Here are the words for our Hollywood Ram Nam Sankirtan, in transliteration, Devanagari, and translation. The version we sing is somewhat abbreviated. OM śrī rāmacandrāya namaḥ| varṇānām artha-saṅghānāṁ rasānāṁ chandasām api| maṅgalānāṁ ca kartārau vande vāṇī-vināyakau||1|| bhavānī-śaṅkarau vande śraddhā-viśvāsa-rūpiṇau| yābhyāṁ vinā na paśyanti siddhā svāntaḥ-sthamīśvaram|| vande bodhamayaṁ nityaṁ guruṁ śaṅkara-rūpiṇam| yamāśrito hi vakro’pi candraḥ sarvatra vandyate||3|| sītā-rāma-guṇa-grāma-puṇyāraṇya-vihāriṇau| vande viśuddha-vijñānau kavīśvara-kapīśvarau||4|| udbhava-sthiti-saṁhāra-kār ..read more

As of March 12, 2020, the Vedanta Society will continue to offer all services and programs as planned. Temple Services will be streamed live from our Hollywood Temple via our YouTube channel for those who wish to attend remotely. We will regularly disinfect temple doorknobs, light switches, etc. Communal meals and refreshments will not be served.  We ask that all visitors to our centers observe the protocols of regular handwashing, coughing and sneezing into a tissue, not touching ones eyes, nose, & mouth with unwashed hands, and greeting others with “namaste” rather than shaking hands. We ..read more

The nuns, monks, devotees, members, and friends of the Vedanta Society of Southern California pay tribute to the memory of Swami Vivekananda on his birthday by conducting an Annual Food Drive. We collect non-perishable food items and give them to the  Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The Food Bank collects and distributes food to individuals and over 900 charitable organizations throughout Los Angeles County. Please bring new, unopened, non-perishable food items to the Hollywood bookshop starting on Sunday January 19. If you have questions, please contact Swami Mahayogananda (mahayogananda@veda ..read more

Swami Brahmananda Birthday Celebrations Hollywood Temple Sunday January 26 10:00 am Worship 1:00 pm   Homa Fire and Prasad Lunch 2:30 pm   Special Program 5:00 pm   Talk by Swami Satyamayananda 6:00 pm   Special Arati Santa Barbara Temple Sunday January 26 11:00 am  Worship 12:30 pm  Homa Fire at the Pavilion 1:00 pm    Prasad Lunch at the Convent ..read more

Santa Barbara Temple Friday January 17 11:00 am  Worship 12:30 pm  Homa Fire at the Pavilion 1:00 pm    Prasad Lunch at the Convent Hollywood Temple Sunday January 19 6:30 am   Breakfast Offering and Reading 10:00 am Worship, Homa Fire, Flower Offering 1:30 pm   Prasad Lunch 2:30 pm   Special Program 5:30 pm   Talks by Swami Sarvadevananda and Swami Satyamayananda 6:00 pm   Special Arati San Diego Monastery Sunday January 19 11:00 am  Worship, Flower Offering 1:30 pm    Prasad Lunch ..read more

Four of our centers observe Christmas with special programs. All are welcome to attend any. Ramakrishna Monastery, Trabuco Canyon Christmas Program Sunday, December 22, 11 am Christmas readings and a talk by Swami Sarvadevananda are followed carol singing and a potluck lunch. Please bring a vegetarian dish or dessert that does not require refrigeration. Hollywood Temple Christmas Eve Program Tuesday, December 24, 6:30 pm Nativity and other readings interspersed with musical selections are followed by carol singing.     Santa Barbara Temple Christmas Eve Program Tuesday, December 24, 6:15 p ..read more

We will worship and celebrate Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother, at three of our centers. All are welcome. Hollywood Temple Sunday, December 15 10:00 am Puja 1:00 pm   Homa Fire and Prasad Lunch 2:30 pm   Special Program 5:15 pm   Talk by Swami Sarvadevananda 6:00 pm  Special Arati We invite devotees to bring desserts that do not need refrigeration. Please bring them to the monastery kitchen.   San Diego Monastery Sunday, December 15 10:00 am  Ritual Worship 12:15 pm   Special Program 1:00 pm    Potluck Lunch Santa Barbara Temple Wednesday, December 18 11:00 am Puja, Bhajans, Flower O ..read more

by Drake Childress Multicultural Counseling Cultural Immersion & Reflection It might seem like the typical story to you: Hollywood and the novels feed us stories of failed love, the transformation of former lovers into monks and nuns—perhaps even the conclusion that romantic love is overrated. In the wake of a breakup myself—and disillusioned by L.A.’s particular brand of disappointment called inconsistent and flaky associates—spiritual advice wasn’t sounding so bad. As I stepped out in front of the Vedanta Society of Southern California’s Hollywood Temple, a white tower emerged from car ..read more

Note: The date and time have been changed from the October bulletin & a reservation is required.   The image of Mother Kali will be returned to the formless state, immersed in the ocean, as per tradition. It’s a festive occasion: we will board a boat, with Mother’s image, and sail out past the breakwaters, singing and chanting. Then Mother’s image will be consigned to the ocean, and we shall return for a group pot-luck picnic and meditation on the beach. The boat will depart at 9:30 am sharp from Fun Zone Boat Company, 600 E. Bay Avenue, Balboa (map). IMPORTANT: 1. RESERVATION IS REQUIRED ..read more

All are invited to join us for our annual honoring of the Divine Mother in the form of Kali. Evening arati will be performed at 5 pm. 10:00 pm: Puja Begins 1:30 am: Food Offering 2:00 am: Homa Fire 3:00 am: Shanti Jal (Water of Peace) & Flower Offering 3:30 am: Prasad Meal Note: Puja ends on Monday October 28 Important Parking Information Please car-pool as our parking lot is small. Valet parking will be provided at the Vedanta Society parking lot. Extra Parking: Overflow parking will be arranged. Details to follow. Overflow seating will be available in Green House living ro ..read more