by a wellwisher. The Yatra will reach Kadakkavur Kudhivila Ashram at 1 PM where Guru had consecrated Sree Narayana Guru. The Yatra will reach Shankhumukham Beach at 5 PM. After prayers, the Avadhutha Yatra will reach Valiyathura bridge, at 7 o’clock. The caravan reaches Bimapalli at 9 pm and will halt there that night.

On the third day, May 3, at 6 am, the Avadhutha Yatra will reach Kunnumpara Ashram, a branch of Shivagiri Mutt. From there, it will reach Shivagiri Aruvipuram Ashram by 10 am. The Yatris will then climb the Kotithookki hill, where Guru had observed 41 days’ prayers, and had the vision of Shirdi Sai Baba.

In the evening the Yatris will visit Padmanabhapuram Palace and Kattuva Sahib Hill. From there the Yatris will reach the Kalliankatu Neeli temple at 6 PM. Next, the Yatra will reach Thakkala Court premises by 7 pm. From there, the caravan will proceed to Sucheendram and Kanyakumari.

The group will perform prayers and sankalpam at the place where Guru delivered his sermon at the Triveni Sangam. The Avadhutha Yatra will reach the Pothencode Santhigiri Ashram on May 4 at 7 PM and end with prayers at Guru’s feet.