Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, the 162nd Mahasannidhanam of Kauai Aadheenam—the Lion of Sanatana Dharma, the embodiment of true love and compassion, and the guiding light for all of us. Today, on the 23rd Annual Puja commemorating Gurudeva, the Aadheenam performed a deeply moving and detailed Puja and ceremony, live-streamed for all to witness.

The reason I am writing this blog is Gurudeva. You are reading it because of him. Gurudeva emphasized the importance of daily, consistent sadhana, evolving through the paths of Charya, Kriya, Yoga, and Jnana. He authored many books; see [here].

Before I met Gurudeva, my sadhanas were irregular. Meditation was occasional, and I often found myself influenced by social media and the emotions from movies—positive and negative alike. Self-centered tendencies crept in. Even after 14 pilgrimages to Sabarimala, my sadhana remained inconsistent. Gurudeva helped me understand why.

I was awarded Best Outgoing Student of India’s 9th-ranked college (2001), founded ActOnMagic (2014), and sold it to a Japan-based multinational company for multiple crores (2018), building larger teams along the way. Yet, I carried a few lingering negative habits I hadn’t learned to let go of.

In 2020, during the global quiet of Covid, I encountered Gurudeva. Once I began reading Dancing with Siva, I couldn’t stop. I read it fully, and then in Tamil as well. The knowledge was profound—insights on Sanatana Dharma, the soul, our origin, and why events unfold as they do. Concepts like the Law of Cause and Effect, and attaining mountaintop consciousness, filled me with awe. Why did it take me so long to meet Gurudeva? It was God’s plan, as simple as that.

I then read Living with Siva, Merging with Siva, and even Gurudeva’s audio course. The clarity with which he narrated mystic, complex topics was remarkable. I came to feel that the very reason I learned English was to read Gurudeva’s books. Period.

At Kauai Hindu Monastery, there is a protocol: no answers are given unless a question is asked. We each carry so many questions—some we can ask openly, some only in the presence of our parents or guru.

Gurudeva was a devoted disciple of his Guru, our Paramaguru, Siva Yogaswami. The entire Natha Sampradaya is mystic. I am a proud student of Himalayan Academy (himalayanacademy.com), and our current guru, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the 163rd Mahasannidhanam, is continuing Gurudeva’s legacy and guiding us forward.

As a shishya of Satguru Bodhinatha, I know it would take a lifetime to write about Gurudeva. If, like me, you have questions about life, yourself, your family, or your children, I encourage you to visit himalayanacademy.com and experience Gurudeva’s wisdom.