Why the trust exists

The Shiva Skanda Vel Charitable Trust exists for two things held together: the spiritual life, and practical service to all life — offered to the public of all faiths, without distinction of caste, creed, gender, religion, race or colour.

The retreat house we are building is one expression of that purpose. The service the trust gives to the people and animals around it is another. They are not separate aims; they are the same aim, lived in two ways.

What follows is drawn from the objects of the trust, as set out in its registered deed.

Service to all life

To offer service to all life: providing food, care, shelter, hospitality and refreshment to those in need, and relieving poverty and hardship — regardless of race or creed, and including the sanctity of all living beings. In practice this means annadanam for those who are hungry, support for poor families and schoolchildren, and the care of cattle and other animals in the area.

Universal human principles

To promote, for the benefit of the public of all faiths, the eternal human principles of truthfulness, righteousness, unconditional love and peace — and to advance spirituality, spiritual education and spiritual harmony by living and sharing these principles.

A place to deepen the spiritual life

To provide the opportunity for people of all faiths to deepen their relationship with God through worship, contemplation, meditation and service; and to maintain a community living together by these values, in practice and in service to life.

Much of what makes this possible is the place itself. To be in the presence of Arunachala — its stillness, its energy, the vibration that has drawn seekers to it for centuries — is enough. The mountain does part of the work; the retreat house simply lets people stay near it.

Pilgrimage and retreat

To support the spiritual lives of the community of Skanda Vale in Wales, the Somaskanda temple in Switzerland and similar communities, by providing a place at the foot of Arunachala where hospitality and facilities for pilgrimage and retreat are offered.

Working alongside others

To support and assist other charitable organisations, trusts and individuals whose work furthers these purposes — as the trust does in its service work today, with the Mohanji Foundation and others.