Vedanta Society of Southern California Hollywood Temple

Vedanta Society of Southern California Hollywood Temple The VSSC teaches Vedanta through spiritual talks, classes and retreats. The temple is open daily for meditation, puja and arati. There are no fees.
(1)

The historical roots of the Vedanta Society of Southern California can be traced back to Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Los Angeles in the late 1890s when he stayed with the Mead sisters in their South Pasadena home. Thirty years later, one of the sisters, Mrs. Carrie Mead Wyckoff, became acquainted with Swami Prabhavananda, a young monk sent to America by the Ramakrishna Order of India. During that

time, Mrs. Wyckoff had a house tucked away in the Hollywood hills which she offered to the swami as a gift. Soon afterwards, in 1929, Swami Prabhavananda moved to Hollywood from Portland to establish the Vedanta Society of Southern California. In 1934, the Vedanta Society of Southern California was officially established as a non-profit organization “to promote harmony between Eastern and Western thought, and recognition of the truth in all the great religions of the world.”

The Vedanta Society steadily grew, and soon there became a need for a larger hall. In 1938, with money donated by Mrs. Wyckoff, a small, white, 3-domed temple was completed and dedicated. In the early 1940s the Vedanta Society was attracting such noted writers and intellectuals as Gerald Heard, Aldous Huxley and Christopher Isherwood. The influence of these distinguished writers, and their literature, stimulated more growth for the Society. Sincere men and women interested in monastic life began to come, and soon nearby houses were acquired to house a convent and a monastery. The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Order gave permission for American monastics to receive their vows in 1946. Swami Prabhavananda, the founder of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, passed away in 1976, and Swami Swahananda became the spiritual head of the center for the next thirty-six years. When he passed away in 2012, Swami Sarvadevananda became the next head of the center. Over the years, branch centers of the main Hollywood Temple were started in Santa Barbara, Trabuco Canyon, San Diego, and South Pasadena.

04/26/2026
Weekend Talks; Karma Yoga this Saturday -
11/06/2025

Weekend Talks; Karma Yoga this Saturday -

Let us hold aloft the light of Freedom which Swami Vivekananda carried to Los Angeles in 1899, and may that light shine on all people everywhere.

Ram Nam Saturday; Weekend Talks - Nov 1 & 2 -
10/30/2025

Ram Nam Saturday; Weekend Talks - Nov 1 & 2 -

Let us hold aloft the light of Freedom which Swami Vivekananda carried to Los Angeles in 1899, and may that light shine on all people everywhere.

Sita Mitchell · 1946–2025 -
10/23/2025

Sita Mitchell · 1946–2025 -

Let us hold aloft the light of Freedom which Swami Vivekananda carried to Los Angeles in 1899, and may that light shine on all people everywhere.

Kali Immersion Saturday; Sunday Talks -
10/23/2025

Kali Immersion Saturday; Sunday Talks -

Let us hold aloft the light of Freedom which Swami Vivekananda carried to Los Angeles in 1899, and may that light shine on all people everywhere.

Vedanta Talks  and Kali Puja at SoCal centers -
10/14/2025

Vedanta Talks and Kali Puja at SoCal centers -

Let us hold aloft the light of Freedom which Swami Vivekananda carried to Los Angeles in 1899, and may that light shine on all people everywhere.

Karma Yoga and Vedanta Talks at SoCal centers -
10/08/2025

Karma Yoga and Vedanta Talks at SoCal centers -

Let us hold aloft the light of Freedom which Swami Vivekananda carried to Los Angeles in 1899, and may that light shine on all people everywhere.

Address

1946 Vedanta Place
Los Angeles, CA
90068

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 7pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 7pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 7pm
Thursday 6:30am - 7pm
Friday 6:30am - 7pm
Saturday 6:30am - 7pm
Sunday 6:30am - 7pm

Telephone

+13234657114

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Vedanta Society of Southern California Hollywood Temple posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Vedanta Society of Southern California Hollywood Temple:

Share