In the latter part of 1948 a small group of Sacramento men and women became deeply interested in the teachings of Vedanta and regularly attended services at the Vedanta Temple in San Francisco. The enthusiasm of this initial group, together with the many inquiries that had been received throughout the years regarding the existence of a Vedanta Center in Sacramento, led to the conclusion that there was indeed scope for such a center. Swami Ashokananda, the then Swami-in-Charge of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, took the initiative in 1949 of starting a Center in Sacramento as a branch of the main Society in San Francisco. This branch Center was named The Church of Universal Philosophy and Religion. Classes began to be held in a devotees home. In 1950, seven acres on Mission Avenue near Fair Oaks Boulevard were purchased, and the Sacramento devotee's began to build a church by their voluntary labor of love. A master plan was drawn up by an architect, the late Henry Gutterson of San Francisco. The plan provided for extensive future development and limited construction for present needs. Soon several monastic members of the Vedanta Society of San Francisco joined in the work. A monastery was established on the property, making it possible for many monks to work there throughout the year. At first, for several months of summer and fall weather, they lived in tents. Shortly, a small chapel (now in the foyer of the present auditorium) was completed and on February 28, 1953, formally dedicated.

Meanwhile, as construction of the larger church continued, lectures and classes were regularly held in this temporary chapel for the benefit of the resident monks and the lay members of the Center. At first, Swami Ashokananda, and later Swami Shantaswarupananda, drove from the San Francisco and Berkeley Centers, respectively, to conduct these services. After Swami Shraddhananda arrived from India in April of 1957, as an assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of San Francisco, this duty was given to him. Unfortunately, it was not possible to open these services to the public until a larger auditorium could be made ready.

From the beginning, the group of monastic workers received help from lay members, both men and women, of the Sacramento Center. After some years, another group of lay members, men belonging to the San Francisco and Berkeley Centers, began to drive on weekends to Sacramento to assist in the work. A group of women members, both nuns and householders, also began to go from San Francisco and Berkelely to develop the gardens. The financial burden was met by the generosity of some devotees of San Francisco. The entire project has thus had many unique qualities and has given opportunities for many devotees to engage in selfless, dedicated service. In 1963, about one acre of land with a small house and walmut trees adjacent to and north of the property was purchased.

It took thirteen years to complete the major part of the project on the front half of the property, namely the permanent chapel, auditorium, library, offices, residential quarters, roadways, fences, water and electric lines, a lath house for camellias, a storage shed and the gardens. The Temple was finally dedicated on Saturday, November 14, 1964 with a program of ceremonial worship, chanting from sacred scriptures, devotional music and refreshments. Two hundered and twenty people participated in the function, including four Swamis, several monks and nuns, and many devotees from San Francisco and the Bay Area, plus a goup of nine devotees from Portland.

Regular Sunday services and classes on Vedantic scriptures for the public began to be held in the auditorium from Sunday, November 22, 1964. Quarters for the resident Swami were finished in 1967. For the purpose of more effective functioning and smoother administration, The Church of Universal Philosophy and Religion, was registered in November, 1970 as an independent religious corporation under the laws of California with a new name: The Vedanta Society of Sacramento.

The rear half of the property was slowly developed from 1970 though 1972 into a day-time retreat named Santodyan (Garden of Saints). Several statues of saints and prophets of different faiths have been installed there in a natural setting. In1973 and 1974 two small cottages, Ashoka Cottage and Holy Mother's Cottage, were built on the property for lay workers. A few more additions have been made over the years to the existing buildings.