Born as Mukunda Lal Ghoshin the year of 1983, on the fifth day of January; Paramhansa Yogananda was an Indian Yog Guru. He propagated thewisdom of meditation, self-yoga and the path of “ Kriya Yoga”. He popularised histhoughts to many Indians and also spread his knowledge of meditation andself-yoga. To achieve is goals and to teach the world his knowledge he founded” YogodaSatsanga Society of India” and “ Self-Realization Fellowship”.
Childhood and Early Life:· Born at Gorakhpur (India), on 5 January 1983, in British India; to a devoutfamily. · Paramhansa Yogananda many times tried to devote himself completely to God and forthat purpose, he tried to settle into theHimalayas; but due to family pressure, he had to settle to Ashram. · He had a younger brother called Sananda. Sananda describes that his knowledge andawareness about the human consciousness and his spiritual knowledge wasextraordinary. He enquired voluminous Hindu savants and saints in order to finda teacher who could illuminate the path of his divine voyage. · His pursuit concluded whenhe met Swami YukteshwarGiri, whom he called his guru.
He was seventeen when hefirst met Swami YukteshwarGiri. Paramhansa Yoganandadescribes his guru in a very good way. He stated that his guru knew God andwould guide him to find his answers. His affiliation with Swami YukteshwarGiriwas the greatest thing that occurred to him as detailed by Paramhansa Yogananda in his works and speeches. Swami YukteshwarGiri said that Yogananda hadbeen sent to him by MahavatarBabajifor a superior single-mindedness.· Paramhansa Yogananda founded aschool for boys in West Bengal. He restructured the education by thecombination of contemporary learning and his transcendental ethics. The schoolwas initially located in The Dihika city which was later relocated to Ranchi.
· In the year of 1920, Paramhansa moved toAmerica. He took the decision when a few American scholars were at his Ashram, he realized the purpose that his guru Swami YukteshwarGiri mentioned anddecided to leave India the very next day. He was sent as India’s ambassador to an International Congress ofReligious Liberals summoning happening inthe city of Boston in the United States.· He also founded Self Realization fellowshipin the same year. There he inaugurated his objective that was to spread hisawareness of Yoga and Meditation to the entire world.
He spent several yearsteaching his wisdom. He was popularised and many celebrities of that time alsobecame his devotees includingAmelitaGalli-Curci, Vladimir Rosing, and ClaraClemens Gabrilowitsch, the daughter of Mark Twain. He alsoestablished his center forSelf-Realization fellowship, at LA, California.
He spent the major part of hisbeing in the United States. Later Years:· After spending more than thirty years onforeign soil, he wanted to visit his motherland. So in the year 1935, hestarted his Indian tour which continued till 1936.· He visited his Guru and established YogodaSatsanga. His Guru was filled withhappiness and satisfaction that he stated that his purpose in life was complete and left his body. Swami YukteshwarGiri gave him the title “ Paramhansa” meaning that Yogananda has attained theultimate state of his spiritual journey.
· He also met Mahatma Gandhi during his visit; he gave his teachings on “ Kriya Yoga” to many disciples.· After returning to America, his home wasrelocated to Encinitas, California. It was asurprise gift from RajarsiJanakananda, one of his believers. Heestablished many churches in California. He also wrote many of his works.· Upon learning that his last days of life werenear, he secluded himself from the world and stayed at his deserted Ashram inCalifornia.
He revised his articles, lessons and completed his books includinghis famous autobiography “ Autobiography of a Yogi “. He didn’t waste his time in public meetings and speeches; instead, he, left a greater impact on society by recordinghis thoughts and wisdom in books and other articles.· It was in a hotel, “ BiltmoreHotel, LA” when he attained the Mahasamadhi. He was presenting his views inregard to the cooperation of India and America. He was concluding his speechwith the poem called “ My India” describing India and his journey to meet God.
As he said the last words of his poem his soul left this world. Major Works: Paramhansa Yoganandawrote many books, poems, and articles. Major works being the following:· His Autobiography “ Autobiographyof a Yogi “ is called the masterpiece in the spiritual genre of books. It’s been translated into more than 50 languages. This book haschanged the lives of millions. His bookdescribes the aspects of life that made him attain the ultimate state of mind, to live in harmony with him.
His bookcontinues to be one of the best-selling books. It has inspired people likeSteve Jobs.· Scientific HealingAffirmations, written in the year of 1924; this book explains the science of healing of body and soul. · Man’s eternal quest, 1975.
This book is exceptional work based on teachings of Paramhansa. It explains thequestions about God, enlightens the spiritual journey of the readers.· GodTalks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita — A New Translation and Commentary; thisbook explains his opinions of The Bhagavad Gita. Personal Life and Legacy:· YogodaSatsanga Society of India (YSS) is anon-profit holy association created by ParamahansaYogananda in 1917, 100 years ago. In countries outside the Indiansubcontinent, it is known as the Self-Realization Fellowship.
· Daya Mata wasself-chosen as his successor, she was the head of YSS from (1952-2010).· In 2017, The Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the dedicatory postagestamp honoring the 100th anniversary ofthe YogodaSatsangaSociety of India, founded by Yogananda.
