சைவ சித்தாந்த சங்கம்
UNIVERSAL MISSION
FOUNDED IN 1937 BY HIS HOLINESS BRAHMA SRI SIVA SOOBRAMONIA GURU SWAMIGAL
Registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO Registration Number : 149-752)
HIS HOLINESS BRAHMA SRI SIVA SOOBRAMONIA GURU SWAMIGAL
Guruswamigal was born in Tongaat on the Natal North Coast on the 10th May 1910 of a very spiritual Veera Saiva family, as a worthy descendent of the great and revered South Indian religious leader, a Telegu mystic, Sri Veera Bramanoo Karu.
Early in his childhood Guruswamigal shared the same experience as Ramalinga Swamigal. When he appeared very sick as a baby, Guruswamigal was taken to a temple by his parents. The temple priest left the baby on the steps of the altar to bless him.
The child was so fascinated by the lights in the altar that he burst out laughing. The priest then told the parents that this is not an ordinary child but has come as a saint and savior of mankind.
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EARLY LIFE
THE FORMATION OF THE SAIVA SITHANTHA SUNGUM
Having had a vision of the divine Mother Sakthi and imbued with the spirit of love and enthusiasm the master gathered a band of men and women around him and started spiritual upliftment programmes. His closest disciple was a person then known as Gopal and the youngest was a student named Ganasen who just passed standard six at the age of fifteen. The other disciples included Thangavel, Krishna, Moonsamy, Marimuthu, Nadasen, Rajoo, Kanabathy, Perumal, Somiah, Frank and Munian.
With the help of these men His Holiness Bramha Sri Siva Subramonia Guruswamigal founded the Sungum in 1937 at 62 Beatrice Street, Durban. The movement was initially called “Siva Sithantha Sungum”. The word Siva was later altered to Saiva and so began the powerful Saivite movement of “Saiva Sithantha Sungum”.
Guruswamigal met with his close disciples every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 62 Beatrice Street. The master constantly advised his followers to become vegetarians, give up smoking and drinking and to maintain strict spiritual discipline.
This was a period when people engrossed in materialistic life and were not concerned about religion or God.
Guruswamigal with a lantern in his hand and with the band of his followers started religious revival work, giving outdoor lectures at the Victoria Street Market, bus ranks and places where people could listen undisturbed. The singing of the divine hymns attracted large gatherings. It was the dawn of spiritual awakening.
Tuesday, 5th of May 1953 was indeed a sad day, not only for the members of the Sungum but also for the entire community, for the greatest spiritual master ever to grace the soils of South Africa entered into Maha Samadhi and the bliss of Siva Consciousness.