Ashrams have an intimate relationship with tinsel town. The Shanti Giri Ashram in Tiruvananthapuram, Kerala is one place that is frequented by many VIPs like Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Kollywood star Vijay, celebrities from Malayalam industry like director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, 'mega star' Mohanlal, Srinivasan, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and many other political leaders and eminent personalities.
'Navajyoti' Sri Karunakara Guru is the founder of this great Ashram. The Shanti Giri Sociology Research Institute and the Shanti Giri Science & Technology Research Institute are already functioning under the aegis of the Ashram. Now, the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the proposed 'Shanti Giri Central Research Foundation' is scheduled to be held at 09:30 a.m. on February 15, 2008 at the Shanti Giri Ashram complex in Tiruvananthapuram.
The Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, Smt. Sonia Gandhi will be laying the foundation stone of the proposed Foundation. The function will be presided over by Shri A.K. Antony, Union Defence Minister.
The Foundation, coming up in an area of 110,000 square feet inside the Ashram's complex in a lush-green environmental-friendly backdrop, will contain a zoo and a library, both ample proof of Indian cultural heritage, old-age medicinal treatments, archaic leaflets and state-of-the-art communication facilities.
Many political bigwigs, saints, film personalities, VIPs from other spheres, etc. would be taking part in the function. Sonia Gandhi would be arriving at the Ashram at 09:30 a.m. sharp. She would then take part in a 'special prayer' and offer flowers at the Guru's 'Barnasala'. After that, she would be meeting 'Shishya Poojita Janani' Mata Amritananda Mayi. She would then lay the foundation stone at a meeting where more than one lakh people would assemble.
This was disclosed on 11th February, 2008 in Tiruvananthapuram at a joint press conference addressed by Swami Chaitanya Gnana Tapasvi, the General Secretary of the Ashram, Dr. Shyama Prasad, Medical Counsellor of the Ashram and Prof. Gopinathan, Reserach Counsellor.
The same news was also informed by Swamy Shanti Giri and devotees of his Ashram, comedy star Senthil and Hemalatha, the daughter of veteran actress K.R. Vijaya, at a Press Meet held in Chennai on February 12, 2008.