Sri Vidya Shrine—Honesdale, PA
coming July 2019
Contribute to a spiritual legacy that will serve generations to come.
Vision:
The Sri Vidya Shrine reflects our deep commitment to group spiritual practice and stewardship of sacred space for all who seek to experience their full potential. Group spiritual practice has been a cornerstone of the Himalayan Tradition for thousands of years. The shrines of the Tradition have served as sanctuaries for aspirants seeking to immerse themselves in a spiritually-awakened sacred space that is ideally suited to meditation and group spiritual practice.
The Sri Vidya Shrine in Honesdale is the twin of the Sri Vidya Shrine at the Himalayan Institute’s Khajuraho campus in central India, and is the first shrine of the Himalayan Tradition to be established outside of India.
Rooted in the Himalayan Tradition, the Sri Vidya Shrine will be a sacred space dedicated to meditative practice, open to seekers from all spiritual traditions. The Shrine’s consecration on July 16, 2019 will mark the opening of a year-long group meditation and yajna (tantric group practice of sacred fire) undertaken to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Shrine Design:
The Sri Vidya Shrine in Honesdale is located about 500 feet behind the HI Retreat Center, on the former site of the yajna shala (sacred space for tantric fire ceremonies) where group spiritual practices has been undertaken since 2001. The sacred architecture of the Sri Vidya Shrine is inspired by the ancient shrines of the Himalayan Tradition, and houses two key spaces: the Sanctuary and Meditation Hall.
Another element that draws its inspiration from many ancient shrines is the parikrama (circumambulation) path that rings the Shrine. At the threshold of the Shrine area you will cross a decorative archway, and find yourself at the juncture of the parikrama path and the main entrance to the Shrine.
Many seekers enjoy taking one or three clockwise circumambulations around the Shrine to quiet the mind and draw it inwards before entering the Shrine. To the right of the Shrine you will find the havan kund (ceremonial fire pit for tantric practices of sacred fire). The havan kund and its canopy are the same structures that sat on the site of the Shrine, until being shifted intact to their new location!
The meditation hall is the focal point of the Shrine, and is a space that is traditionally referred to as the mandapa, literally “the canopy for seekers to gather.” Enclosed by a 36′ diameter, 22′ high monolithic concrete dome, this grand circular space is designed for silent, seated meditative practices, which are the primary focus of the Sri Vidya Shrine.
The Sanctuary is the heart of the Shrine. It is a space that is traditionally referred to as the garbha griha. Literally meaning “spiritual womb,” it is the sacred space in which the most sublime, transcendental aspect of Divinity is invoked and invited to radiate its shakti throughout the entire Shrine. This space is open for a limited period each day, for a brief darshan.
Shrine Project Timeline:
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Founded
1971Himalayan Institute was founded
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Group Meditation
2007–2008First year-long group meditation in Honesdale, PA.
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Group Meditation
2011–2012Second year-long group meditation in Honesdale, PA.
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Sri Vidya Shrine
2013Establishment of Sri Vidya Shrine in Khajuraho, India
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Ground breaking
May 30, 2017Official ground breaking for the Sri Vidya Shrine in Honesdale, PA.
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Foundation
Fall 2017Sitework and foundation
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Construction & Landscaping
2018Construction & landscaping
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Guru Purnima
July 16, 2019Consecration
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Group Meditation
July 2019–2020Year-long group meditation in Honesdale, PA.
How You Can Help!
The Sri Vidya Shrine in Honesdale is a vision that has taken decades of hard work and spiritual commitment to manifest. In this era of disintegration, epitomized by fear, instability, and spiritual poverty, the goal of the Sri Vidya Shrine is to create a vibrant new reality that can heal and nourish all of society from the inside out. The Shrine will serve as a locus to share the spiritual gifts of the Himalayan Tradition, nurturing seekers on all levels, and acting as a catalyst to inspire an exponential leap in our spiritual evolution.
We invite you to be a founding patron of the Sri Vidya Shrine, and contribute to a spiritual legacy that will serve generations to come.
Make a Donation
Major Gifts
Make a major gift and leave a lasting spiritual legacy as a founding patron of the Sri Vidya Shrine. For more information on making a major gift or a planned gift in support of the Sri Vidya Shrine, please contact:
Greg Capitolo, Treasurer
Himalayan Institute
952 Bethany Tpke
Honesdale, PA 18431 USA
(570) 647-1516
gcapitolo@himalayaninstitute.org
Join Rudra Yaga in 2019
Join the Rudra Yaga group practice at the Ardha Kumbha Mela in 2019, and be a driving force for positive change. The intention of our Rudra Yaga is to support the establishment of the Sri Vidya Shrine, and invite the benevolent forces of creation to infuse the Shrine with their shakti.
Image Gallery
Aerial view
