Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

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The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine lies a few blocks walk from the Pacific Ocean, on Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, California. It was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, on August 20, 1950 The ten-acre site, with its gardens and natural spring-fed lake, is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including swans, ducks, koi, and lotus flowers.

The visitor center (left) and windmill chapel (right) are beside the lake. After the death of George Harrison, his family and friends gathered at the windmill chapel for a private funeral. Ravi Shankar was there along with his wife.

1 Features

[edit] Features

The grounds include the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, where a portion of Gandhi's ashes is enshrined; a small museum with exhibits on Paramahansa Yogananda's work; a Dutch windmill converted into a chapel; and a gift shop with arts and crafts from India. Also featured on the grounds is a Court of Religions featuring the symbols of the five principal religions of the world: a cross for Christianity, a Star of David for Judaism, a Wheel of Law for Buddhism, a crescent moon & star for Islam, and a Sanskrit character for Hinduism.

Lake Shrine with swans

[edit] Lake and Swans

Yogananda (Paramahansa means swan) encouraged swans to live at the Lake Shrine; their large nests can be seen in this locale.

Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial.

[edit] Gandhi Shrine

The Lake shrine is home for the picturesque Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, the "wall-less temple" erected in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, architect of India's freedom through nonviolent means. The focal point of the memorial is a thousand-year-old stone sarcophagus from China, in which a portion of Gandhi's ashes are encased in a brass and silver coffer.

The ashes had been sent to Yogananda by an old friend, Dr. V.M. Nawle, a publisher and journalist from Poona, India, who knew of the deep spiritual bond between Yogananda and Gandhi. Following the dedication of the memorial, Dr. Nawle wrote: "Regarding Gandhi ashes, I may say that they are scattered and thrown in almost all the important rivers and seas, and nothing is given outside India except the remains which I have sent to you after a great ordeal .... You are the only one in the whole world who received Gandhi ashes outside India."