• Source: Vedanta Society of Northern California

The Vedanta Society of Northern California is a Hindu spiritual organization headquartered in San Francisco, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900. It is notable for having built the first Hindu temple in the Western hemisphere.




History



Vedanta Societies are based upon the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, a 19th-century Indian monk who practiced Vedanta, one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. Swami Vivekananda, a key figure in the propagation of Hinduism abroad, founded the first United States Vedanta society in New York in 1894, and went on to establish the San Francisco society in 1900. On Jan. 7, 1906, under the leadership of Swami Trigunatitananda, construction of the organization's temple was completed in the Cow Hollow neighborhood. It was the first ever Hindu temple in the Western hemisphere. Months later, the temple withstood the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
On December 28, 1914, Swami Trigunatitananda was giving a Sunday service at the temple when he was attacked with explosives by a 14-year-old former student of his. The student died on the scene, while Swami Trigunatitananda died of his injuries two weeks later.
In 1959, the Society opened a "New Temple" in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, which now serves as the main building for the Society's activities. Conversely, the original temple is now called the "Old Temple", and remains a residence for monks and a venue for religious services.




Swamis in Charge


Swami Vivekananda 1900
Swami Turiyananda 1900–1902
Swami Trigunatitananda 1903–1915
Swami Prakashananda 1916–1927
Swami Dayananda 1927–1931
Swami Madhavananda 1927–1929
Swami Vividishananda 1931–1932
Swami Ashokananda 1932–1969
Swami Shantaswarupananda 1970
Swami Prabuddhananda 1970–2014
Swami Tattwamayananda 2014–Present




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Wedanta
• Vedanta Society of Northern California
• Vedanta Society
• List of Hindu temples in the United States
• Swami Ashokananda
• Prakashananda
• Ashrama, California
• Swami Vivekananda
• Sister Gargi
• Hinduism in the United States
• Paschim Bardhaman district