Masters Of Kriya Yoga Lineage - Jnanaprabha Mission

Nothing is known about his birth, his spiritual training or his abode, so he is rather a mystery to spiritual seekers. What little information we have has been handed down by other Kriya Yoga Masters, like Lahiri Mahasaya who met him in an apparition.

Babaji is an ageless saint, a great incarnation, who has been engaged in the divine lila (play) of helping sincere seekers on the path of spirituality. Still alive Babaji emanates spiritual vibrations for the salvation of all sincere seekers.

SHRI SHYAMACHARANA LAHIRI MAHASAYA

Shyamacharana Lahiri Mahasaya was born on Tuesday, the 30th of September 1882, in a small village Ghuruni, in the district of Nadia in Bengal. He lost his mother at the age of five and then he went to stay in Varanasi (Benres) with his father Gaurmohan Lahiri. Shri Lahiri Mahasaya after completing his formal education, married Kashimani Devi in the year 1846. Lahiri Mahasaya was working in an office but the salary was not sufficient to maintain the family. So, in his spare time he also gave private tuition to some students in order to earn some extra money and fulfill his family's material needs.

It is true that Shri Lahiri Mahasaya was not rich materially but he was rich in his heart. In spite of financial stress and strain he never stopped his charitable activities. He never complained for anything and maintained a state of perfect equanimity and balance in his daily activities.
Although he was busy in household chores but his spiritual thirst was burning stronger and stronger. And he was constantly in the lookout for a true guide who could help him in the spiritual journey. Through sincere prayer and preparations one will find the right Guru. The divine Guru drew Shri Lahiri to himself in the lap of Himalayas, in December 1861. This meeting with his master, although seemingly miraculous, was really pre-planned and pre-ordained and Lahiri Mahasay himself through the Sadhana obtained the divine grace of Shri Babaji.

The meeting between the great Guru and his very worthy disciple brought the dawn of a new spiritual age. When Lahiri Mahasaya was initiated into Kriya Yoga. After initiation from Babaji Lahiri Mahasaya did not want to come back this mundane world again and expressed the desire to spend the rest of his life merged in deep meditation and realization through renunciation.
The divine plan was different. By the wish of the great master Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya had to return back to the family life again, maintained a perfect household life with wife and children while remaining highly spiritual at the same time. Shri Babaji Maharaj wanted to create a new spiritual ideal and order for the modern world through Shri Lahiri Mhasaya who strove to fulfill the divine wishes of his beloved Guru and guide.

Swami Shriyukteswarji

Swami Shriyukteswarji was born on the 10th May 1855, at Serampore, on the banks of river Ganga. His childhood name was Priyanatha. From a young age he was highly spiritual and spent his life seeking a worthy spiritual guide. Successfully graduating from School and College he had gone to the Mediacal School for Study. He never studied to obtain a degree or earn money.

After the death of his beloved father Kshetranath, he inherited his father's business and land and became a very reach young man. In spite of all, he was always detached inwardly and had not the wish to marry but fulfilling the desire of the loving mother Kadambini Devi, he got married and entered to the household life.

His quest for Guru never stopped after all. God knows the heart of a true seeker, if a disciple is really ready, God helps him to find a realized master. Thus priyanath came to know about the great Master Shri lahiri Mahasaya, went Benares to meet him and Shri Lahiri Mahasaya accepted Priyanatha as his disciple. From that day Priyanatha was devoted himself sincerely to meditation and kriya Practice and he became Lahiri Baba's dearest disciple.
Time rolled on, he was blessed with a beautiful daughter. Once when the family came to Puri for a piligrimage the wife of Priyanath passed away. Now Priyanath had to care of the young daughter but after giving marriage to the daughter he became again socially free. From that time he devoted all his time for spiritual practices.

Before entering the monkhood, once he had the Darshan of Shri Babaji and Babaji called him as "Swamiji". Ultimately he took Sannyasa from Swami Krishnadayal Giri of Bodhagaya and became "Swami Shriyukteswar."
Swami Shriyukteswar, a great Guru of many disciples, is an outstanding example. He followed his own Guru, he achieved realization and helped and guided his own disciples to progress on the spiritual path so that they could attain God- realization too.

He lived in a student's hostel where it was not possible to practice kriya meditation due the presence of his school-mates but he never give-up the practice, when all the students were sleeping, at the midnight, Shri Sanyal Mahasaya practiced Kriya. That shows his strong desire for meditation.
In the young age Shri Lahiri Mahasaya allowed Shri Sanyal Mahasaya to teach Kriya Yoga and he is alleged to have been the youngest Acharya in the Kriya Yoga tradition.
Shri Sanyal Mahasaya completed his college education and had a strong inner desire to become a monk but that wish did not materialize either his destiny was to be a house holder Yogi following the foot prints of his Master. At the age of twenty one he got married to Kali Dasi Devi, a devout and pious lady. His spiritual practice never foundered in spite of marriage and diverse family problems.

In the year 1902, Shri Sanyal Mahasaya reached the state of self-realization and established as a well accomplished Yogi.
From 1902 to 1909, Shri Sanyal Mahasaya was worked as school teacher together with Rabindranath Tagore and founded an institution in Shantiniketan, which later on turned into a famous university.
In the year 1910, Shri Sanyal Mahasaya went to Puri, Odisha for the first time. The holy atmosphere of Puri impressed him so much that several times he visited the place and founded an Ashram "Gurudham" in the year 1923. He also founded another ashram in Bhagalpur, Bihar. He initiated thousands of seekers into the path of Kriya Yoga and serve as their divine guide.
In the year 1962, Shri Sanyal Mahasaya entered into Mahasamadhi.

Paramahamsa Yoganandaji

Paramahamsa Yoganandji born on 5th Jan, 1893 in the holy city of Gorakhapur. His father was Bhagavati Charana Ghosh and Moher was Jnanaprabha Ghosh. Childhood name of Paramahamsa Yoganandaji was Mukunda. When Mukuknda only few years old, the parents took Mukunda to Lahiri Masaya for his divine blessings, the great master lovingly took him to his arms and blessed him with spoken and unspoken words. The great Yogi with deep insight and intuition could easily see the past, present and future of the little baby.

Mukunda lost his beloved mother at the age of eleven. Immature death of the loving mother laid Mukunda more and more towards the divine mother. Mukunda came into contact with Shriyukteswarji in the year 1910 and with this his search for a spiritual guide ended, who could shape his life. After that Mukunda managed to stay most of his time with the divine company of the great master. In June 1915, Mukunda obtained his final degree from the University and in the following month he ordained by his beloved Guru into the monastic life and Henceforth Mukunda Ghosh known as Swami Yogananda Giri.
With the blessings of his master, Yoganandaji went America to attend the congress of religion in Boston and spread the messasge kriya in the west. After him a few eminent disciples of Shriyukteswarji went America to assist Yoganandji. In 1935, Yoganandaji made the trip back to India. The Joy of the reunion between Yoganandaji and his master Shriyukteswarji, can not be expressed in words. During this time Shriyukteswarji honored Yogananda by conferring on him the highest monastic title of Paramahamsa.

A Paramahamsa, the "supreme swan" is one whose mind is always engrossed in the Lord and his dive play. On 19th of March, Swami Shriyukteswarji consciously left his body and after few months Yoganandaji again went back to USA.
The Life of Paramahamsa Yogananda was eventful and miraculous in nature. He was not only a gifted orator and singer who thrilled the hearts of his listeners, he was also an extra ordinary author. Among the books that were published during his lifetime, which won the appreciation of thousands are: Autobiography of a Yogi, Whispers from Eternity, The Science of religion, the divine Romance and metaphysical meditations.
On 7th March, 1952 Paramahamsa Yoganandaji left his body while he was singing a song glorifying India in a banquet.

Swami Satyanada

The childhood name of Swami Satyanandaji was Manmohan Mazumdar. He was born on the 17th of Nov 1896 and he was the eldest son of Mohini Mohan Mazumdar and Taravasini Devi. In the year 1906, while he was only ten years old by the divine plan he met Mukunda (Paramahamsa Yoganandaji) and both of them became friends for ever. In 1911, Manmohan had the opportunity to meet his destined Guru Swami Shriyukteswar, he is quite enthralled with the divine company of the great master. Manmohan surrendered himself at the lotus feet of the master which made his spiritual journey much easier. Finally, in March 1919 under the direction of Shriyukteswarji, Manmohan entered to the monastic order.

His contribution for running the school in Ranchi (founded by Paramahamsa Yogananda) is unforgettable. After the demise of Swami Shriyukteswarji, Swami Satyananda became the Ashram Swami of Karara Ashram. His sincere effort to make the Ashram more beautiful is really appreciative.
In 1940 being relived from Ashram work Swami Satyanandaji accepted the life of a wondering monk, preaching and teaching the practical aspect of Kriya Yoga.

In 1944, during a terrible famine in Bengal, he went back to serve the needy and finally he established an Ashrama in the most undeveloped area Jharagram in the Medinapur district, where he spent most of his time in the later part of life. On 2nd August 1971, he left his moral body in Sevayatan, Jharagram, Bengal. The life of Swami Satyanandaji is an ideal of love, simplicity, activity and devotion for all.

Paramahamsa Hariharananda

Paramahamsa Hariharanada, was one of the greatest realized Kriya Yoga master. He was born in the hamlet Habibpur in the district of Nadia on 27th May 1907. Father Haripada Bhattacharya was a disciplined, devoted and determined Brahmin while his mother Nabinkali was an outstandingly pious, generous and loving lady. Childhood name of Paramahamsa Hariharananda was Rabinarayana. At the age of eleven Rabinarayan took the vow of Brahmacharya on the day of his thread ceremony from his own father.

Although he was a good student in secular education and became well-placed in society as a technocrat but the thirst for spiritual enlightenment never stopped. At last he met his Guru Shriyukteswarji in 1932 and took Kriya Yoga initiation. This encounter changed his life forever.
Swami Shriyukteswarji had the wish that let this let this young celibate renounce material life and one day take charge of his Ashram in Puri. By God's will Rabindaranath moved to Puri in the year 1938. At a later stage he lived permanently in Karar Ashram. After years of sincere Sadhana, finally in 1948, he was blessed with the highest spiritual attainment, the state of nirvikalpa samadhi and reached the Paramahmsa stage. In 1959, on the same day of his birthday on 27th, the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Pith in Puri, Jagatguru Swami Bharati Krisna Tirtha initiated him into the life of sannyasa.
Paramahamsa Hariharananda dedicated most of the time to the teaching and preaching of Kriya Yoga. In 1974, he could no longer deny his destiny; he had to carry out a divine mission.

He first went to the European countries and then 1975 to United States and Canada. For over twenty years he ceaselessly and selflessly travelled all around the world and at the same time inspired many of his disciples to carry on his mission of spreading Kriya message all over the world. He declared his loving disciple Paramahamsa Prajnanananda as his spiritual successor.
On 3rd December 2002, the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda Maharaj left his mortal body in Homestead, Florida, U.S. After the departure, the mortal body was kept there for one week and then on 10th Dec 2002 the mortal body left Florida and reached Orissa, India on 14th of December. He received the state guard of honor, an honor never before bestowed on a monk. Finally on 15th December, the Mahasamadhi ceremony commenced at Hariharananda Gurukulam, Balighai Puri.

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is the disciple and spiritual successor of Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji Maharaj. After the Mahasamadhi of the master, Prajnananandaji has taken on his master's mission of spreading the ancient and sacred teachings of Kriya Yoga.

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda was born on 10th August, 1959 in the village of Pattamundai in Orissa. His parents gave him the name Triloki Das. From childhood, Triloki was a bright student, extremely disciplined, a very sincerer student, excellent in study.

After all silently he was always in the search for a spiritual Guru. As a student he was blessed to meet many great masters and finally he had the union with his destined Guru Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji Maharaj in Cuttack, Orissa while he was still a student in 1980. The meeting changed his whole life. He was initiated into Kriya Yoga and most of the time he lived with his master in Karar Ashram and in other places also. By the wish of his Master, Brahmachari Triloki had to go the west in 1994 when he was an economics professor in a reputed college of Orissa. Then in 1995, he was initiated into Sannyasa by his Guru Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji and got the new name Swami Prajnanannanda Giri.
On 10th August 1998, on his 39th Birthday the title of Paramahasa, the higest title reserved for the monks and saints who attain the summit of realization was conferred on his by his master.

He is silently, selflessly and ceaselessly working to preach and spread Kriya Yoga, so all so to serve the society in all the possible ways. Gau-mata, mother cow is the source of progress and prosperity. The great master stated a number of projects to protect and to increase the growth of mother cow.
He is the founder of many ashrams. He has equal vision for all above the caste, creed and gender. He realizes the power of mothers and to give them enough opportunity, the great master started a new independent organization named as "Jnanaprabha Mission."

THE LINEAGE OF KRIYA YOGA MASTERS

Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj

SHRI SHYAMACHARANA LAHIRI MAHASAYA

Swami Shriyukteswarji

Shri Bhupendranath Sanyal Mahasaya

Paramahamsa Yoganandaji

Swami Satyanada

Paramahamsa Hariharananda

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

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