Kindling Vedanta in the West

In March 1979, Chinmaya Mission West purchased a former motel in a tiny community called Piercy in California’s majestic Redwood region, some 200 miles north of San Francisco. The property was ringed by the Eel River, which Gurudev renamed “Eel Ganga.”

The first Vedanta course outside of India (1979 – 81) at Krishnalaya, Piercy was inaugurated on Nov 7, 1979. Forty two eager students joined the course. Gurudev fondly called it the “Sandeepany of the West.” Set amidst the serene beauty of Northern California, between the coastal mountains and towering redwoods with the Eel River flowing nearby, the ashram has since blossomed into a spiritual sanctuary.