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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 Yogi¸ 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 yogi—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,...