Skanda Dia FoundationSkanda Dia Foundation
Proposed yatra Sri Skanda Sathru Samhaara Mahayatra — a sacred fire carried hatti to hatti across the Nilgiris Read the vision

Estd. 2025 · Pranavagiri, The Nilgiris

Dia.Thelightthatremovesdarkness.

When Poverty Ends, Love Begins. Skanda Dia Foundation carries forward a Tamil Siddhar lineage of wisdom, building skills, livelihoods, and community wellbeing across the Nilgiris.

Lord Murugan
Om Saravana BhavaPranavagiri, Nilgiris
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0Founded
0Pillars of work
0Languages
0Verses translated

WHO THIS LINEAGE TURNS TOWARD

Gods & Gurus

“திருப்பாடற்றிரட்டு” — the Sacred Collection of Foot-songs — moves the disciple from the first salutation to Vinayagar, through the long instruction of the soul, to the closing benediction: the whole arc of a spiritual journey, in a single book.

Planner and journal distribution to students at Yellanalli
EDUCATIONEMPOWERMENTENLIGHTENMENTCOMMUNITY

Because a community thrives when its people, its livelihoods, and its wisdom are cared for together.

From a skill-building journal placed directly into schools, to a grocery brand built by and for the community, to a century-old Tamil teaching kept alive in weekly chant — every part of our work points back to the same three pillars.

2025

Founded at Pranavagiri

3

Pillars of work

11

Sections in our first edition

600+

Verses translated

WHAT WE DO

Education. Empowerment. Enlightenment.

01

Education

Skill-based learning, put in reach.

Skill-based education activities for students and young people, including a goal-setting journal we distribute directly into schools.

02

Empowerment

Livelihoods, not just handouts.

Helping entrepreneurs grow, and building our own community ventures — starting with Dia, a grocery brand launching in the Nilgiris.

03

Enlightenment

Wisdom, carried forward.

Preserving the Tamil Siddhar teaching of Sri Sarguru Nadha Mahamuni, and keeping the sung tradition of Thiruppugazh alive through weekly satsang.

Together, these three pillars carry the Foundation’s work into education, healthcare, rural upliftment, environmental conservation, and women’s empowerment across the communities we serve.

FROM OUR GATHERINGS

Thirumurugan Thirukalyanam

See more events →

Gatherings & events

Where the mission becomes a gathering

Chanting together, learning together, being present for one another — the Foundation’s work lives in rooms full of people. Come to one, or help us hold one.

Dates are announced here, on the Events page and to our registered volunteers first.All events

Where we work

Rooted at Pranavagiri, in the Nilgiris

A Tamil Siddhar lineage carried forward in the hill villages of the Badaga community — through education, empowerment and enlightenment.

Skanda Dia Foundation

8/143, Yellanhalli, The Nilgiris – 643 243, Tamil Nadu, India

Three pillars, one community

Everything we do sits where these three meet.

Education Empowerment Enlightenment Community
0Founded at Pranavagiri
0Verses translated & published
0Hattis in the proposed Mahayatra

Hatti = a Badaga village. The ~400 figure is the estimate used in the proposed Sathru Samhaara Mahayatra across the four borders of the Nilgiris.

Sri Sarguru Nadha Mahamuni

FEATURED PUBLICATION

Thiruppadattirattu — A Reader’s Edition

Sri Sarguru Nadha Mahamuni first gave voice to these verses in the Nilgiri hill country; the Sangam at Coonoor preserved them through the twentieth century. Now this eleven-section, 600-verse work is offered as a complete reader’s edition.

Read About the Edition

GUIDED BY THE LINEAGE

The custodians behind this work

Holds the lineage of Sri Sarguru Nadha Mahamuni in its Nilgiri home, and reviewed and verified the Tamil source-text behind the Foundation’s publications.

Sri Guruprakash Swamigal

Sri Guruprakash Swamigal

B Manihatty, The Nilgiris

Brought pastoral guidance and comparative scholarly insight that shaped both the doctrinal and devotional voice of the Foundation’s commentary work.

Sri Sachidananda Naveen Sai

Sri Sachidananda Guru Naveen Sai

Sai Nivas Seva Trust, Coimbatore

Students of the Foundation, Yellanhalli
A lineage of devotion, carried forward

STAY CLOSE TO THE WORK

Latest from the Foundation

FOLLOW THE JOURNEY

Stay connected

Photos from our events, updates on the Library, and glimpses of daily life at Pranavagiri — follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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ON INSTAGRAM

From @skanda_dia_foundation

FROM OUR CHANNEL

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Membership & volunteering

Join the Foundation — as a member, a volunteer, or both

Create a free account to receive your member card and your own dashboard — orders, gifts, gatherings, collections and friends in one place. Then choose how you would like to serve.

Volunteer grades — see what each involves

Give

Every gift reaches the person it is meant for

Every rupee given to the Foundation goes through Pranavagiri straight to a student’s planner, an entrepreneur’s first stock, or the next satsang — with no distance between your support and the person it reaches.

1 · Choose where it goes

2 · Choose an amount

Donate

You’ll make a pledge on the next page, then complete it by bank transfer. Online card payment is coming soon.

Temple gopuram

READY TO TAKE PART?

Ways to walk with us

Volunteer

Give your time to teaching, chant, or community events at Pranavagiri and beyond.

Get Involved

Support the Work

Help fund the publishing, education, and livelihood programs that carry this mission forward.

Ways to Support

Read the Library

Explore the first complete English commentary edition of the Thiruppadattirattu.

Start Reading

Join a Gathering

Satsang, puja, and community events held throughout the year at Pranavagiri.

See Events

Get in Touch

Questions, corrections, or partnership ideas — the committee would love to hear from you.

Contact Us
Temple gopuram

Walk with us

Whether through study, chant, service, or support, there’s a place for you in this work of preservation and transmission.

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