Satguru Bodhinath Veylanswami
Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Hawaii, USA

"The inner significance of Diwali is that it is a joyful celebration
of the victory of good over evil, of our spiritual qualities
dominating our basic instincts, intellect and ego. "

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami is the Guru Mahasannidhanam of Kauai's Hindu Monastery, the 458-acre headquarters of the Saiva Siddhanta Church. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami nurtures Church missions and membership internationally, through courses of study culminating in traditional sadhanas and initiations which result in long-lasting spiritual progress. He guides his order of 20 monks from five nations to serve, through their publications and web sites, the broader community of Hindus throughout the world. Bodhinatha is the publisher of the "Hinduism Today" magazine and is currently guiding the completion of the first all-granite, hand-carved Hindu temple in America, the Iraivan Temple, being erected on the Garden Island where he and the monks of the order live. He serves as president of the Hindu Heritage Endowment, a $6 million institution that strengthens Hindus and Hinduism throughout the world.

Read Deepavali Message from Satguru Bodhinath Veylanswami...

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Art of Living - Bangalore, India

"Feeling and experiencing the infinity within this finite body,
living timelessness within the time span of life,
uncovering bliss within the misery - this is what you are here for."

In 1982, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar began to teach the Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful breathing technique which eliminates stress and brings one completely into the present moment. Today this program is taught in over 140 countries as part of the Art of Living Course. Millions of people around the world have experienced physical and emotional healing from these programs which help eliminate stress and create a sense of belonging. His simple message of love, practical wisdom, and compassion continues to inspire people from all walks of life, and he encourages everyone to follow their chosen religious or spiritual path while honoring the path of others.

Read Deepavali Message from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar...

Dr. Pranav Pandya
Gayatri Pariwar - Shantikunj, India

"Our prayerful wishes and greetings for the forthcoming Deepavali,
festival of lights, glory and happiness."

Through the Brahmvarchas Research Institute, Dr. Pranav Pandya, a world reknowned spiritual healer, has served the masses by researching the intercommunion of Science with Spirituality. He has treated more than 20,000 diseased and stressed patients with a unique treatment of spirituality combined with medicine for full relief from day to day stress, strain and psychosomatic ailments. Awarded The Hindu of the Year 1997, he has delivered exclusive lectures on scientific spirituality, art of living, herbal healing & science of soul. He has addressed the house of commons, participated in World Parliament of Religion and established the branches of All World Gayatri Pariwar in over 80 countries.

Read Deepavali Message from Gayatri Pariwar...

Dr. Anant Rambachan
St. Olaf College - Northfield, Minnesota, USA

"The lights of Divali are the inextinguishable flames of faith and hope in the ultimate triumph of goodness over evil and the assurance that, in this perpetual struggle, we choose to side of God."

Dr. Anantanand Rambachan is a Professor of Religion, Philosophy and Asian Studies at Saint Olaf College, Minnesota, USA, where he has been teaching since 1985. Prof. Rambachan has a deep and sustained interest in interreligous dialogue and, in particular, the dialogue between Hinduism and Christianity. He has been very active in the dialogue programs of the World Council of Churches, and was Hindu guest and participant in the last three General Assemblies of the World Council of Churches in Vancouver, Canada, and Canberra, Australia and Harare, Zimbabwe. Prof. Rambachan is an Associate Editor for the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, a project which is working to produce the first, comprehensive, multivolume series treating the Hindu tradition. He is a member Consultation on Population and Ethics, a non-governmental organization, affiliated with the United Nations. In 1989, Prof. Rambachan was awarded the Chaconia Gold Medal, Trinidad and Tobago's second highest national honor for public service.

Read Deepavali Message from Dr. Anant Rambachan ...

Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam - Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

"The significance of Deepavali is the removal of darkness
and ignorance from the mind and filling it with goodness."

H.H. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati was the 68th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. He became the pontiff in 1907 when he was barely thirteen years of age and was an acharya till he attained samadhi in 1994 when he was almost 100 years old. Universally hailed for the divinity he radiated and revered by people of all religions in India, he was also an expert in epigraphy, archaeology, history and sculpture. His only mode of travel was by foot, even during his extensive travels all around India, covering several thousand kilometers. The Dalai Lama complimented his complete renunciation and asceticism when he referred to him as “the only monk of the twentieth century”. His services for the cause of Hinduism and spirituality are too numerous to be recounted.

Read a joint Deepavali message from the Kanchi Shankaracharyas...