Parnasala (Hermitage)
The Parnasala is the main prayer hall at Sivagiri. Homam and other vedic rituals are performed here. The day at Sivagiri starts with the early morning prayer at the Parnasala at 4.30 a.m. This was also built as an octagonal single room with a thatched roof. The Guru lived in this single room for quite a long period. Attached to this there was a small kitchenette, where the Guru’ s food was cooked. During those days, the devotees used to meet the Guru at this Parnasala and offerings were placed in front of him. The Sanskrit school also was functioning quite close by. Sitting in this room, the Guru had cured a number of mental cases and chronic physical diseases of several people and made them happy and content. Gandhiji met Gurudev, and spoke about Varnna system based on mango leaves under this mango tree in 1925.