Bodhinatha Veylanswami
Encyclopedia
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami (born in California, 1942), a Hindu
monk, is the head of Kauai's Hindu Monastery and publisher of Hinduism Today magazine. Bodhinatha presides over three organizations: Saiva Siddhanta Church
, Himalayan Academy publications and Hindu Heritage Endowment.
Bodhinatha is the appointed successor of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, who was an influential Hindu
Saivite guru
lauded by Klaus Klostermaier as "the single-most advocate of Hinduism outside India". He ordained Bodhinatha as leader of Saiva Siddhanta Church
and 163rd Guru Mahasannidhanam of the Kailasa Parampara
lineage, a position of authority in Saivism.
Bodhinatha Veylanswami was a keynote speaker at Hindu Convocation of the Parliament of the World's Religions
in Melbourne, Australia, an "assembly of a number of the most outstanding Hindu spiritual leaders of India." He mediated the seminal "Is Yoga Hindu?" session at the Parliament on December 2009, which sparked the Hindu American Foundation
's "Take Back Yoga " campaign in 2010.
Bodhinatha is a popular speaker with Hindus, specially those of the Hindu diaspora living in the United States, Malaysia, Mauritius and Singapore. The "Indo-American News" wrote, "Bodhinatha is a formidable force in championing the cause of Hinduism. Soft-spoken yet imbued with immense knowledge and a keen wit, the satguru is a sought-after speaker the world over."
Under Bodhinatha's guidance, his initiated Hindu swamis, yogis and sadhaka
s have been erecting Iraivan Temple
, America's first all-granite, hand-carved Hindu Temple.
from Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in Alaveddy, Sri Lanka. He received the name Veylanswami a few weeks later at the Murugan Temple in Palani Hills.
In 1988, in preparation for initiation as an acharya
in the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order
, Bodhinatha spent six months on pilgrimage in India with a sadhaka, spending time worshiping and meditating at ashrams and temples from as far north as Rishikesh to Tiruchendur in the South. Upon returning to Kauai, he was ordained as the first acharya of the religious order.
From 1993 Bodhinatha managed the formation and development of Hindu Heritage Endowment, a tax-exempt endowment that provides income to several Hindu initiatives and institutions across the world. There are over 80 individual funds within Hindu Heritage Endowment, which together exceed $10 million.
On October 21, 2001, the tenth evening of Subramuniaswami's 32-day prayopavesha fast, he asked Bodhinatha to come to his bedside which all the monks had gathered around. He sent for his aadheenakartar pendant, the symbol of the spiritual head of Kauai Aadheenam, then placed it on Bodhinatha's neck, declaring, "You are the guru now."
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
monk, is the head of Kauai's Hindu Monastery and publisher of Hinduism Today magazine. Bodhinatha presides over three organizations: Saiva Siddhanta Church
Saiva Siddhanta Church
Śaiva Siddhanta Church is a spiritual institution and identifies itself with the Śaivite Hindu religion. It is based on the precepts of the Nandinatha Sampradaya, and traces its origins to a two thousand year-old lineage of the Kailāsa Paramparā Gurus.The Church was founded in 1949 by...
, Himalayan Academy publications and Hindu Heritage Endowment.
Bodhinatha is the appointed successor of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, who was an influential Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Saivite guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
lauded by Klaus Klostermaier as "the single-most advocate of Hinduism outside India". He ordained Bodhinatha as leader of Saiva Siddhanta Church
Saiva Siddhanta Church
Śaiva Siddhanta Church is a spiritual institution and identifies itself with the Śaivite Hindu religion. It is based on the precepts of the Nandinatha Sampradaya, and traces its origins to a two thousand year-old lineage of the Kailāsa Paramparā Gurus.The Church was founded in 1949 by...
and 163rd Guru Mahasannidhanam of the Kailasa Parampara
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
lineage, a position of authority in Saivism.
Bodhinatha Veylanswami was a keynote speaker at Hindu Convocation of the Parliament of the World's Religions
Parliament of the World's Religions
There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, most notably the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893, the first attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths. The event was celebrated by another conference on its centenary in 1993...
in Melbourne, Australia, an "assembly of a number of the most outstanding Hindu spiritual leaders of India." He mediated the seminal "Is Yoga Hindu?" session at the Parliament on December 2009, which sparked the Hindu American Foundation
Hindu American Foundation
The Hindu American Foundation is an American Hindu human rights group advocating on behalf of the Hindu community in the United States. Dr...
's "Take Back Yoga " campaign in 2010.
Bodhinatha is a popular speaker with Hindus, specially those of the Hindu diaspora living in the United States, Malaysia, Mauritius and Singapore. The "Indo-American News" wrote, "Bodhinatha is a formidable force in championing the cause of Hinduism. Soft-spoken yet imbued with immense knowledge and a keen wit, the satguru is a sought-after speaker the world over."
Sadhaka
A sādhaka is someone who follows a particular sādhana, or a way of life designed to realize the goal of one's ultimate ideal, whether it is merging with brahman or realization of one's personal deity. The word is related to the Sanskrit sādhu, which is derived from the verb root sādh-, to accomplish...
s have been erecting Iraivan Temple
Iraivan temple
The San Marga Iraivan Temple is a white granite stone Hindu temple sculpted in India and currently under construction on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. "Iraivan" means "He who is worshipped," and is one of the oldest words for God in the Tamil...
, America's first all-granite, hand-carved Hindu Temple.
Biography
Bodhinatha began studying Vedanta and meditation in 1960, soon developing a deep interest in monastic life. In March, 1972, he received sannyas dikshaDiksha
Diksa also spelled deeksha or deeksa in common usage, translated as a "preparation or consecration for a religious ceremony", is giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism...
from Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in Alaveddy, Sri Lanka. He received the name Veylanswami a few weeks later at the Murugan Temple in Palani Hills.
In 1988, in preparation for initiation as an acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
in the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order
Saiva Siddhanta Church
Śaiva Siddhanta Church is a spiritual institution and identifies itself with the Śaivite Hindu religion. It is based on the precepts of the Nandinatha Sampradaya, and traces its origins to a two thousand year-old lineage of the Kailāsa Paramparā Gurus.The Church was founded in 1949 by...
, Bodhinatha spent six months on pilgrimage in India with a sadhaka, spending time worshiping and meditating at ashrams and temples from as far north as Rishikesh to Tiruchendur in the South. Upon returning to Kauai, he was ordained as the first acharya of the religious order.
From 1993 Bodhinatha managed the formation and development of Hindu Heritage Endowment, a tax-exempt endowment that provides income to several Hindu initiatives and institutions across the world. There are over 80 individual funds within Hindu Heritage Endowment, which together exceed $10 million.
On October 21, 2001, the tenth evening of Subramuniaswami's 32-day prayopavesha fast, he asked Bodhinatha to come to his bedside which all the monks had gathered around. He sent for his aadheenakartar pendant, the symbol of the spiritual head of Kauai Aadheenam, then placed it on Bodhinatha's neck, declaring, "You are the guru now."