Hollywood Temple of Self-Realization Fellowship
Paramahansa Yogananda formally opened the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple in Hollywood on August 30, 1942. In the years since then, this pioneering temple has played an inspiring role in Paramahansa Yogananda’s historic mission of introducing Yoga in the West, and today is known as a place of sacred pilgrimage by countless truth-seekers from all parts of the world.
The Beginning
Stories and History
Overcoming Obstacles
Paramahansaji’s story of obstacles, termites and building the Hollywood Temple. Read the story.
Stained Glass Windows
Brother Bhaktananda relates the story of how the temple’s beautiful stained-glass windows were acquired. Read the story.
The Dome
An interesting story about how the stained-glass dome was obtained.
It was in the late 1930s that Sri Yogananda noticed and became interested in a parcel of vacant land on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Since coming to America in 1920, the same year in which he founded Self-Realization Fellowship, he had completed fifteen years of nearly ceaseless travel, conducting lectures and class series on yoga for hundreds of thousands in America’s largest cities. Now he was concentrating his time on his writings and on classes for serious students of his teachings.
“I am not interested in building huge edifices of stone wherein God is absent.” He said, “We should have m any small temples filled with a true spirit of devotion for God and of united seeking of God.” With generous donations from loyal students, he was able to purchase the Hollywood property for development as a spiritual center.
Wartime conditions prevented construction of a new temple; but an unused, roughly finished church building was acquired and moved to the site. When Paramahansaji acquired the building, the interior was only roughly furnished. After having it transported to Hollywood, he personally supervised the extensive remodeling efforts, remarking, “If Theaters can be made so ornate and attractive in order to entice people to material amusements, God’s church should be even more lovely, because He is the essence of all beauty in the universe.” Much of the work was done by the monks and nuns of the Self-Realization Fellowship Order.
The altar and speaker’s platform were framed in exquisite gold-leafed woodcarving of original design, which was strikingly complemented by gold drapes, deep blue carpeting, and the pure white of the walls. Addition of the stained glass windows and dome added to the unique appeal of the temple.
For years following its dedication in 1942, Paramahansaji regularly conducted lecture services, classes, and meditations at the Hollywood Temple. (A number of his talks from this period have been published in anthologies of his collected talks and essays.) The powerfully uplifting atmosphere created by his long periods of God-communion in this temple have made it a spiritual oasis that continues to draw and inspire thousands of souls each year.