Temple of Light

Ananda Village

Nevada City, California


Another way to experience the beauty, history, and stillness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is to visit the recently completed Temple of Light in the spiritual community of Ananda Village which is home to nearly 200 people.

Ananda Village was established in 1969 by Paramhansa Yogananda’s direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in fulfilling Yogananda’s mission to build world-wide brotherhood communities. Ananda Village celebrated its 50th anniversary along with the dedication of the Temple of Light in July 2019. The Village is the spiritual center of Ananda Sangha, a global spiritual movement with a number of centers and communities around the world including Europe and India.

The Temple of Light is dedicated to all religions and serves as a beacon of blessings for the world. Areas of the temple sanctuary honor Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam. You will need to remove your shoes before entering the sanctuary and silence should be maintained inside of the sanctuary. Please dress respectfully when you visit the community or the temple.

Temple of Light Hours

Monday through Friday: 9am  to 12pm & 1pm-4pm

Saturdays: 10am to 4 pm – Altar Prep Team happening on Saturdays (You’re welcome to meditate, but there may be talking, etc.)

Sundays: Fire ceremony and Purification 10 am / Sunday Service 11 am. Temple open throughout the day.

*The Temple may be reserved on occasion for special events that are not listed here. If you would like to make sure you can visit, please call 350-478-7500 before you plan to visit*

A few Guidelines

~ Please wear a mask when inside the Temple if you are experiencing any cold-like symptoms.

~ Others may be meditating in the Sanctuary, please observe silence when inside.

“I have read, heard about, and longed for interfaith unity. Today I experienced it. Now that we know what it is, we must go forward and share it with others.”

A Church of All Religions

On Saturday, July 6, 2019, of the 50th Anniversary of Ananda celebration, there was a panel of eight spiritual leaders representing the various world religions. We have built niches into the outer walls of Temple of Light and placed there sacred religious symbols, making the temple truly a temple of all religions, as Paramhansa Yogananda did with his temples, which he called “Churches of all Religions.”

During this special occasion, a panel of eight teachers spoke about how light shines from each of their faiths. A dear friend made a comment afterward that was shared by many: “I have read, heard about, and longed for interfaith unity. Today I experienced it. Now that we know what it is, we must go forward and share it with others.”

temple inside

Explore the Temple Project

About the Temple

The Temple of Light is…

  • A spiritual power center that will uplift human consciousness
  • The spiritual home for seekers of truth worldwide
  • The fulfillment of Paramhansa Yogananda’s and his disciple, Swami Kriyananda’s vision for Worldbrotherhood Communities
  • A celebration of Ananda’s 50th Anniversary in 2019
  • An example of Paramhansa Yogananda’s inspiration to “immortalize your ideals in architecture”
  • A beacon of blessings for the world