Nava Jyothi Sree Karunakara Guru (September 1, 1927 – May 6, 1999) was born in Chandiroor, Cherthala, Alappuzha district, Kerala. The humility, dignity and calm poise of this ascetic attracted to this young aspirant the devotees who came in large numbers to the institution of Sivagiri Madom of Sri Narayana Guru.Before long, in the year 1957, the Guru bid farewell to Sivagiri and shifted to Varkala. Guru's new abode came to be known as Santhigiri. While at Sivagiri, people used to call Guru as Karunakaran Santhi. Santhigiri - The word Santhi stands for peace. The word giri stands for mountain. Then Guru shifted to another place near pothencode and founded an Ashram. Ashram's first name was 'Guhanandashram'. Later renamed as Santhigiri Ashram. Thus, the giri -mountain- where Karunakara Guru shifted, became Santhigiri, which now truly signifies ‘the mountain of peace,’ a place where tens of thousands of people have come seeking directions in their material, emotional and spiritual life so as to be led to the supreme aim of human life, which is the communion with the Supreme Light. This was the beginning of Santhigiri Ashram....
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“One does not become a guru by accident.”
—James Fenton (b. 1949)