Biography Of Yogananda Paramahansa

Biography of Paramahansa Yogananda

I became interested in finding out more about the life of Paramahansa Yogananda while reading Erich Shiffman's book, Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness. Erich seemed so moved by the teachings of Yogananda that I wanted to experience his writings for myself. A quick trip to the library garnered Yogananda's most well-known writing, Autobiography of a Yogi, a book considered primarily responsible for bringing the teachings of Kriya Yoga to the West. Yogananda spent a majority of his adult life working and traveling in the United States, disseminating information about yoga and mediation practices through lectures and the establishment of his Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles. His years of service as an "Ambassador of Yoga" to the West were the culmination of years of fervent searching for a teacher among India's saints and sages, beginning as a very young child.

Paramahansa Yogananda (originally named Mukunda Lal Ghosh) was born in India on January 5, 1893 to a very disciplined and devout family. His father was a railroad executive and his mother worked at taking care of their eight children. Both parents were disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya, a master of Kriya Yoga. In Autobiography of a YogiÐ'Ñ' the author talks about his awareness of being an infant and the frustration he felt at not being able to express himself and act out his devotion at that age. He also discusses his early memories of his past lives as a yogiÐ'--a trait common among yogis according to Yogananda. His childhood was marked by several notable spiritual events attributed to his close connection with Lahiri Mahasaya. Although the master died shortly after Yogananda's birth, Mahasaya was thought to be responsible for Yogananda's miraculous recovery from a usually fatal illness. On several occasions, the master also revealed to Yogananda's mother that the young child was to lead a life of devotion as a yogi.

As a growing child, Yogananda fervently sought a teacher to help him lead the devout life he was drawn to, even going so far as to plan elaborate escapes to Northern India to seek out his guru. Although his family tracked him down and thwarted these attempts, his father did find spiritual teachers to work with the young man from their home. At age 17, he found his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, with whom he would work and study for the next ten years and remain a disciple throughout the master's life. Yogananda also attended Calcutta University and, after graduation in 1915, formally became a monk of the Swami Order. Soon thereafter, he opened a school for boys, where training in yoga and spiritual studies was combined with traditional academic disciplines.

Yogananda's devotional life changed considerably in 1920, when, after receiving a vision that the Lord was calling him to America, he was invited to be a delegate at a meeting of world religious leaders in Boston. Financed by his father, Yogananda left to spread Lahiri Mahasaya's Kriya Yoga teachings to the West. Arriving in the United States, Yogananda established his Self-Realization Fellowship and began lecturing around the country, often to packed audiences at some of the most prestigious concert halls. Through the Self-Realization Fellowship,