A peep into his purvashram, tells us that he was born on January 29, 1954 in the village of Karunagappally, near the coastal area of Alappad, in Kollam District of Kerala, India. His Father and grandfather led an austere life and were earnest seekers of Truth. His father Narayana Swami was the son of Padmanabhan, who was known to the neighbourhood as The Bhaktha. Padmanabhan was an ardent devotee of the great Sage and Social Reformer of Kerala, Sree Narayana Guru. He would travel all the way to Sivagiri, the Guru's ashrama in Varkala, to pay homage to the Enlightened Soul.

It was Sree Narayana Guru, who named Padmanabhan's son, Narayanan and initiated him to the world of letters. Narayanan too, was inclined to the spiritual path like his father. He mastered the scriptures and earned respect and reputation as a great scholar. Moreover, Narayanan was fortunate enough to be associated with great Yogis like Swami Sivananda Paramahamsa and Brahmananda Sivayogi. Swami Santhanantha Giri was born to such a blessed father and a pious and gentle mother named Kunjukutty Amma. His parents named him Ramachandran.

Even as a child, behind his boyish light-heartedness, he revealed signs of austerity and strong spirituality. His father knowing fully well, that he was no ordinary child, initiated him to the Spiritual Path and thus became his first Guru. Refusing food and sleep, the child spent most of his days in meditation. While his friends gathered together in the evenings to play, his little heart yearned for God. Even as he went to school, he was determined not to give up his search for the Absolute Truth.

He spent days meditating on "Sakthi" - The Power which is inseparable from the Absolute. (The Deity in the Ashrama where he now dwells symbolizes this Power.) He would go to the temple in the neighbourhood near the sea, when the devotees left and with the priest's permission, spent nights in it in deep meditation. When the world lay asleep, the boy would yearn for the essence of AUM.

Once in a trance he lay onboard an anchored boat looking at the sky. Little did he know then in his ecstatic state, that the boat moved and was taking him along. But Nature had spread Her protective wings on her dear child. A few fishermen, who passed by, found the floating boat, pulled it on to the sand and took him home. He would comfort his anxious mother by narrating instances from the lives of the Great Souls of the past i.e. the Great Sages who had only one motive, that is, Realizing the Truth.

Even as a child he would remind his mother "I don't belong to this place. I am destined to become a Sanyasi". He gave his heart and soul to meditation. The nights spent in meditation witnessed intense experiences. While meditating on a full moon night he found his body radiant with a bright light and the silvery sheen spread from his body on to the surroundings. This lingered for hours. Such experiences continued and the songs that he wrote praise the Divine Mother and reveal his Spiritual Ecstasy. Nature has bestowed on him the musical talent, so that he could chant sweetly, the songs he wrote.

As a child he was always calm, preferred to remain alone and was a voracious reader. From his father's collection of books, he read biographies of the Great Sages like Shri Ramakrishana, Swami Vivekananda, Shri Ramana Maharshi, Sree Narayana Guru and Shri Chattambi Swami.

As a student he was intelligent, precocious, exceptionally talented and endowed with prodigious memory. His classmates testify that he revealed special skill in all the activities, especially in elocution and dramatic performances, portraying the lives of Saints. His teachers, classmates and neighbours were all fond of him.

His interest in reading also took him to the world of great poets like Kalidasa and Kumaranasaan, Observing his son's interest in reading, his father wanted him to master Malayalam, his native tongue, but the son asserted that only Brahma Vidya (Knowledge of the soul) could satisfy him. He thus started training in yoga. During this time he had ample opportunity to meet great Yogis both within and outside Kerala. They revealed to him the secret paths of Yoga and there too he proved his skill. "Siva Gita" written at that time reveals his experience of Eternal Bliss. In it too he refers to his spiritual experiences, asserting that Non dualism (Realization) can be experienced only by an ardent aspirant.

Details of Books Written By Santhanantha Swamiji is described Here...