Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda and a key figure in the Kriya Yoga lineage! I’m happy to provide those “extreme details,” weaving together information from various sources, including Yogananda’s own accounts.
Birth and Early Life:
- Born Priya Nath Karar: on May 10, 1855, in Serampore, West Bengal, India.
- Family: His father, Kshetranath Karar, was a wealthy landlord. His mother was known for her piety. He had two brothers and three sisters.
- Precocious Child: He displayed a keen intellect and spiritual inclination from a young age. He mastered Bengali, English, Sanskrit, and Persian, showing a deep interest in scriptures and philosophy.
- Early Loss: He lost his father when he was just 11 years old, inheriting significant responsibilities and managing the family estate.
Education and Exploration:
- Medical Studies: He pursued medical studies at the Calcutta Medical College (now Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata), demonstrating a scientific bent of mind.
- Marriage and Family: He married and had a daughter. However, his wife passed away a few years later.
- Spiritual Seeking: His interest in spirituality intensified, leading him to explore various paths and practices, including homeopathy, astrology, and astronomy.
Meeting Lahiri Mahasaya and Kriya Yoga:
- Life-Changing Encounter: In 1884, he met Lahiri Mahasaya at a Kumbh Mela in Varanasi. This meeting transformed his life, and he became a devoted disciple.
- Kriya Yoga Initiation: He received Kriya Yoga initiation from Lahiri Mahasaya and dedicated himself to intense practice and spiritual development.
- “Sri Yukteswar Giri” name: Lahiri Mahasaya bestowed upon him the monastic name “Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri,” signifying his spiritual attainment and role as a teacher.
Establishing an Ashram and Expanding his Work:
- Serampore Ashram: In 1894, he established an ashram in Serampore, where he trained disciples and taught Kriya Yoga.
- Puri Ashram: Later, he founded another ashram in Puri, Odisha, which became a significant center for Kriya Yoga and spiritual learning.
- “The Holy Science” publication: In 1894, he wrote and published “The Holy Science,” a profound treatise that reconciles the teachings of the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita.
Unique Characteristics and Teachings:
- Disciplinarian and Scholar: Sri Yukteswar was known for his strict discipline, intellectual rigor, and deep understanding of both Eastern and Western philosophies.
- Emphasis on Self-Realization: He stressed the importance of self-realization as the ultimate goal of life and encouraged his disciples to balance spiritual practice with worldly duties.
- Cosmic Consciousness: He possessed a high level of cosmic consciousness and often shared insights into the workings of the universe and the nature of reality.
- Astrological Expertise: He was a skilled astrologer and used his knowledge to guide his disciples and predict future events.
Meeting Yogananda and Global Impact:
- Guru and Disciple: In 1910, he met a young Mukunda Lal Ghosh (later Paramahansa Yogananda) and recognized him as a soul destined to spread Kriya Yoga to the West.
- Guiding Yogananda’s Mission: He trained and prepared Yogananda for his mission, providing him with the spiritual foundation and guidance needed to establish the Self-Realization Fellowship in America.
- Legacy Through Yogananda: Sri Yukteswar’s teachings reached a global audience through Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi,” inspiring countless individuals to embark on the path of Kriya Yoga and self-discovery.
Extreme Details and Insights:
- Emphasis on Kriya Yoga’s Scientific Basis: Sri Yukteswar emphasized the scientific basis of Kriya Yoga, explaining its effects on the human body and mind.
- Unique Astrological System: He developed a unique astrological system that correlated planetary influences with human evolution and spiritual development.
- Visionary Leader: He had a vision of a united world where East and West would come together through the universal principles of spirituality.
- Emphasis on Balance: He stressed the importance of balancing material and spiritual pursuits, recognizing the value of both in the journey towards self-realization.
These details offer a deeper understanding of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, a remarkable yogi, scholar, and visionary who played a pivotal role in the revival and spread of Kriya Yoga worldwide.