KRIYA YOGA GURUS
Our lineage of Kriya Yoga Gurus
Kriya Yoga, a spiritual practice, was passed down through the ages by divine revelation. In the Satya Yug, God revealed it to King Manu, the first king, and lawgiver. In the Treta Yug, the Gurus of Lord Rama Chandra continued to teach it. In the Dwapara Yug, Lord Sri Krishna, our ancient Kriya Yoga Guru, taught it as mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verses 1, 2, and 3. In the present Kali Yug, Mahavatar Babaji passed it on, and it was continued by Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya and our lineage of Gurus.
Kriya Yoga was refined by Mahavatar Babaji for a more focused and organized approach. In the 19th century, Mahavatar Babaji summoned Lahiri Mahashaya to his Cave Ashram in the Dronagiri Mountains near Ranikhet, India, where he imparted all the techniques of Kriya Yoga over an extended period.
Lahiri Mahashaya was a highly accomplished yogi of the 19th century. He demonstrated through his role as a family man and breadwinner that Kriya Yoga can be practiced alongside fulfilling material and societal responsibilities. His spiritual awareness transcended the boundaries of time and space.
Sri Yukteswar, an Indian scholar and yogi, was a significant disciple of Lahiri Mahashaya. He was well-versed in astronomy and astrology and had a profound impact on advancing knowledge in these fields.
Sri Yukteswar is the author of the book “The Holy Science” which he wrote at the request of Babaji, who appeared before him during the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad. Babaji asked Sri Yukteswar to demonstrate the underlying unity of all religions. The book was released in 1894.
Sri Yukteswar imparted the teachings of Kriya Yoga to many students, and his disciple Paramahansa Yogananda emerged as the most prominent ambassador of Kriya Yoga. He traveled to the United States to disseminate the philosophy of Kriya Yoga globally.
His objective and purpose were to share precise and reliable, scientific methods for experiencing the personal realization of God among individuals from all backgrounds and nations. His book “Autobiography of a Yogi” has been a source of inspiration for many people.
Swami Narayana Giri was a devoted student of Sri Yukteswar and served him for nearly 20 years. He devoted his life to Sri Yukteswar’s service and initiated many students into the practices of Kriya Yoga. He established an ashram with farmland and a monastic school in Bhisindipur, West Bengal, India.
Swami Satyananda Giri was one of the foremost disciples of Sri Yukteswar. After having resided in several places all over India, he finally settled in West Bengal to serve society. Swami Satyananda had many disciples. He was president of the Yogoda Karar Ashram, Puri, Odisha, India, and The Ranchi School in Jharkhand, India.
Also in this tradition is the monk and neurologist Paramahansa Atmananda. He was born into a devout and scholarly family in Bhawanipatna, Odisha, India. He has been committed to God since childhood and practiced Yoga, drawing inspiration from spiritual leaders such as Advaita Guru Totapuri, Swami Sivananda Saraswati, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, and other great saints. Prior to becoming a monk, he was a highly accomplished medical doctor and had a life as a householder.
Paramahansa Atmananda Ji, formerly known as Dr. S.S. Chand, is a member of the Association of Physicians of India, the Indian Medical Association, and the Indian Association of Occupational Health. His expertise in Internal Medicine and Neurology, the study of the brain and nervous system, greatly aided his understanding and instruction of Kriya Yoga as a scientific method for achieving Self and God-realization.
Paramhansa Atmananda Ji believes that life should be lived in a healthy, positive, happy, loving, helpful, and harmonious way. By practicing Kriya Yoga daily, one can improve the quality of their life. The earlier in life you start, the better. And remember, you are never alone, God is always with you and is the ultimate source of help.