The Virginia Sai Baba Temple
A sanctuary of rejuvenation for all
A Unique Shirdi Sai Temple has been Built
Located on 20 acres of untouched beauty in the Appalachian Mountain range in southwestern Virginia, a new Temple has come to life. Everyone who has touched this land has felt a unique peace and stability here - a testament to the Presence of the Deities who call this home. Regardless of background, familiarity with Shirdi Sai Baba, or of spiritual preferences, this Temple is open to all as a place for rejuvenation and revitalization.
After a year-long search across the Northeast, we discovered this special property - confirmed to have the perfect Vastu thanks to its unique positioning, topography, the geometry of existing buildings, and the inherent intense positive energy.
The Sacred Land
Shirdi Sai Baba, Ganesha, and the other Deities
The Vision For This Spiritual Sanctuary
The temple is dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba - a Master who left his body in 1918, but whose Presence is still alive and is transformative. He is a symbol of love, compassion, and selfless service.
In addition to Baba's life-size "murti" (living statues/idols), the temple prominently houses the powerful deities Lord Ganesha and Dattatreya. It will soon also be the home of Lord Hanuman, and a Shiva Linga.
The murtis of Shirdi Baba, Ganesha, and Dattatreya have been meticulously crafted in Jaipur, India, by a prominent sculptor known for his skill and detail. They are made of specific raw marble that is selected for its beauty and purity.
The Hanuman and Shiva Linga idols have been made by expert sculptors in the South of India who crafted these murtis in the Krishna Shila black stone.
Along with the powerful presence of each deity, the temple grounds have a grand vision to be a place where anyone, regardless of their background, can stay for renewal. This sanctuary is 100% vegan, showing care and compassion for all beings of the land, air, and water.
The property houses a beautiful hall where programs focused on spiritual development are conducted. This includes trained Acharyas hosting yoga, meditation, kriya, and other consciousness-focused practices. There are also regular service activities for the community.
The land has recently added accommodation for guests and has planted organic, bio-diverse fruit and vegetable gardens. Future phases will add meditation caves for short and long-term inner-silence practices and a fully vegan dining facility serving spiritually-supportive foods.
The Recent Prana Pratishtha
"Prana Prathistha" is the activation process where the full energy of a deity is installed in an idol.
The temple saw the addition of Lord Hanuman as well as a grand Shiva Linga. The Prana Prathistha for these deities took place on July 28, 2024 - where a set of Vedic rituals were performed to induce energy into the idols, bringing the Presence of the deities into full effect. After the Prana Prathistha, “when a person comes near that idol, there is a transmission, an energy exchange happening. It takes from 8 seconds to 40 seconds before the transfer is completed. So, it activates, it rejuvenates you.” - Mohanji
This was a rare event, as the power of the deities and the various Masters of the Tradition were experienced by all in attendance.
The Meaning Of Prana Pratishtha
Who Conducted The Ceremonies
Due to the unique significance of this Temple, Sulakhe Maharaj, the long-time Chief Priest of the Shirdi Sai Baba Samadhi Temple in India, came and performed the Prana Prathistha personally. This followed the authentic rituals and procedures practiced in Shirdi. Our Founder, Brahmarishi Mohanji, also joined him. The event saw over 100 devotees and dignitaries from around the world.
The Power Of Your Contribution To Temple-Creation
In India, contributing to the construction of a temple - whether time, skill, or funds - is viewed as a sacred act of service, bringing blessings to you and your lineage.
As per Mohanji, "What we have in abundance, we should offer. We should do it with extreme surrender and great respect. Then, great rejuvenation happens to you, surrender happens to you. You’re able to handle life better. When we do not have a connection with the higher energies, life becomes tougher. Situations are the same – situations around us cannot be changed easily, but when we surrender, life becomes easier. A person is transformed by such acts.”
Located at the Mohanji Center of Benevolence USA ("MCB")
The temple is the signature part of the Mohanji Center of Benevolence, USA. Mohanji is a humanitarian who has dedicated his life to helping with the transformation and liberation of people. In his Presence, one cannot help but feel an upliftment in understanding, self-acceptance, and most of all silence in the mind. Over the last decade, the Foundation that he established has grown to span the continents and thousands of volunteers. In 2022, the Foundation volunteers provided over 400k meals to the needy, planted over 40k fruit-bearing trees to serve all beings, and have conducted countless spiritually-focused programs worldwide.
Learn more about the Mohanji Foundation's impact in this Annual Report.
Who Is Mohanji?
Our Other Temples
As part of his mission to raise consciousness, Mohanji has established spaces in various countries that are meant to be power centers. This Center in Virginia will be the first in the USA. “These temples are not just places of worship. They are places of rejuvenation and transformation.” - Mohanji
Participate Now
We invite you to participate in the development of this sacred temple. As a token of our appreciation, we would like to offer you a gift for your contribution.
You can DONATE A CUSTOM AMOUNT (next to "Add a donation for Mohanji Foundation Inc" at the bottom of the form), OR choose a pre-selected amount which includes a gift. Participate using a credit card or bank transfer. Mohanji Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, and donation receipts will be sent to you.
If you would like to contribute via Zelle or other means, or have any questions, email us anytime: usa@mohanji.org