Deepali Illuminates La Crescenta Ashram

Settled at the very base of the foothills at the top of Pennsylvania Avenue, the glowed with the warm light of luminarias and candles Thursday for the festival of lights celebration of Deepali.

The celebration, focused on renewal and new beginnings expressed through light overcoming darkness, is marked throughout India. In some areas the event can last for four to five days. In La Crescenta, the ashram welcomed all for one night of illumination of the grounds and the spirit.

Founded in 1923, the Ananda Ashrama is a non-sectarian Vedanta community of spiritual scholars that holds biweekly services open to the public.

Vedanta is a core philosophical aspect of most Indian traditions and philosophies. Modern Vedanta teaches that all religions are roads leading to the same goal. The ancient tradition encourages each person to follow his her own faith and does not seek to convert or discriminate, only to provide a forum and practice for studying and growing spirituality.

This principal of inclusion and respect for all is most evident at the ashram’s Temple of the Universal Spirit, built under the direction of founder Swami Paramananda in 1928. Niches along the interior walls of the temple are dedicated to the world’s religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism, Shintoism, Islam and even Native American.

Above, the stained glass windows are adorned with images of great houses of worship from around the world, including Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma and Chartres Cathedral in France. Images of Buddha, Jesus, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna and the Madonna de Guadalupe are displayed prominently.

During the Deepali celebration, the temple was lit by candles only and hosted about 30 people in a service marked with live music and a spiritual leader whose talk included quoting Mark Twain.  

“We have a huge, wonderful community,” Lita Burnham said of the ashram. She noted that it is a very music and female-centered ashram, led spiritually by the Reverend Mother Sudha Puri, also known as Dr. Susan Schrager, who is a former vice principal of .

The size of that community fluctuates, with many living at the ashram but many more coming for short stays and days of service.

The ashram also has a bookstore offering up works by not only Paramananda but also spiritual leaders of numerous religions and movements. Handmade soaps containing rosemary and lavender grown on the grounds and handmade jewelry are also offered for sale.

The bookstore doubles as a gathering place. After Deepali, guests enjoyed cookies, fruit and hot tea in the lodge-like setting.

The ashram is a nonprofit and relies on service and offerings. Members do not pay dues. Many who live and serve at the ashram hold regular jobs outside of the spiritual community.

“Spiritual life comes first and foremost,” said Sister Murti Mata, who has been a part of the ashram since 1983. She noted that “giving service” through helping with all duties necessary at the ashram holds the shrine and Vedanta at the center of the community’s existence.

Before the Deepali service and with the idea of fresh starts in mind, the entire shrine and ashram was cleaned thoroughly in order to welcome the illumination.

The ashram community invites the public to non-denominational services on Sundays at 11 a.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. for service and study. The ashram is also welcoming all to special celebrations on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

“Anybody can come,” Sister Murti Mata said. “We do not ask anyone to change what they believe.”

She did note that the ashram is a quiet, safe place, and that while welcome, visitors are encouraged to first come during public hours in order not to disturb those studying and serving. After a recent Los Angeles Times article, the ashram gained a bit of unwanted popularity with the less-than-respectful curious.

Sometimes, after attending public service, guests become regular visitors. Sister Murti Mata noted that the community’s population fluctuates.

“Sometimes you see them, and sometimes you don’t,” she said. “But their hearts are here.”

For more information on the Ananda Ashrama, see their website, where you can also learn more about Vedanta.