Paramahansa Yogananda Birthday Commemoration Service

The Paramahansa Yogananda Birthday Commemoration Service is a devotional spiritual gathering held in the Temple at Self-Realization Fellowship Hollywood Temple in Los Angeles, California. It honors the birthday of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi and founder of Self-Realization Fellowship, and it is open to newcomers and longtime students of the Kriya Yoga path alike.

What to Expect

The evening begins before the service itself. From 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., flowers are available by donation outside the Temple, so anyone arriving without one can still take part in the offering.

The commemorative service runs from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. in the Temple. It is a gathering of gratitude for Yogananda and for the line of Gurus in the Self-Realization Fellowship tradition. Guests are invited to bring a single flower as a symbol of their devotion, along with a monetary offering in an envelope. The offering is an expression of thanks and not a set fee.

When the service ends, everyone is invited to India Hall for cake and chai, shared in honor of the anniversary of the Guru's birth. It is an easy, warm way to close the evening and to meet others who have come for the same reason.

About Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda founded Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920 and wrote Autobiography of a Yogi, which is available in more than 50 languages. Self-Realization Fellowship describes him as the Father of Yoga in the West and a beloved world teacher.

His teaching centers on the Kriya Yoga path of meditation. It also covers the true meaning of yoga, the unity of the scriptures, and the science of prayer and affirmation. Devotional chanting and kirtan are part of the tradition he began.

Self-Realization Fellowship carries on his spiritual and humanitarian work. It offers the SRF Lessons, a home-study course on meditation and spiritual living that begins with a nine-month series. In India his work is known as Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. The international headquarters is in Los Angeles, at Mount Washington.

The Setting

The service takes place in the Temple at the Hollywood Temple of Self-Realization Fellowship, in Los Angeles. Cake and chai afterward are served in India Hall, one of the Temple's gathering spaces.

Before You Go

No experience or prerequisites are needed. The service suits both first-time visitors and long-standing members of the fellowship.

Bring a single flower and an envelope with your monetary offering if you wish to take part in the tradition. If you prefer not to bring a flower, you can obtain one by donation outside the Temple between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. Flowers and the offering are not part of any admission fee, since the service itself is a devotional gathering.

Anyone who cannot come in person can find a list of online commemorative services and meditations on the official Self-Realization Fellowship calendar.