Mahasamadhi Celebration
of our beloved Gurudev Swami Lakshmanjoo
Join us online to celebrate the Mahasamadhi Celebration of our beloved Gurudev Swami Lakshmanjoo. All are warmly welcomed to this free event regardless of their familiarity with Kashmir Shaivism. Register below.
Details
Date: Friday, September 10, 2025.
Time: Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi Havan ceremony will begin at approximately 7:30 am India Time. The exact time will be announced closer to the event.
Length: Approximately 3-6 hours
Location: This online event will be broadcast from Kashmir, India.
Cost: Free
Recording: scroll down this page for previous events...
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Sign Up for the Mahasamadhi
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About the celebration
We're happy to announce the Mahasamadhi Celebration of our beloved Gurudev Swami Lakshmanjoo.
Swamiji left his physical frame, on September 27, 1991. Since that time, each year, we joyously celebrate his Divine life and remember him by performing a traditional “Havan” or “Fire Ceremony” along with worship and the recitation of sacred hymns.
The actual date is calculated as per the moon calendar of Kashmir and falls on different dates every year.
On the days following Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi Havan, the Fellowship will hold its bi-annual four-day study retreat. For more information about the retreat, click here.
It is a blessing for us to share this wonderful and holy day so please join us. Swamiji’s Havan celebration and retreat are always uplifting and memorable events.
Feel free to contact us with questions here.
Jai Guru Dev,
John Hughes and the Universal Shaiva Fellowship
The Universal Shaiva Fellowship is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are fully tax-deductible to the amount allowed by law.
We're looking forward to seeing you
What is Mahasamadhi in Kashmir Shaivism?
In Kashmir Shaivism, Mahasamadhi refers to the ultimate state of spiritual liberation and union with the divine. It is considered the highest form of attainment in this tradition.
The term "Mahasamadhi" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "Maha," meaning great, and "Samadhi," referring to a deep state of meditation or absorption. It is a profound state of consciousness where the individual soul merges with the universal consciousness, realizing its inherent divine nature.
In Kashmir Shaivism, Mahasamadhi is not seen as the end of life, but rather as a state of transcendence while still in the physical body. It is considered an enlightened departure from the mortal realm, where the individual consciously chooses to leave the body behind and merge with the absolute reality, often referred to as Shiva or Shakti.
Practitioners of Kashmir Shaivism aspire to attain Mahasamadhi through rigorous spiritual practices such as meditation, self-inquiry, mantra recitation, and the awakening of Kundalini energy. The goal is to transcend the limitations of the individual self and merge with the supreme consciousness, realizing the oneness of all existence.
Mahasamadhi is seen as a state of ultimate freedom, liberation from the cycle of birth and death, and the experience of eternal bliss and unity with the divine. It is considered the culmination of the spiritual journey in Kashmir Shaivism, representing the union of the individual soul with the supreme reality.
Recordings of previous events:
2024 Mahasamadhi
We celebrated Swamiji's Mahamadhi in Oregon. There are two parts, one at the temple and the other in-house puja.
2023 Mahasamadhi
In October 2023 we attended the Mahasamadhi in Kashmir with a group of people for our annual fall study retreat and pilgrimage to Kashmir.
