Temple, America's first all-granite, hand-carved Hindu Temple. Biography Bodhinatha began studying Vedanta and meditation in 1960, soon developing a deep interest in monastic life. In March, 1972, he received sannyas diksha from Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in Alaveddy, Sri Lanka. He received the name Veylanswami a few weeks later at the Murugan Temple in Palani Hills. In 1988, in preparation for initiation as an acharya in the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order, Bodhinatha spent six months on pilgrimage in India with a sadhaka, spending time worshiping and meditating at ashrams and temples from as far north as Rishikesh to Tiruchendur in the South. Upon returning to Kauai, he was ordained as the first acharya of the religious order. From 1993 Bodhinatha managed the formation and development of Hindu Heritage Endowment, a tax-exempt endowment that provides income to several Hindu initiatives and institutions across the world. There are over 80 individual funds within Hindu Heritage Endowment, which together exceed $10 million. On October 21, 2001, the tenth evening of Subramuniyaswami's 32-day prayopavesha fast, he asked Bodhinatha to come to his bedside which all the monks had gathered around. He sent for his aadheenakartar pendant, the symbol of the spiritual head of Kauai Aadheenam, then placed it on Bodhinatha's neck, declaring, "You are the guru now." Images References 1942 births Living people 20th-century Hindu religious leaders 21st-century Hindu religious leaders American Hindus Converts to Hinduism Shaivite religious leaders