Report from devotees in London:
Vanakkam, Namaste and Aloha,
Jai Ganapati!
With great joy, we humbly share news of the much-anticipated visit by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Shanmuganathaswami to London in August 2025.
Six years since their last visit, the Satguru and Swami were warmly welcomed at London Heathrow by devotees with garlands and flowers, before continuing on to rest after significant travels.
The following evening marked the first gathering, a satsang at the Santhirapala home. After a traditional welcome, accompanied by the recital of thevarams, devotees were uplifted by a melodic chanting of the Sri Rudram, offered by disciples of Sri Jeyandrapuriswami and father–son duo Keshav and Jijjit Thukaram. This set the divine vibration for the satsang, further elevated by the iconic voice of London’s orthuvar, Sri Sami Thandapani, who led the London Pan Isai group in renditions of Thirumurai and Natchinthinai.
The presence of the Parampara was profoundly felt, especially through Satguru Bodhinatha’s upadesha, in which he spoke with clarity on questions often faced by Saivites in the West, such as “Aren’t all religions the same?” He expanded on the four goals of life—dharma, artha, kama, moksha—offering practical wisdom for spiritual seekers. The evening was further blessed with the Samaya Diksha of Niraj Thaker following decades of preparation, concluding with sacred vibhuti blessings for all in attendance.
The next day brought an impromptu vegan lunch with close friends of the Aadheenam. Over beautifully prepared Japanese-inspired dishes, conversations flowed from the philosophical to the practical, and many cherished the opportunity to personally connect with Satguru and Swami.
The finale of the four-day visit was a Youth Workshop on Saivism at Shree Ghanapathy Temple in Wimbledon—a temple with long-standing ties to Kauai Aadheenam. Satguru and Swami were lovingly welcomed with devotional thevarams and escorted to the first floor shrine of Paramaguru Siva Yogaswami. The décor, themed to honour the Parampara flowing from Lord Nataraja, provided the perfect setting. A short gift was offered to Satguru Bodhinatha by 9 year old Anju Kumaran who lovingly and expressively delivered a speech on the life and times of Paramaguru Yogaswami.
Satguru Bodhinatha’s talks at the workshop were both profound and accessible, covering topics such as Lord Ganesha, the chakras, the ladder of consciousness, the purusharthas, the yogas, and much more. The youth listened attentively, some taking notes, and engaged in question-and-answer sessions. The closing comments deliver by Saivite Youth relayed Satguru Bodhinatha’s unique ability to explain complex concepts simply, while showing their relevance to daily life as Saivites in the West, left a lasting impression. Geetha and Satkurunathan Maheshwaran, a dynamic husband and wife duo, who industriously work to support Hindu activities within the UK and are senior management at Shree Ghanapathy Temple, were duly honoured for their kind efforts and love in supporting this beautiful visit (and many prior).
Alas, after a whirlwind four-day stay, Satguru Bodhinatha and Shanmuganathaswami departed for Oslo—pausing for a final coffee with devotees at the airport. The visit was truly divinely timed, filled with love, grace and blessings for all.
Aum Namah Sivaya.