An iconic image of Guru looking into the distance

Guru Sri Subramanium

1929 – 2007

This website is the official archive of the teachings of Guru Sri Subramanium.

Guru was the founder of a monastic community called the ‘Community of the Many Names of God’ based at Skanda Vale Ashram in Wales and Somaskanda Ashram in Switzerland.

Guru taught a practical and grounded spirituality, promoting the twin paths of selfless service (karma yoga) and devotion (bhakti yoga).

His life and teachings are broadly based around the following four key principles…

The Universality of God

Guru celebrated the fundamental unity of the world’s religions. He promoted no single culture or faith but stood for the universal human values of Truth (Sathya), Right Conduct (Dharma), Peace (Shanti), Love (Prema), and Non-Violence (Ahimsa).

There are many religions, but God is One

Go directly to God

Guru never allowed devotees to put him on a pedestal. He saw religious belief, intellectualism and cultural orthodoxy as barriers to transcend in the pursuit of a direct, personal experience of the Divine. God is accessible to everyone and you don’t need an intermediary priest or Guru.

In this Kali Yuga it is all about worshipping God with all your strength and all your might.

Life is sacred

Guru taught that each incarnation is an opportunity to pay karma, learn acceptance and evolve. He cared for hundreds of animals, birds, fish and plants, and was a great advocate for palliative care; in 1994 he established the volunteer-run inpatient care project Skanda Vale Hospice.

Skanda Vale Hospice

Obedience

Guru’s life was an example of perfect trust in God. He never planned anything but took inspiration and direction, moment by moment, from the Divine. With a truly formidable sense of conviction, Guru established both his ashrams on a purely non-commercial basis; offering all meals, accommodation, puja and prayers to devotees completely without charge.