Shiva Skanda Vel
The Sarva Dharma symbol of Skanda Vale — the faiths of the world held together

Thiruvannamalai · Tamil Nadu

Shiva Skanda Vel

A small retreat house at the foot of Arunachala —
a quiet place of prayer, devotion and seva.

The consecrated lingam at the summit of Arunachala, garlanded with flowers, a photograph of Guru Sri Subramanium resting beside it, the plain of Tamil Nadu far below
Arunachala, the sacred mountain at Thiruvannamalai

The project

Arunachala has been held sacred for many centuries — worshipped as the very form of Lord Shiva. We are building a small retreat house on a plot of land near the Aadhi Annamalai Temple, a quiet place to spend time in the presence of the mountain.

The house will be simple — a few rooms, a kitchen, a shrine — built using traditional materials by local craftsmen. From the beginning, we’ve been serving the people and animals of the area — food for those who are hungry, and care for cows, monkeys and deer.

The land is prepared, the borehole is in, and the building will follow soon.

Continue

We are drawn, all of us are drawn to the mountains, for they are the replica of the energy of God. They summon us — to refresh us, to strengthen us — for then the mountains within us are identified with the mountain without.

Guru Sri Subramanium