1. Biography

2. Teachings

3. Legacy

4. References

Guru Sri Subramanium was a spiritual teacher based in the United Kingdom. Originally from Sri Lanka, he moved to London as a young man and went on to found the Skanda Vale spiritual centre in South Wales in 1973. He taught a liberal perennialist spirituality grounded in Sri Lankan religious traditions.

Biography

Sri Subramanium was born in 1929^[1] to an affluent Sri Lankan family^[2][3]. His father was a doctor and medical officer, of Sinhala ancestry^[2] and his mother was of South Indian ancestry^[4], probably part of the community of Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka^[5]. He was named Percival De Silva by his parents, but changed his name to Subramanium, which he said was under instruction by the deity Murugan.^[1]

Sri Subramanium left Sri Lanka for the West at seventeen or eighteen years old^[6]. After travelling around Europe for nearly two years, he arrived in London, where he settled. ^[7]

After this, Sri Subramanium worked a variety of jobs in London and lived in a number of flats. These jobs included working as a musician^[8], in various roles at Selfridges^[9], in a flower shop^[10] and as the gardener for the Sri Lankan High Commission^[11]. During this same time period, he was teaching spirituality to people in London and attracting a following, which would later go on to become the nucleus of the Community at Skanda Vale. ^[12]

Sri Subramanium founded Skanda Vale in 1973, along with the beginnings of its monastic community.^[13][14]

Following this, Sri Subramanium lived the rest of his life at Skanda Vale, setting up three temples there, establishing the community and providing spiritual support for many visitors and attendees of seminars held elsewhere.^[15][16] He was also behind the foundation of Skanda Vale Hospice, located near the community at Skanda Vale. ^[17]

Teachings

Guru Sri Subramanium taught a highly individualised spirituality, adapting his words to those who came to him. However, if any generalisations can be made, he emphasised direct experience of the Divine through the course of daily living. Having taught meditation a great deal in his younger years, he gradually phased this out in favour of devotion and selfless service.^[18]

He attempted to de-emphasise his own importance as a teacher of spirituality in favour of encouraging people to find Divinity within themselves, and to trust in that "inner Guru" as their real teacher.^[19]

Don’t go looking for gurus… gurus are a big problem, big problem! (Laughter) I tell you, the best guru is here, inside you. He will never tell you a lie, he will never mislead you. You develop your dialogue with that guru. You start listening to the guru inside you, and when you start doing things that are wrong, he will tell you. He will direct you, he will guide you - Guru Sri Subramanium^[19]

Sri Subramanium did not see himself as representing or supporting Hinduism, but a universal spirituality which he sometimes referred to using the term Sanatana Dharma:

I have here people, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Jews, I’ve got every nationality here. I have very carefully respected every person’s belief, and not trespassed in any way to interfere with your belief. All roads lead to Rome… all roads will lead to God.

If you follow the disciplines set out by your masters, whoever they are, you will discover God. This is what we apply in Skanda Vale. Sanathana Dharma; the timeless consciousness of God. Timeless – for many thousands of years – the knowledge that has been handed to us is our faith.

I’ll tell you, we are in a period of life where everybody is trying to convert somebody else. Don’t fall into that pit! - Guru Sri Subramanium^[20]

Legacy

The primary legacy of Guru Sri Subramanium is the Community of the Many Names of God^[21], and its two ashrams, Skanda Vale and Somaskanda Ashram, located in Wales and Switzerland respectively. The primary ashram, Skanda Vale, reports over 90,000 visitors a year to its ashram with three temples in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and is also involved in running an animal sanctuary, distributing food aid and supporting its hospice, Skanda Vale Hospice.

References

• Lars-Erik Esbjörs
• Lars-Erik Hansson
• Lars Erik Högberg
• Lars Erik Larsson
• Lars-Erik Larsson
• Lars-Erik Sjoberg
• Lars-Erik Sjöberg
• Lars Eriksson (footballer)
• Lars-Erik Wolfbrandt
• Lars Ernster
• Lars Erstrand
• Lars Evensen
• Lars Figura
• Lars Fletre
• Lars Frederiksen and The Bastards
• Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards (Album)
• Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards (album)
• Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards
• Lars Fredrickson
• Lars Fredrik Beckstrom
• Lars Fredrik Beckstrøm
• Lars Frolander
• Lars Frölander
• Lars Garding
• Lars-Goran Nilsson