Calling for a world anchored in compassion rather than conflict, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday said true spirituality lay in embracing those who suffer and offering hope to the distressed, as he inaugurated the 'Vishwa Shanthi Sandesha Yajnam' marking the birth centenary celebrations of Navjyothisree Karunakara Guru at the Santhigiri Ashram.
Addressing a gathering at the Ashram, the Chief Minister said the world today was witnessing unprecedented turmoil, wars and humanitarian crises, making the Guru's message of universal love and peace more relevant than ever. "Spirituality is about standing with those in pain and extending compassion to those who endure hardship," he said.
Recalling his first introduction to Karunakara Guru through the renowned writer O.V. Vijayan's celebrated work Gurusagaram, Satheesan described how the author portrayed himself as "a tiny fish that had reached the vast ocean that was the Guru."
He said the Guru had opened new dimensions of spiritual consciousness while spreading the ideals of love, universal brotherhood and peace through annadanam (community feeding), humanitarian service and spiritual awakening.
Drawing parallels between the devastation caused by the First and Second World Wars and the conflicts raging across the globe today, the Chief Minister expressed concern about the continuing violence and said only the Guru's philosophy of universal humanism could guide society out of such crises.
He added that the transformative possibilities of artificial intelligence, if guided by humane values, could also help build a more peaceful world. Satheesan also recalled witnessing, with admiration, Santhigiri Ashram's unique tradition of conducting both the Islamic call to prayer (Bankku Vili) and Hindu worship, describing it as a rare symbol of communal harmony and religious inclusiveness.
The Chief Minister later called on Guru Sthaniya Shishyapoojitha Amrita Gnana Tapaswini at the Ashram. The inauguration also marked the launch of a nationwide World Peace Prayer Campaign, which will continue until September 2030 as part of the Guru's birth centenary observances.
The campaign will include peace prayers, house visits and a series of social welfare and charitable initiatives across the country, transcending barriers of caste and religion to promote universal peace and the welfare of humanity.