Nataraja Shrine

Sacred Sites - Holy Sites

The magnificent Lord Siva Nataraja Shrine is situated at a lovely hilltop location overlooking the LOTUS Shrine, with a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Dedicated in 1991, the site is known as "Kailash," named after the holy abode of Lord Siva in the Himalayas.

The seven-foot tall bronze Moorti, or sacred statue, that is installed within the Shrine was generously donated to the Ashram by Sri Dr. Karan Singh and his wife, Princess Yasho. Dr. Singh is a former Indian Ambassador to the United States and a well-known scholar and public servant.

Lord Siva Nataraja, the Lord of the Cosmic Dance, dances with a flaming halo symbolizing the Pranava OM or universal intelligence/energy. He "dances," or rotates, every six hours for approximately ten minutes, at 12 noon, 6 p.m.,12 midnight, and 6 a.m. The Moorti is enclosed by glass on all sides.

At the feet of Lord Nataraja sits a beautiful Lingam (the universal symbol of Lord Siva) with smaller Moortis of Nandishwara Deva (Sri Nandi), Sri Ganesha, Sri Subramanyam (Lord Muruga), and Sri Sivakami Mata, His Consort.

Adjacent to the Shrine are additional enclosures housing marble Moortis of Lord Sri Ganesha, Lord Siva in His Aspect of Lord Sri Shankara, Lord Sri Krishna, and Sri Durga (Parashakti). These welcoming Deities were created in Jaipur, India and installed here in 1993. An additional bronze Moorti of Sri Swami Satchidanandaji sits a short distance away gazing toward Sri Nataraja.

The Shrine is located at Yogaville at the end of Karuna Lane.  Visitors can come from dawn to dusk to pay respects and do pradakshina (circumambulation) around the Shrine. Additionally, visitors are welcome Friday nights when the Shrine is lit up along with LOTUS below.

Puja (Hindu ritual worship) is performed daily inside the Sanctum, generally at 11:45 a.m. On Pradosham (Lord Siva’s special holy day), puja is performed at dusk instead. The Sanctum is open only during pujas. Please check with the Ashram for exact timing and any timing changes.

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