Sri Krishna Vaikuntha Shaligrama Temple

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"Where a single Sri Shaligrama resides, that is Vaikuntha on Earth.  And where there is holy Vaikuntha, you will always find God." - Yogi Shyamasundara

In 2018, Yogi Shyamasundara founded the Sri Krishna Vaikuntha Shaligrama Temple, a holy temple of God, and the first Sri Shaligrama temple in the United States.  Nestled high in the mountains of the San Bernardino forest, housing hundreds of rare holy Sri Shaligramas, this precious temple embodies Yogi Shyamasundara's love for God, the world, and all beings.

Yogi Shyamasundara's temple also houses an extensive library of Vedic and Eastern scriptures, healing books, and the teachings of holy masters from various traditions, available to the public to read and study.  The social room at the entrance offers a large river stone fireplace, comfortable sofas, beautiful treetop views of the forest, and a large 60" TV with a library of dharmic videos available to watch.  The outside property has benches and tables to enjoy the quiet serenity of the forest in solitude with God.  There are also tables on the four decks and a fire pit to enjoy the company of other devotees.  Our kitchen dining area is available for snacks and to partake of holy prasad (food cooked for and offered to Lord Sri Krishna).  Only a 7-minute walk from our temple is Lake Gregory, a beautiful place to commune with God, meditate, do japa, and practice mindful walking in nature.  

Please note that this is a private temple of holy quiet solitude.  All visitors are required to remain in meditative silence and inner communion with God inside the temple and on the forest grounds.  Peaceful community socializing is permitted in the social room, the top deck with the fire pit outside the social room, and on the deck at the entrance of the temple.  Absolute silence is required on the deck outside the main temple chapel, inside the chapel, in the library, and on the rest of the temple grounds. 

We welcome you with deep love.  May your visit deeply connect you with God within.

 Jai Śrī Kṛṣṇa! Oṁ Namo Nārāyaṇāya  

"Sriman Narayana embodies Himself in the form of a Saligrama, a unique, black oval stone which is found on the banks of the River Gandaki.  The divine Saligrama is not just a stone, it is Lord Sri Maha Vishnu Himself (Narayana).  When you worship the Saligrama, you acquire the merit of worshiping not only Lord Vishnu,  but also Brahma, the Creator; Aditya, the Sun God; Vaasudeva, Lord Sri Krishna, the son of Vasudeva; Rudra, the fierce and destructive form of Lord Shiva, and many others.  When a devotee gets the blessed darshan of the divine Saligrama, he obtains all the benefits of performing ten million Aswamedha yajnas.  The Saligrama is supremely powerful.  Worship of the Saligrama destroys the most heinous sins (karma) of countless births.  It blesses the devotee with Vaikuntha prapti, the attainment of Vaikuntha, the blissful abode of Lord Maha Vishnu." - Amma Sri Karunamayi

"Merely looking at a Shaligrama washes away the karma of the beholder, even as a mere sight of a lion would make the antelopes run for their lives in the forest.

Whoever glances at a Shaligrama is purified of his past demerits.  What would then be the benefit of one who is mindful of it, who praises it, meditates on it, and prostrates before it?!

When a dying person is given a sip of water in which the Shaligrama is bathed, he will be freed from all karmas and will reach the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu.

Whether one has real devotion or not, if he worships a Shaligrama and prostrates before it, he will surely get emancipated from the cycle of material existence (samsara).

The person who offers daily service to the Shaligrama will be freed from fear of death, and he will cross over the stream of births and deaths (reincarnation).

In the Shaligrama abide the three realms, and all the immovable and moveable aspects of creation.  As such, Lord Vishnu resides in the Shaligrama.

One who with delight in his mind worships a Shaligrama in front of him, will instantly obtain the merit of performing a million sacrifices.

When pious men worship a Shaligrama, the area of a yojana (about 8 miles) all around that spot, becomes as holy as all the sacred places of pilgrimage put together.

Even the worst criminal who has committed countless sins (karmas) will instantaneously get purified by sipping water in which a Shaligrama was bathed.

The devotee who worships Shaligrama must be of good conduct, free from arrogance and infatuation, and averse to temptations of sex and wealth; he must worship with mindfulness and consideration. 

Even as fire lies latent in wood, and bursts out when ignited, Lord Vishnu pervades the Sri Shaligrama and appears when the stone is worshiped. 

A Shaligrama continues to be worthy of worship even when it is broken.  Split or cracked, it does not lose it's divine auspicious nature.  Only the mark of the discus (chakra) must be present.  A Shaligrama damaged in any way does not become unfit for worship, it is always holy and worthy; nothing can be a deterrent for its worship.

We have it as an assurance from Lord Sri Vishnu Himself, that whoever worships a Shaligrama even once, will surely be liberated and will also obtain prosperity (on all levels) here while alive.  

Gifts given and rituals observed in the presence of Sri Shaligramas will be infinitely meritorious, for where a Sri Shaligrama resides, that place is sacred for miles around.

It is rare that one procures a Shaligrama.  The possession of a Sri Shaligrama speaks volumes of the merit of the person, he should consider himself as extremely fortunate, and worship the Shaligrama diligently.  

One who worships a Shaligrama will be treated as Maha Vishnu.

One is assured moksha (liberation and enlightenment) by worshiping a Shaligrama with bhakti (devotion), without bhakti, or even accidentally.   

Sri Vaikuntha, Sri Lakshmi, and Sri Bhagavan Hari are completely present in the Shaligrama.

One who worships 12 Shaligramas together will get the blessings equivalent to worshiping 120 million Shiva lingams for 48 billion years, all in one day.

One who worships a Shaligrama by reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama will attain Vishnu's lotus feet.

If an insect lands on a Shaligrama, it will attain moksha (liberation).

There is no equivalence to a Shaligrama in this Earth, or in Heaven.

Sri Shaligramas should never be bought or sold; they must be presented by a Guru, or gifted by an ascetic freely, and received with deep reverence.  A Shaligrama will not bring auspiciousness if it is got by fraud or by force. Worshiping an illicitly obtained Shaligrama will be in vain." - Shaligrama Mahima

"A commercial transaction of Sri Shaligramas is sinful (karmic).  Maha Lakshmi can leave such individuals for many lifetimes, creating poverty in their lives." - Amma Sri Karunamayi  

"Shiva tells Skanda that all the three world in their entirety and He Himself abide in a Shaligrama.  A mere glance at it is meritorious, and much more so worshiping it.

Anyone who has seen a Shaligrama, paid obeisances to Him, bathed and worshiped Him, achieves the results of performing ten million sacrifices.

The worship of Shaligrama is the best form of worship, better than the worship of the sun."  - Skanda Purana

Shaligramas represent the everlasting presence and power of Lord Vishnu." - Vishnu Purana

"Those who worship Shaligrama will not be born again.

The place where Shaligramas are worshiped in considered more sacred than Kashi Kshetra.

Worshiping Shaligrama, sipping Shaligrama theertham (holy water) is equivalent to performing a million yajnas." - Padma Purana

"The Lord resides in many places in which he may be worshiped, but of all the places Shaligrama is the best." - Garuda Purana

"Merely by touching a Shaligrama, one becomes free from the karmas of millions of births, so what to say about of worshiping Him! Through Shaligrama puja, one gains the association of Lord Hari." - Gautamiya Tantra

Hari Om Tat Sat