SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and Devi Mandir (goddess temple) in that we are, together in community and from ancient roots, evolving spirituality that is relevant for today. With an authentic lineage in Shakta Tantra (embodied goddess-centered spirituality) and Witchcraft, ours is part of the new religious movement, a syncretism of faith known as Sha'can.

Often characterized as a "bridge between the worlds," our community and tradition are dedicated to the project of spiritual awareness that bridges and integrates East and West, retaining focus on the goddess- and woman-honoring path as we journey and evolve. We know that the fate of women, our planet, and the Divine Female are deeply interwoven.

At our mandir, we are dedicated to an embodied, integral, and engaged spirituality that facilitates the life-affirming transformation of individuals, communities and our world. We provide public ceremony, private worship, full and new moon circles, teachings, and other offerings to community every month. To learn more about our work and worship, click here for an article from PanGaia in which SHARANYA is featured!

In addition to our sanctuary in the San Francisco Bay Area, SHARANYA also has a presence in India at the Maa Batakali Cultural Mission of Puri, Orissa, where our founder is "Chairman." It is here that we return to offer gratitudes just about every year for the gifts of the Divine Mother and the love of the people of India who have kept the goddess alive for thousands of years and inspired so much of our work.

Click here for a letter of support from the Puri temple founder, purohit, and the priest from whom SHARANYA's Shakta lineage unfolds, Shyam Sundar Dash.

Know that SHARANYA offers spiritual seekers from all faith backgrounds an opportunity to be a part of a welcoming community in which principles of authenticity, respect, and a belief in the unique gifts of every individual are honored. We recognize the validity of any life-affirming spirituality, and our community consists of individuals from many backgrounds. In our temple, personal spiritual exploration combines with opportunities for learning about authentic worship from Eastern and Western earth-based traditions. Ours is a life-affirming tradition and spiritual lineage dedicated to the mysteries of Goddess, of Mahakali, the Dark Mother of India, who we celebrate as She Who Transforms, the Creatrix of the Three Worlds, the Churner of the Ocean of Milk.

SHARANYA is committed to devotion, education, celebration...and to the work of spirit in action. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, sexual orientation or other such distinctions. All are welcome in our community and at our ceremonies any time. With this, we invite you and your loved ones to join us!

Background

The word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means "refuge" or "sanctuary." Founded in 1999 by a scholar and activist, this 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services. We open our doors to all those seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess (particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms), and have dedicated ourselves to Her devotion. Further, we make a commitment to action and service on Her behalf for the betterment of all beings. We embrace the work of conscious relationship between the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine. We actively work to resacralize the Feminine and unpathologize the Masculine archetypes in the spaces of Self and World.

SHARANYA accomplishes its mission by offering classes, life and rites of passage ceremonies, interfaith worship celebrations, spiritual guidance, interfaith and peer discussion groups, pilgrimage tours to sacred sites around the globe, an Internet presence and direct community involvement through project work - notably Daughters of Kali and SHARANYA in Action. We are also supporters of the Spirit in Business movement and seek to change all patriarchal and pathological structures to life-affirming ones. Our website hosts information on all of these services, as well as research papers, projects and other information about the organization's work in the world. Please explore!

Your voice is important. We encourage community participation at all levels of our organization. SHARANYA is run by an Inner Council, with the support of community members. The community is invited to participate in all Council meetings and in the furtherance of the organization and tradition.

Know that all donations to our mandir are tax-deductible. If you would like to help SHARANYA do the work of Goddess in the world, please feel free to make a donation. Thank you for the kindness of your contribution...we look forward to welcoming you in circle soon!