Skanda Vale

Skanda Vale is a non-denominational spiritual centre and monastery located in Carmarthenshire, Wales, near the village of Llanpumsaint.

[5] Skanda Vale was founded in 1973 by Guru Sri Subramanium, who had previously been living and working in London while giving support and instruction to spiritual seekers of various backgrounds.

This hospice conducts palliative care for the terminally ill, in line with Skanda Vale's emphasis on the sanctity of life.

[1] Immediately following the death of its founder, Skanda Vale became embroiled in controversy regarding Shambo, a bull living in the care of the community.

[16] In the present day, Skanda Vale continues to operate as a spiritual centre and place of pilgrimage for people of a wide variety of backgrounds, as well as acting as an animal sanctuary, a centre for food aid distribution and as support for Skanda Vale Hospice.

[4] Skanda Vale teaches and practices a practical spirituality suited to the varying inclinations of individual seekers, with an especial focus on devotion and selfless service, or bhakti yoga and karma yoga respectively, and integration with the Divine through direct experience in the course of daily living.

[17] The community's founder taught that all life emerged from an underlying non-dual timeless consciousness,[4] broadly in line with the teachings of Advaita Vedanta.

The organisation adopts a liberal perennialist approach to the wide variety of spiritual inclinations and needs of individual seekers.

[18] Worship in these temples is led by members of the resident Community of the Many Names of God, but is open to participation by all visitors.

Animals cared for at Skanda Vale include cattle, buffalo, horses, chickens and other birds and a pair of Asian elephants.