This shrine has been created for all religions, that all may feel the unity of a common faith. That is why Self-Realization Fellowship calls itself the ‘church of all religions.’ It doesn’t make any difference what outward creed you follow; the real question is, do you know God? Self-Realization teachings show how anyone of any faith can follow the spiritual highway to the Infinite and have God-communion.
Paramahansa Yogananda, from his address at the dedication of the SRF Lake Shrine, August 20, 1950
Since its opening to the public in 1950, the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine has been a spiritual sanctuary where people from all over the world can come and experience true peace in heart, mind, and soul. The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda’s dedication of this beloved pilgrimage site.
The Lake Shrine property, in Pacific Palisades, California, has a colorful history. Initially owned by a silent film studio, it was later envisioned as a private coastal paradise with a Dutch windmill and a double-deck houseboat — both of which remain today.
In the late 1940s, the grounds were sold to an oil company president who had plans to construct a resort hotel complex. But one night he dreamed his new acquisition had become a “Church of All Religions.” Deeply moved, that morning he found in the telephone book the listing for “Self-Realization Fellowship Church of All Religions” in Hollywood. He contacted SRF with an offer to sell — and shortly thereafter Paramahansaji acquired the property.
Before opening Lake Shrine to the public, from his “temporary headquarters” on the houseboat the Guru personally directed disciples throughout months of construction and landscaping. And he spent many hours in deep prayer and divine communion, invoking God’s blessings on all who would come to visit from around the world in future.
Hundreds of thousands have indeed felt these blessings and the enduring peace of the spiritual vibrations bestowed here by Paramahansaji, as they strolled and sat quietly in the lakeside meditation gardens, or attended an inspirational service at the hilltop temple (envisioned by the Guru during his lifetime and later opened in 1996), or participated in a retreat for spiritual renewal.
A focal point at Lake Shrine is the Golden Lotus Archway, designed by Paramahansaji and unveiled by him at the dedication ceremony. Behind the archway, in a “wall-less” temple open to the sky, is the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, where a portion of Gandhi’s ashes are enshrined in a thousand-year-old stone sarcophagus.
In the “Court of Religions,” each of the five principal religions of the world is represented by a monument bearing its symbol. During the dedication ceremony in 1950 Paramahansaji said, “We must recognize the unity of mankind, remembering that we are all made in the image of God.”
In addition to being a significant anniversary, the year 2025 also brought unexpectedly dramatic events to the Lake Shrine’s history when wildfires caused widespread devastation across Los Angeles, including the Pacific Palisades community. Miraculously, the legacy structures at the Lake Shrine were spared, and tremendous thanks go to the valiant efforts of firefighters and the prayers of SRF members and friends worldwide.
We are deeply grateful that the Lake Shrine will remain a sanctuary of peace, beauty, and divine solace — a place for many future generations to discover and benefit from the sacred, uplifting vibrations emanating from this spiritual oasis, as foreseen by Paramahansaji.
As we shared in a recent blog post, we are delighted to announce that the SRF Lake Shrine meditation gardens will again be open to the public starting on August 27, after being closed due to the wildfire. At first we will be opening the outdoor areas surrounding the lake, with its lush pathways and beautiful meditation nooks; other areas of the Lake Shrine — including the Windmill Chapel, Houseboat, and hilltop Temple — will open at other times over the coming months, due to remediation work across the 10-acre grounds.
And while ongoing work on the property means that we will not be able to hold an event to honor the 75th anniversary of the Lake Shrine this year, we are planning to have a beautiful celebration of this spiritual sanctuary — dear to so many — in 2026.
We invite you to enjoy taking a virtual tour of the Lake Shrine on our website — to immerse yourself in the peace and upliftment that Paramahansa Yogananda intended each soul to experience as they visited this sacred site.
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Happy Anniversary lake Shrine ! A corner of Paradise for us souls, giving peace, joy , and love to humankind in a most beautiful setting here on Earth. Thank you all for maintaining this blessed Santuario. Jai Guru !
I was so fortunate to visit Encinitas, Mother Centre and Lake Shrine three times in the 1990’s. My life was truly blessed. The blue Agapanthas flowers shown in the video, filled me with more joy - as they are indigenous to South Africa where I live. Thank you for the beautiful video which makes the 75th Anniversary of SRFLake Shrine even more special.
Thank you for the virtual tour. I can't begin to express how this has touched my heart and brought tears. I am as the lotus bud, just beginning to open. I had no idea this beautiful sacred space was a mecca, a retreat, the history. I will find a way, to journey there. Namaste
Un lugar lleno de paz y amor. Feliz Aniversario...
What a wonderful experience to visit Lake Shrine with its besuty and great vibration! It's really one of the most sacred and beautiful spots!
Happy 75th Anniversary to Lake Shrine! Jai Guru
A Blessed 75th Anniversary! We are so deeply happy that the Lake Shrine heavenly gardens, so permeated with Divine Mother's and Guruji's sweet blessings can open again in this month of its anniversary and be again a haven of peace and spiritual joy for many. We pray that with Guru's blessings, the temple and other shrines may open and welcome many people again soon too. May this sacred place continue to bring peace, comfort and spiritual joy to many for eons to come! Thank you to Brother Satyananda and all who have made this possible! May Divine Mother and Guru bless you all!
Happy Anniversary to Lake Shrine !!!
We are truly blessed and grateful to have such a sanctuary of peace for all religions!
“He lives with all of us.”
Happy Anniversary. Let us all pray for more and more Yog Kendras and meditation centers across the globe to come up and guide the young generation about God realization.
I was introduced to Lake Shrine and Mastet’s teachings as a young teen and I can attest to the fact that my life has been completely changed for the better. Thank you Lake Shrine, Thank you Master, with much gratitude for all of your blessings. If there is any way I can help return lake Shrine to her full glory, I volunteer to help.
What a wonderful video! Just watching it brought back my own wonderful memories of walking the grounds of Lake Shrine, and meditating in the houseboat and the chapel. Jai Guru!
¡Feliz 75 aniversario del Santuario el Lago!
Soy Española de Madrid, he estado en tres ocasiones por unas horas de visita.....Un lugar muy lindo donde las vibraciones del Maestro están muy latentes en cada rincón. Se respira mucha Paz, Amor, Alegría, fuerza, seguridad.. ¡Maestro quisiera volver más veces! ¡Bendiceme por favor!!!
Jai Guru
En su Bendito Amor
Happy anniversary to Lake Shrine! A slice of heaven on earth.
The first time I visited Lake Shrine was during Convocation in 2007 at which time I was taking my Kriya Initiation. I remember clearly how the vibrations emanated as I walked around the Lake, and I can remember thinking Guruji had created an Astral World for us in the middle of the chaos of Los Angeles. I was in awe of the beautiful surroundings.The peace I felt I cannot really put into words. Happy Anniversary Lake Shrine, and to all who have been instrumental in creating Lake Shrine for us.
Happy 75th Anniversary to Lake Shrine! Jai Guru.
Happy Anniversary to Lake Shrine! Jai Guru.
Happy Anniversary!
God has blessed this sacred place Yogananda created for all devoted followers to come and feel his presence and be at peace and find your inner soul!
I visited the shrine when it was closed. I was so happy just to see it from the gate. I would love to visit once it officially opens.
We should all reflect that Yoganandaji is the 20th century’s Jesus; 2000 years hence devotees will wonder what it was like to be that close to such a teacher/guru’s origins. We can walk where he so recently walked, like at Lake Shrine. We today are akin to those who wrote the Gospels and other New Testament works. What a blessing to be able to go to this place and drink in his so-recently deposited vibrations. Definitely on my very short bucket list.
Happy anniversary to Lake Shrine! This truly is one if the most besutiful and peaceful places on earth. Jai Guru!
Happy happy celebration of all this means to so many in past , present & future times on earth!