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Kriya Yoga school

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Kriya yoga
FounderClaimed ancient origin - Lahiri Mahasaya initiated by Mahavatar Babaji

Kriya yoga is a system of Indian yoga that was first popularized in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda. The system consists of a number of yogic techniques that purportedly hasten the practitioner's spiritual evolution and help to bring about a profound state of tranquility and god-communion within one's own self.

History

According to Paramhansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, kriya yoga was well-known in ancient India, but was eventually lost. In 1861 however, the book continues, the immortal yogi Mahavatar Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga. Lahiri Mahasaya then revived the practice, and it soon spread throughout India. Paramhansa Yogananda, a disciple of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri who was himself a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, then brought Kriya Yoga to the United States and Europe during the 20th century. Since that time it has spread throughout the world through various lineages, most of which claim descent from Lahiri Mahasaya.

Other lineages

In addition to the Self-Realization Fellowship, founded by Yogananda, there are several other organizations which teach kriya yoga as taught by Yogananda. A few are: Hamsa Yoga Sangh, founded by Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath, Ananda, founded by Swami Kriyananda (a direct disciple of Yogananda) and the Center for Spiritual Awareness, founded by Roy Eugene Davis (also a direct disciple of Yogananda), and the Song of the Morning Retreat Center founded by one of Yogananda's chief disciples, Yogacharya Oliver Black.

All Kriya Yoga lineages however have the same root within the guru param-para; i.e. Mahavatar Babaji, who gave the technique to Lahiri Mahasaya through personal initiation and instruction to teach Kriya Yoga to other "worthy" humans. Lahiri Mahasaya's most famous disciples were Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Swami Pranabananda, Swami Kebalananda, Swami Keshabananda, Bhupendranath Sanyal (Sanyal Mahasaya), and Paramahamsa Hariharananda (among many others).

Quotes

The Breath of God is our Breath of Life.

By loving your breath, you love the living God within you and attain the truth. - Paramahamsa Hariharananda.

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