SOUTH WALES, UK, July 5, 2007: (The following was received from Swami Suryananda of Skanda Vale.) Guru Sri Subramanium was born in Sri Lanka to aristocratic parents. His father was the highest-ranking medical officer in Sri Lanka, whilst his mother, of South Indian descent, was a renowned seer, possessing great spiritual power. It was in this atmosphere of science and spirituality therefore that he grew up. At the age of nine he realised his spiritual lineage, and his ability to know and obey the will of God. He took the name Subramanium upon the Lords instruction and witnessed as a youth both the material corruption of spiritual values, and the tremendous discord and violence unleashed in the name of religion. Thus the seeds of his life’s work to unify faiths and establish dharma began.
Soon after World War II ended, Guruji came to Europe, again on the instructions of the Lord, to witness the destruction and devastation to people’s lives that the war had wrought. Everywhere he was welcomed and looked after. He finally settled in Britain and literally began working round the clock, usually starting his day at 4 a.m. and finishing at 2 a.m. earning his keep by day in a variety of ways, (working in Selfridges, singing in night clubs and running a very successful flower shop, to name a few), so that he could teach, free of charge, meditation and spiritual practices in the night to anyone who came to his door. This became the pattern of his life for many years, teaching, feeding and looking after his devotees, at the same time as worshipping all aspects of the Divine in his Temple.
In 1973 Guruji turned his back on a beckoning career on the stage to begin the fulfilment of his vocation to establish a place of spiritual excellence in the Western world. The Skanda Vale Community would embrace all religious faiths as different facets of humanity’s association with God. From simple beginnings with few resources The Community Of The Many Names Of God is now a well-established monastic centre and place of pilgrimage, its three temples attracting over 90,000 devotees per year, drawn by the example set by Guruji and continued by the monks and nuns, of selfless service to God embodied in all life, and worship of God in his universality, free from commercialism and doctrine. The Community also runs a hospice providing a free service.
Guruji was well equipped by God to fulfil his task of identifying with ordinary people regardless race, creed or religion, with his charismatic fun-loving manner and striking good looks. By example he demonstrated how human beings can come to know and experience God in partnership with their daily lives. Guru Subramanium described himself as a divine traffic cop, directing people on their life’s journey in the direction of liberation.
True Guru’s are a rare commodity, as the emissary of the Divine his nature was to go to the assistance of those in need and take some part of their difficulties upon himself. His legacy to his many followers is one of priceless and eternal Knowledge. The greatness of the man revealed to few in his lifetime shall be known to many after his bodily death. His funeral will take place at Skandavale on July 7 and 8.