Parnasala of Santhigiri
Parnasala is a lotus-shaped monument made of white Makrana marble, located at Santhigiri Ashram, about 21 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It is the final resting place of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru (1927–1999), founder of Santhigiri Ashram. The 91-foot-tall structure sits on 21 pillars and features 21 marble petals. Twelve petals form the upper layer (signifying the zodiac) and nine form the lower layer (signifying the planets). The inner circle is 64 feet across.
At the center is a teakwood sanctum with brass-clad inner walls, housing the Guru’s marble casket. A life-size gold statue stands atop a black granite platform, approached by 11 black granite steps. A 36-foot-diameter parasol shades the sanctum, and in front lies a ceremonial wooden platform with intricate carvings.
About 100,000 square feet of Makrana marble were used, with black granite sourced from Karnataka for other parts. The design was not by a professional architect but was conceived in inner visions by the head of Santhigiri Ashram, Sishyapoojitha Amritha Jnana Thapaswini. The foundation stone was laid on 17 November 1999, and construction took about ten years.
Parnasala was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil on 13 August 2010 and opened to the public on 12 September 2010. The dedication events included an International Conference on Global Warming and other programs, with dignitaries such as Kerala’s Governor and Home Minister attending. The President called the Guru a visionary who promoted a casteless society, love, tolerance, and fraternity. The opening also marked the Guru’s 84th birthday observance, with Defence Minister A. K. Antony among those offering flowers.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:41 (CET).