Sri Sri Sri Trichy Mahaswamigal made his transition during dialysis at the hospital, from complications related to diabetes, at 1.30 pm Indian Standard Time on 14th January. He was 75 years young. Our prayers go out to all his devotees who must be now feeling their loss

In 2004, in anticipation of this day, Trichy Swami had designated Sri Jayendra Puri Swami as his successor and officially installed him as head of Kailasa Ashrama. We know Sri Jayendra Puri Swami to be a strong and able spiritual leader who will carry Trichy Swami’s mission forward to the next generation and he has all our support.

Trichy Swami was deeply connected with Gurudeva and Kauai Aadheenam, both inwardly and outwardly. He considered Gurudeva as a “Rishi,” and we all felt deeply about Trichy Swami. Gurudeva regarded him as one of the most illumined sages in all of India. Swami loved Kauai Aadheenam, and Gurudeva and his monks pilgrimaged many times to his pure and actinic Kailash Ashrama in Bangalore, near our worksite.

His Holiness was instrumental in acting as a spiritual guide and protector for the Iraivan Temple carving operations in Bangalore, along with Sri Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami. It was at Trichy Swami’s ashram in December of 1990 that ceremonies were held for Gurudeva to chip the first stone of Iraivan Temple. Trichy Swami’s blessings and connections in the community were important elements in stabilizing the carving “village” which is the Bangalore work site.

Swamiji visited Kauai in the spring of 1991 and is here pictured with Gurudeva in Kadavul temple.

A beacon of spiritual purity, simplicity and renunciation, he championed and taught a traditional Hindu lifestyle centered on devotion through temple worship and was actively involved in temple building and priest training. He built a traditional temple for Goddess Rajarajeswari at his ashram, and interestingly its capstone was recently covered in gold, paralleling the gold leaf work we are doing recently, and even today, on Iraivan.

For those not familiar with the work of this great soul you can read the article which ran in Hinduism Today on the occasion of his receiving the Hindu Renaissance Award for 2003.

And visit our archive pages with photos with him in India. Our deepest love goes out to swamiji’s followers as they observe the days ahead and as they gather together to preserve their guru’s mission and spiritual goals.

On the Indian Odyssey I

On Indian Odyssey II