Avadhutha Yatra at Shivagiri Hills

Varkala: The Avadhutha Yatra, undertaken by the lineage of disciples through the twenty-five spots bearing the sacrificial imprints of the founder of Santhigiri Ashram, Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru, reached Varkala Shivagiri today. Guru who left home at thirteen for spiritual pursuits, came to Shivagiri after two years of service at the Aluva Advaita Ashram. He served in Shivagiri in several fields including preparing food, and priestly rituals in Shivagiri Mutt. After serving at Shivagiri and its branches for seventeen years, Guru started Santhigiri Ashram at Pothencode.

The Avadhuta Yatra through the paths of Guru’s travails began on Wednesday, May. The Yatra is led by Santhigiri Ashram President Swami Chaitanya Jnana Thapasvi and General Secretary Swami Gururatnam Jnana Thapasvi and is accompanied by a group of 200 people consisting of Sannyasins, Brahmacharins, and householders belonging to both sexes.

Swami Sharadananda, treasurer of Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, welcomed the Yatra Sangham on its arrival at Varkala Shivagiri with a bouquet. After reaching the Samadhi Mandapam and offering prayers, everyone in the Yatra gathered at Sharada Mutt. The General Secretary of Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, Swami Subhangananda, delivered the keynote address in the Satsang that followed. Sri Karunakara Guru adopted the humanitarian vision of Sree Narayana Guru to heart and put it into action, and paid much attention to leading the society for its welfare. The Swami also said that he had the good fortune to visit the Pothencode Santhigiri Ashram and meet the Guru in the nineties and that the Sree Narayana Movements are very proud of the exemplary work done at Santhigiri. Swami expressed his great joy at the visit of Sanyasi Sangham of Santhigiri Ashram in Shivagiri. Treasurer of Shivagiri Mutt, Swami Sharadananda said that when a disciple walks through the footprints of Karunakara Guru, it is a journey to realize Guru, and through that the disciple gets Gurutva.

Santhigiri Ashram General Secretary Swami Gururatnam Jnana Thapasvi said in his reciprocatory speech that Santhigiri and Shivagiri are connected by a spiritual thread, and that unbreakable bond will continue forever.

After lunch, the Yatra Sangha reached Bimapalli passing through various places visited by Guru in Varkala. The Avadhuta Yatra will proceed to Kanyakumari on May 3, Friday morning. During the Avadhuta period of Guru, he traveled to Kodi Thookimala, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kattua Sahib, Suchindram, and Marutwamala and ended up at the Thakkala court premises. The Avadhutha Sangha will visit all these places which are the venue for satsangs and will do prayers and meditation. In the evening, the journey will reach Triveni Sangam. On the 4th, the Yatra will reach the Central Ashram, at Pothencode and conclude the journey at the feet of Guru.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Navoli Jyothir Dinam, the day of Guru’s Adi Sankalpa, the disciples organized the Avadhuta Yatra to bring to light the unforgettable memories of Guru’s sacrificial life before the world. Navoli Jyotir Dinam is on 6th May.