Guest guest Posted November 16, 2001 Report Share Posted November 16, 2001 Thursday November 15 6:41 AM ET Obituaries in the News By The Associated Press, WAILUA, Hawaii (AP) - Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, an American who became an international Hindu leader and was publisher of Hinduism Today magazine, died Monday at his home on Kauai. He was 74. The guru, known as Gurudeva, was the successor to the guru Yogaswami of Sri Lanka and was the spiritual leader for 2.5 million Tamil people. He died in the presence of 23 members of his monastic order after a self-imposed 32-day fast. Last month he had been diagnosed with incurable intestinal cancer. Gurudeva lived a quiet life, but was active in the community and helped promote anti-drug programs for youths. His designated successor, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, was installed as guru of the Hindu religious community, or ashram, Gurudeva led. The ashram is formally known as Kauai Aadheenam. Born in Oakland, Calif., Gurudeva studied dance and starred with the San Francisco Ballet at age 19. A year later, he gave up dancing and went to India and Sri Lanka for spiritual training. He was given his name and was ordained by his mentor, Yogaswami, a Saivite Hindu guru. Gurudeva formed the first Hindu temple in the United States in San Francisco in 1957. In 1970, he moved to Kauai to establish a monastery and temple. Bahee www.americanhindu.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.