Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine
Paramahansa Yogananda stood before a crowd of 1,500 people on the 20th of August 1950 to dedicate the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine. The event took place in Pacific Palisades, California, where lush gardens and a large spring-fed lake framed by hillsides awaited visitors. Thousands of people had already visited the site within its first eight months of opening. The property sat in an amphitheater-shaped landscape that seemed designed for peace and harmony. Yogananda believed all faiths shared an underlying unity, which he sought to reflect through the shrine's design. He commuted from his Mount Washington hermitage to supervise the project while spending nights in a houseboat named Adeline. His vision included creating an environment that would showcase beauty and spiritual connection across different religions.
Thomas H. Ince purchased the land in Santa Ynez Canyon in 1912 to create Bison Ranch, later known as Inceville. A fire broke out on the 16th of January 1916, destroying timber frame buildings at the studio. William S. Hart took over the property after Ince founded Triangle/Ince Studios in Culver City in 1915. The site was renamed Hartville before Robert-Cole Pictures Corporation acquired it in 1920. Another blaze destroyed remaining structures except for a stone church on the 4th of July 1922. Alphonzo Bell Sr. hydraulically graded surrounding hillsides in 1927 to fill the canyon but left a large basin that became Lake Santa Ynez. Four springs filled the basin with water, making it the only spring-fed lake within Los Angeles city limits. H. Everett McElroy bought the property in 1940 and used it as a film set until selling it to Rene Williams and Joseph M. Gross in 1948 for over $250,000.
A thousand-year-old Chinese stone sarcophagus holds a portion of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes inside the memorial shrine. Dr. V.M. Nawle sent the ashes to Paramahansa Yogananda from Pune, India. The golden lotus archway frames the outdoor shrine where copper-coated gold varnish crowns massive ellipsoidal pinnacles flanked by two large lotuses. Two statues of Guanyin flank the sarcophagus containing brass and silver coffered remains. Some Hindu relatives wanted the ashes immersed in water following traditional cremation rituals. Other descendants believed removing the ashes would break existing shrines. The controversy continues regarding whether the ashes should rest at sea or remain in a museum setting. A steel structure and copper roof were added over the peace memorial in 2002 to protect the sacred space from weather elements.
The Dutch windmill chapel closed to the public in 2013 after erosion, termites, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake caused structural failures. Engineers discovered the octagonal tower was not well-connected to lower masonry walls during exploratory demolition. Two long steel beams anchored the tower to outer walls to disperse load upon the foundation. SRF monks with carpentry skills participated alongside architects and engineers throughout the nearly two-year restoration process. Rare old growth redwood beams salvaged from Mendocino County built replacement veins and fascia for the structure. Tannin-rich wood from four-hundred-year-old trees proved highly resilient against weathering and termite damage. The chapel reopened on the 27th of July 2015 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by Brother Achalananda. Additional upgrades included disabled access improvements, fire alarm systems, and precise recreation of original window casings and skylights.
Lake Santa Ynez averages depth while being fed by two waterfalls falling approximately ten feet and another series waterfall dropping about fifteen feet. Three pairs of swans once lived on the lake including one white pair, one black pair, and one white with black neck pair. Brother Anandamoy noted that swans fought over territory until the lake was divided into three sections. Their large nests appear throughout this locale where ducks, koi fish, turtles, and lotus flowers also thrive. Lacy fern grottos and lily ponds surround the water feature creating habitats for diverse wildlife species. Cattails and reeds originally grew to screen most of the lake from view before McElroy dredged it clear. The property remains home to these animals as part of its ecological character today.
George Harrison's funeral took place at the Lake Shrine's small Windmill Chapel with Ravi Shankar present alongside his wife. Tom Petty's memorial service occurred in October 2017 following his death. Elvis Presley walked around the lake picking up brochures about Eastern philosophy during visits spanning twelve years. Judee Sill received a service here in November 1979 after her overdose death with ashes scattered on the Pacific Ocean. Lux Interior's memorial service happened on the 21st of February 2009 at the Windmill Chapel. Dennis Weaver spoke monthly at the shrine for seventeen years while his wife Gerry played organ music. Herb Jeffries's memorial service took place on the 12th of July 2014 with Paramahansa Yogananda serving as his guru. Linda Evans attended one of Weaver's Sunday sermons after being invited by him to hear about spiritual teachings.
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Common questions
When was the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine dedicated by Paramahansa Yogananda?
Paramahansa Yogananda dedicated the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine on the 20th of August 1950. The event took place in Pacific Palisades, California before a crowd of 1,500 people.
How did Thomas H. Ince acquire the land that became the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine?
Thomas H. Ince purchased the land in Santa Ynez Canyon in 1912 to create Bison Ranch. He later established Triangle/Ince Studios in Culver City in 1915 and developed the property into what is now known as Inceville.
What holds Mahatma Gandhi's ashes inside the memorial shrine at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine?
A thousand-year-old Chinese stone sarcophagus holds a portion of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes inside the memorial shrine. Dr. V.M. Nawle sent the ashes to Paramahansa Yogananda from Pune, India for this purpose.
Why did the Dutch windmill chapel close to the public in 2013?
The Dutch windmill chapel closed to the public in 2013 after erosion, termites, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake caused structural failures. Engineers discovered the octagonal tower was not well-connected to lower masonry walls during exploratory demolition.
When did the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine reopen its Dutch windmill chapel after restoration?
The chapel reopened on the 27th of July 2015 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by Brother Achalananda. The nearly two-year restoration process involved SRF monks, architects, and engineers using rare old growth redwood beams.