In 1999, after his family joined him in the U.S., Sri Subbaraogaru began inviting people for satsang every Friday evening, during which he would explain the meanings of the Lalitha Sahasranama Stotra. But what began as a small group of people assembling regularly to chant Lalitha Sahasranama Stotra soon brought forth an ever-growing circle of devotees dedicated to spiritual and community service. Less than a year later, in 2000, Sri Subbaraogaru founded a nonprofit organization, naming it “Soundarya Lahari.” The goal of this organization was to promote spirituality and render community service, particularly to the poor and needy in the villages of India.

Over the last six years, the organization and its influence on the New England community continues to progress successfully, with some 50 to 60 families meeting every weekend for satsang, and more than 600 active participants and volunteers from all over the world assembling during major events. Sri Subbaraogaru has conducted many landmark events in the Boston area, all covered by the local media, such as reciting the Lalitha Sahastranama Stotra 10,000 times in one day. This was the first 24-hour Lalitha Sahasranama Parayana outside of India. During this remarkable event, 800 devotees sat through 24 hours to complete the 10,000 recitals of Lalitha Sahastranama. Furthermore, for interested members who were unable to attend, the event was broadcast live so that hundreds more could watch and follow the chanting through their computer.

Sri Subbaraogaru was also the relentless driving force behind numerous other events, including a Sri Chakra Homam with 108 Havankunds in Durham, N.H.; an Akhanda Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana (24-hour recital of the Vishnu Sahasranama), and a homam performed on top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern U.S., at a staggering 6,288 feet. He is credited for awakening an extreme sense of Hindu community and for spreading the name of Goddess Lalitha in a land where the majority cannot pronounce the word properly. His determination – from the moment the thought of a puja enters his head until the final second of executing the event – is appreciated and revered by one and all.

Sri Subbaraogaru continues his quest to serve mankind with the knowledge bestowed by the grace of his Guru and the Divine Mother. His spiritual journey has taken yet another beautiful turn with his Guru consecrating him as the new pontiff of Devipuram. He takes responsibility with the zeal that drove him to found the Soundarya Lahari satsang.

As a catalyst since the Kumbhabhishekam of Devipuram in 1995, Sri Subbaraogaru has been in the wonderful position of observing every change at Devipuram, and he understanding the workings of both a temple and a nonprofit organization. Sri Subbaraogaru’s presence at Devipuram will be truly enlightening for him, and monumental for the growth of Devipuram as a peaceful and sacred retreat and Sri Vidya Trust as a valuable organization for the betterment of the community.

To start with a quote from his favorite book was customary, but to end with a quote from his favorite book is graceful:

“There are no coincidences in the universe. God is in the sadness and the laughter, in the bitter and the sweet. There is a divine purpose behind everything – and therefore a divine presence in everything. The beginning is God. The end is action. Action is God creating – or God experienced.”