KARUNAGAPPALLI: Swami Pranavananda Theerthapada (93), the head of Panmana Ashram, the samadhi place of Chattambi Swami, passed away. He attained samadhi at 2.40 pm today at Panmana Ashram.

His Purvashrama name was G Kesavan Nair. He retired from Kottarakkara Boys VHSE as principal in 1988. After this, he became a regular visitor to Sadanandapuram Avadhuta Ashram and Panmana Ashram. He took classes in Sanskrit, Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita and Narayaniyam for children and adults. On March 4, 2000, he received sannyasa diksha on the day of Shivaratri from Swami Pragnyananda Theerthapada, head of the Vazhoor Theertha Pada Asramam. He became the head of the Panmana Ashram later.

The last rites will be performed tomorrow at 3 pm at Thamara near Panmana Ashram. Wife: P. Saradamma (Retd. Teacher, GVS UPS Pangode). Children: Late SK Jayaprakash (Retd. Navy), S. Jayashree (Retd. Headmistress), Late SK Jayakumari (Retd. Teacher), SK Jayabala (Retd. Headmistress) and late SK Jayaraj. Sons-in-law: D Sudhamani (retd. teacher), N. Balakrishna Pillai (retd. Headmaster), late Radhakrishna Pillai (Retd.BSF) and T.R. Chandrababu (Retd.SI).