About Sanskriti University's association with Santhigiri Ashram

• What is Santhigiri Ashram all about?
  SANTHIGIRI ASHRAM is a Charitable and Spiritual Organization founded by Guru Navajyothisree Karunakara in 1973, about 45 years ago with a three pronged Mission to provide and ensure Food and Health Protection to the under-privileged, deprived and needy people in the society and also to raise Spiritual Awareness among people as a whole.
  
  Those noble endeavors of “Annadanam, Athurasevanam and Atmabodhanam” have earned for Santhigiri Ashram Accolades and recognitions from all walks of life and from Public and Private quarters as well.
  
  For the past numerous years, our continuous activities have been focused on varied programmes such as, Eradication of Malnutrition, Preventive Health Care, Ayurvedic Education, Spiritual Awareness, Building Vocational skills and Employment which have prompted the Government to confer upon SANTHRIGIRI ASHRAM the coveted status as a Scientific & Industrial Research Organization by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.


• Tell us about Kerala Ayurveda.
  Ayurveda was the most ancient life science originated in India about 5000 years ago and is practised all across the world to attain complete health in the four pursuits of human life, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Moksha also called Salvation is said to be the ultimate goal of a human being as he or she is then liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Ayurveda, the science of life is all embracing the Nature. Kerala, owing to its favourable climate has been the source of a wide variety of plants and herbs with medicinal value. The reason behind it is abundant sunshine, fertile soil and rainfall. Consequently, Kerala has a rich history of natural medicine that was once practised by doctors and Vaidyas. Many legends suggest that Vagbhata, an Ayurvedic physician originally from Sind visited Kerala in quest of rare herbs and medicinal plants. People in Kerala adopted his work and came to be known as Ashtvaidyans because they practised Ashtvaidyas.
  
  The eight branches of Ayurveda:
  • Kaya Chikitsa – General Medicine
  • Bala Roga Chikitsa – Paediatrics
  • Graha Chikitsa – Treatment for evil spirits
  • Urdwanga tantra – E.N.T & Ophthalmology
  • Shalya Chikitsa – Surgery
  • Visha Chikitsa – Toxicology
  • Rasayana Chikitsa – Rejuvenation Therapy
  • Vajeekarana Chikitsa – Aphrodisiacs


• Why have you chosen Mathura and Sanskriti University for this initiative?
  The Ashram since its inception has worked towards extending healthcare facilities to the deprived through the medium of Ayurveda & Siddha system of medicine. These treatment systems which are very effective for treating chronic illnesses are majorly practiced in southern part of the country. Santhigiri Ashram through its collaboration with reputed organizations like Sanskriti University aims at extending the benefits of Ayurveda & Siddha among the rural belts of the Northern part of the country.


• How and in what ways will this association benefit the medical students of Sanskriti University, particularly B.A.M.S.?
  Santhigiri Ashram with the help of Sanskriti University plans to organize Free Medical Camps in the nearby villages in Mathura which will bring a regular inflow of patients for the medical students of Sanskriti University which in turn will help them in their clinical experience and research purpose, if any.


• What are your future plans?
  Santhigiri Ashram plans to extend its preventive healthcare initiative to more and more rural areas of North India where people are deprived of basic healthcare facilities. We also plan to collaborate with State and Central Govt to launch village adoption programmes and spread awareness about AYUSH system of medicine. We expect continuing support from Sanskriti University team for such noble endeavours.