SATCHIDANANDA
THAPOVANAM
ABOUT SATCHIDANANDA THAPOVANAM
Welcome,
Satchidananda Thapovanam is set in a beautiful location along the historic Mahaveli river in Kandy, Sri Lanka. With the end of Gurudev’s service in Sri Lanka, and after his move to the US in 1966, the Thapovanam continued to serve as a place of gathering for various spiritual communities and events. However, over the years, the Tapovanam's use has declined due to the lack of manpower. Today, Gurudev's disciples from across the world have joined hands to revive the Thapovanam and to once more make it a hub for ecumenical and spiritual gatherings in the city.
Extensive renovations are now complete and we have restored this beautiful retreat back to its potential to serve the community as a refuge of peace. The Thapovanam doors are open once more in service to the people of Sri Lanka and visitors from all parts of the world. An interfaith dedication ceremony was held on December 22, 2016, in celebration of Sri Gurudev's Jayanthi.
In addition to being a place of communal gathering, the Thapovanam will also function as an institute for yoga classes, meditation, yoga teacher trainings and various yoga programs. It will be a retreat center for guests to rejuvenate and rehabilitate while being at one with nature. Serving in this capacity, Swami Divyananda Ma is currently in residence through November 3, 2017, and is holding satsang, kirtan and teaching hatha and meditation.
Sincerely,
Senthilnathan Shanmugam
Thapovanam Director
Sri Gurudev with Shanmugam
Our Guru and History
In the early 1950s, Sri Swami Satchidananda was instructed by his guru, Sri Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, to travel to Sri Lanka. With the help of Swami Vimalananda Mataji, Sri Gurudev, as he is fondly called by his disciples, founded the Satchidananda Thapovanam in Kandy. It was here that Gurudev's dreams of interfaith unity and visions of ecumenical movement began to take shape, a crucial development in the founding of Integral Yoga.
About Integral Yoga
Sri Swami Satchidananda, an esteemed spiritual leader whose message of peace has been heard around the globe, is the founder of Integral Yoga. He dedicated his life to the cause of peace – both individual and universal – and to religious harmony among all people. His teachings are the Thapovanam’s guiding principles.