Book Publication Rights - Sri Annamalai Swami Trust

Request and Notice to devotees publishing books of Sri Annamalai Swami

I am Sundaram Swami, caretaker, disciple and translator for Sri Annamalai Swami for more than 21 years. I had my first darshan of Sri Annamalai Swami at the age of 23, in the year 1974. Annamalai Swami was 69 years at that time and was living all by himself. Soon I found myself drawn to him; had a strong desire to serve him; and began helping him with various chores, especially since he did not travel at all. At that time, I was working for the Tamil Nadu State Government.

On February 12th, 1976, I received a letter from Sri Annamalai Swami, handwritten by him in Tamil, stating: “Please resign your job and leave immediately to come here and serve me – Annamalai Swami”. I was overjoyed on seeing the letter. I resigned my job and came the same day to start my service to Sri Annamalai Swami and his ashram. For 20 years I lived with him there, till his Mahasamadhi in 1995. During those years Sri Annamalai Swami made me the secretary of Annamalai Swami Ashram Trust and gave me the responsibility of running and maintaining the ashram and the trust. I continued to perform these duties for 8 more years after Sri Annamalai Swami’s Mahasamadhi. You can read about the details of my journey with Sri Annamalai Swami here.

During those years, many devotees, local and from abroad used to visit the ashram for Satsang with Swamigal. Since the western devotees did not know Tamil and Sri Annamalai Swami did not speak English, I used to translate all of the communication between them, back and forth. Some of these conversations were recorded with Swami’s permission. With his blessings and with help of various devotees, we began to transcribe these recordings and publish these conversations as books. Thus, books like “Living by the words of Bhagavan” and “Annamalai Swami Final Talks” were published in English when I was secretary of Annamalai Swami ashram. Both these books are essentially the words of Sri Annamalai Swami that were translated from Tamil into English by me. A devotee by name David Godman did the work of an Editor, formatting the content to be produced in book form.

Sri Annamalai Swami with his caretaker Sundaram Swami, taken roughly around 1981.

Sri Annamalai Swami blessing his devotees Mira (from Japan) and Sundaram (caretaker) with flowers on their head. Mira created the first draft of the content for Final Talks by writing down Swami's words (which were translated into English by Sundaram, who read it to back to Swami in Tamil, and made the corrections).

On the left is Adi Narayanan (telugu devotee). Sundaram is next to him. Sri Annamalai Swami had asked him to read a text and was giving explanation.

David Godman with Sundaram Swami, at the feet of Sri Annamalai Swami. David helped edit the book 'Living by the Words of Bhagavan' and has authored several books and documentaries related to Bhagavan and his disciples.

Jim Lemkin interview of Sri Annamalai Swami. Translated by Sri Annamalai Swami's caretaker Sundaram Swami seen in the video. At 14:59 Swami talks about his Samadhi experience.

Madhukar Thompson interviews Sri Annamalai Swami. Translation by Sri Annamalai Swami's caretaker Sundaram Swami, seen in the video.

These 2 books have also been published by Sri Satguru Annamalai Swamigal Spiritual Trust in Telugu and Tamil. Other languages are soon to follow. Recently we published the contents of Sri Annamalai Swami’s diary, in book form as “Nectar Drops”. Also, the Trust recently published a new and revised edition of “Final Talks of Annamalai Swami”. All these books of Sri Annamalai Swami are the property of Sri Satguru Annamalai Swamigal Spiritual Trust.

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Yet there are individuals including David Godman who for many years have been printing and publishing these books on their own, even claiming to be the author. This is problematic at many levels. One it is illegal. Two it is incorrect for anyone to assume authorship of these works. Only Sri Annamalai Swami was the author of these books, and the ownership of them belongs to the Trust. And lastly, there has been Zero remuneration back to the Trust, of any of the sale proceeds from these books for the last 20+ years by these individuals!

We request anyone engaging in the publishing of Sri Annamalai Swami’s books to stop doing so immediately and collaborate with the Trust to spread these precious teachings going forward. Failing to do so will result in legal action that the Trust will take against them.

I have been legally running Annamalai Swami Ashram under the divine guidance of Annamalai Swami for 29 years. (21 years while Annamalai Swami was living in the body and 8 years after his Mahasamadhi). I am making this statement today, requesting all devotees to cooperate and join with me to continue Sri Annamalai Swami’s spiritual services through Sri Satguru Annamalai Swamigal Spiritual Trust, a non-profit organization recognized by the Government of India.

Yours in Sri Bhagavan and Sri Annamalai Swami,

Sundaram Swami
President,
Sri Satguru Annamalai Swamigal Spiritual Trust.

–These images are for our reference. Will take them out unless you feel we should leave them.