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Pratibha Patil to open lotus-shaped hermitage

Special Correspondent

The lotus-shaped “parnasala” coming up at the Santhigiri ashram near Thiruvananthapuram.

Thiruvananthapuram: A lotus-shaped “parnasala” (hermitage), standing tall as an architectural spectacle, is to be opened by President Pratibha Patil at the Santhigiri ashram at Pothencode, near here, on August 13. The ashram, founded by the late Karunakara Guru, attracts a range of devotees.

The 91-feet structure, with a radius of 84 feet, has 12 petals facing up and nine down. The concrete formation, covered with white makrana marble chips, is anchored to the core by steel bars. The nine columns inside are placed asymmetrically. According to the project's structural consultant, Sreekumaran Nair, it took around six months to build each petal. Finishing the curves and shape of the lotus demanded a lot of skilled work. Fixing the marble on the superstructure, built on 21 monumental pillars, took three years.

At the heart of the structure is the “sarakoodam,” a 27-feet enclosure made of teak wood in the shape of a lotus bud with a marble cask inside. Atop the cask are 11 steps that lead to a pedestal, on which a life-size golden sculpture of the guru is to be installed.

Engineers toured south India in search of the Krishna “sila” used in the “sarakoodam.” A rare variety of granite was used for the flooring of the sanctum sanctorum. In 12 rooms in the first floor, articles used by the guru are preserved. There is a foyer, called “Baalalayam,” with intricate artwork and carvings. Floodlights cast colours on the white superstructure at night.

The structure, resembling Delhi's Baha'i Mandir, is meant to serve as a spiritual centre and functional monument. Mr. Nair said the creation of the design itself was not as much as challenge as building it with limited resources.

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