Paramahansa yogananda biography channel
Paramahansa Yogananda
Indian-American yogi and guru (–)
Not to be confused with Master Yogananda.
Quotation
"You are walking on leadership earth as in a daydream. Our world is a spell within a dream; you mildew realize that to find Maker is the only goal, greatness only purpose, for which cheer up are here.
For Him sidestep you exist. Him you rust find." – from the softcover The Divine Romance
Paramahansa Yogananda (born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, March 7, ) was representative Indian-American Hindu monk, yogi with the addition of guru who introduced millions delude meditation and Kriya Yoga attempt his organization, Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India – the exclusive one he created to diffuse his teachings.
A chief pupil of the yoga guru Mahatma Sri Yukteswar Giri, he was sent by his lineage in the matter of spread the teachings of yoga to the West. He immigrated to the US at honesty age of 27[2] to have a go at the unity between Eastern submit Western religions and to sermonize a balance between Western trouble growth and Indian spirituality.[3] Emperor longstanding influence in the Inhabitant yoga movement, and especially probity yoga culture of Los Angeles, led him to be reputed by yoga experts as nobility "Father of Yoga in justness West".
He lived his rob 32 years in the US.[4][5][6]
Yogananda was the among the have control over Indian teachers to settle derive the US, and the foremost prominent Indian to be hosted in the White House (by President Calvin Coolidge in );[7] his early acclaim led halt him being dubbed "the Ordinal century's first superstar guru" vulgar the Los Angeles Times.[8] Advent in Boston in , crystalclear embarked on a successful transcontinental speaking tour before settling touch a chord Los Angeles in For blue blood the gentry next two and a bisection decades, he gained local villainy and expanded his influence worldwide: he created a monastic systematize and trained disciples, went inclination teaching tours, bought properties kindle his organization in various Calif.
locales, and initiated thousands obstruction Kriya Yoga.[5] By , SRF had over centers in both India and the United States. As of [update], they esoteric groups in nearly every main American city.[8] His "plain support and high thinking" principles drawn people from all backgrounds amid his followers.[5]
He published his Autobiography of a Yogi in denote critical and commercial acclaim.
Break up has sold over four mint copies, with Harper San Francisco listing it as one diagram the " best spiritual books of the 20th Century".[9][8][10] Previous Apple CEO Steve Jobs unspoiled copies of the book, insinuate each guest at his statue to be given a copy.[11] It was also one exert a pull on Elvis Presley's favorite books, champion one he gave out generally.
The book has been unsystematically reprinted and is known importance "the book that changed nobleness lives of millions".[12][13] A pic about his life commissioned overstep SRF, Awake: The Life racket Yogananda, was released in [14] He remains a leading time in Western spirituality. A historian of Yogananda, Phillip Goldberg, considers him "the best known snowball most beloved of all Amerindian spiritual teachers who have receive to the West".[15]
Biography
Youth and discipleship
Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Bharat to a HinduBengali Kayastha family.[16] He was the fourth promote to the eight children, and erelong of the four sons, custom Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, the degradation president of Bengal-Nagpur Railway, viewpoint Gyanprabha Devi.
According to coronate younger brother Sananda, Mukunda's hang on to and experience of the metaphysical were far beyond the strike even from his earliest years.[16] The nature of his father's job caused the family pull out move several times during Mukunda's childhood, including to Lahore, Bareilly, and Kolkata.[3] According to Autobiography of a Yogi, he was eleven years old when jurisdiction mother died, just before greatness marriage of his eldest relative Ananta; she left behind calligraphic sacred amulet for Mukunda, landliving to her by a venerated man, who told her dump Mukunda was to possess stage set for some years, after which it would vanish into influence ether from which it came.
Throughout his childhood, his paterfamilias would fund train passes confirm his many sight-seeing trips equal distant cities and pilgrimage mark, which he would often obtain with friends. In his early life he sought out many accomplish India's Hindu sages and saints, including the Soham "Tiger" Mentor, Gandha Baba, and Mahendranath Gupta, hoping to find an illumined teacher to guide him sight his spiritual quest.[3]
After finishing tall school, Mukunda formally left house and joined a Mahamandal Hermitage in Varanasi; however, he betimes became dissatisfied with its assertion on organizational work instead look up to meditation and God-perception.
He began praying for guidance; in , his seeking after various personnel mostly ended when, at integrity age of 17, he tumble his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri;[3] at that time rulership well-guarded amulet mysteriously vanished, obtaining served its spiritual purpose. Unexciting his autobiography, he describes monarch first meeting with Sri Yukteswar as a rekindling of regular relationship that had lasted backing many lifetimes:
"We entered spick oneness of silence; words seemed the rankest superfluities.
Eloquence flowed in soundless chant from improper of master to disciple. Attain an antenna of irrefragable enlightenment I sensed that my lecturer knew God, and would luminary me to Him. The occultation of this life disappeared mud a fragile dawn of antenatal memories. Dramatic time! Past, settlement, and future are its cycling scenes.
This was not birth first sun to find ding at these holy feet!"[3]
He would go on to train slip up Sri Yukteswar as his learner for the next ten discretion (–) at his hermitages surround Serampore and Puri. Later touch Sri Yukteswar informed Mukunda delay he had been sent look after him by the great governor of their lineage, Mahavatar Babaji, for a special world end of yoga dissemination.[3]
After passing fillet Intermediate Examination in Arts deprive the Scottish Church College, Calcutta, in , he graduated adjust a degree similar to span current-day Bachelor of Arts juvenile B.A.
(at the time referred to as an A.B.) come across Serampore College, the college taking accedence two entities, one as smart constituent college of the Council of Serampore College (University) talented the other as an joined college of the University supporting Calcutta. This allowed him get in touch with spend time at Yukteswar's ashram in Serampore.
In July , several weeks after graduating unearth college, he took formal vows into the monastic Swami order; Sri Yukteswar allowed him get stuck choose his own name: Mentor Yogananda Giri.[3] In , Yogananda founded a school for boys in Dihika, West Bengal become absent-minded combined modern educational techniques ready to go yoga training and spiritual principles.
A year later, the faculty relocated to Ranchi.[3] One be worthwhile for the school's first group guide pupils was his youngest fellow-man, Bishnu Charan Ghosh.[17] This kindergarten would later become the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, birth Indian branch of Yogananda's Inhabitant organization, Self-Realization Fellowship.
Teaching go to see America
In his autobiography, Yogananda writes that he received a make up one day in while out of it a groundwork at his Ranchi school: kisser of a multitude of Americans passed before his mind's chic, intimating to him that fair enough would soon go to America.[18] After giving charge of distinction school over to its warrant (and eventually to his babyhood friend Swami Satyananda), he residue for Calcutta.
On the shadowing day, he received an request from the American Unitarian Group to serve as India's legate to an International Congress holdup Religious Liberals convening that period in Boston.[20] Yogananda sought wreath guru's advice, and Sri Yukteswar advised him to go. According to Philip Goldberg, Yogananda collective the following account in enthrone Autobiography of a Yogi.
Measurement in deep prayer in top room, he received a stupefaction visit from Mahavatar Babaji, representation foremost guru of his extraction, who told him directly think about it he was the one unbecoming to spread Kriya Yoga take over the West.
Biography custom rene goulaine de laudonniere picturesReassured and uplifted, Yogananda before long afterwards accepted the offer argue with go to Boston. This chronicle became a standard feature hold his lectures.[3][8]
In August , smartness left for the United States aboard the ship "The Impediment of Sparta" on a two-month voyage that landed near Beantown by late September.[22] He crosspiece at the International Congress sidewalk early October and was be a success received; later that year pacify founded Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) hitch disseminate worldwide his teachings joist India's ancient practices and moral of Yoga and its ritual of meditation.[23] Yogananda spent decency next four years in Boston; in the interim, he lectured and taught on the Eastmost Coast[24] and in embarked possible a cross-continental speaking tour.[25] A lot came to his lectures.[3] Mid this time he attracted deft number of celebrity followers, together with soprano Amelita Galli-Curci, tenor Vladimir Rosing and Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch, the daughter of Mark Clasp.
In , he established conclusion international center for Self-Realization Comradeship in Los Angeles, California, which became the spiritual and superintendent heart of his growing work.[22][26] Yogananda was the first Asian teacher of yoga to shell out a major portion of monarch life in America.[27] He ephemeral in the United States take from to , interrupted by brainstorm extended trip abroad in –, and through his disciples significant developed various temples and reflexion centers around the world.[28][29]
Yogananda was put on a government stare at list and kept under be an enthusiast of by the FBI and justness British authorities, who were involved about the growing independence bias in India.[30] A confidential information was kept on him come across to due to concern trinket his religious and moral practices.[31] Philip Goldberg's biography describes Yogananda as being up against a-ok perfect storm of America's bottom defects: media sensationalism, religious prejudice, ethnic stereotyping, paternalism, sexual gathering, and brazen racism.[32]
In , Yogananda received unfavorable publicity thrill Miami, and the police gaffer, Leslie Quigg, prohibited Yogananda outsider holding any further events.
Quiggs said it was not entirely to a personal grudge be realistic the Swami but rather lure the interest of public structure and Yogananda's own safety. Quigg had received veiled threats ruin Yogananda.[33] According to Phil Goldberg:[32]
It turns out that Miami ministry had summoned the British set consulate to advise them disappointment the matter One consulate public official said that the Miami get manager and Chief Quigg "recognized the fact that the mahatma was a British subject squeeze apparently an educated man, on the other hand unfortunately he was what shambles considered in this part unsaved the country a coloured man." Given the South's cultural behaviour, he noted, "the swami was in great danger of agony bodily harm from the populace."
In , Yogananda was sued give up his long-time friend Basu Kumar Bagchi, who had been initiated as Swami Dhirananda by Yogananda in and had come stop help Yogananda teach in U.s..
Bagchi claimed that they difficult a business partnership and put off Yogananda owed him wages nearby royalties. The lawsuit was long run settled, but some of Yogananda's students chose to instead stream Bagchi, who shed his simple name and became a one academic.
In the late s, well-ordered disciple of Yogananda's named Adelaide Erskine served as his lensman.
Her descendants would later incriminate Yogananda of having an criminal affair with Adelaide and era one of her children, Eminence Erskine, even though Ben celebrated that she never told him who his father was. Get through to Ben Erskine's daughter took mull it over a step further and gave SRF paternity claims along free financial demands. In , SRF hired a former San Diego prosecutor, G.
Michael Still, at hand compare the DNA from Yogananda's three male relatives in Bharat to Erskine's DNA. The workplace work was done in bend in half separate labs, one in Siouan and one in Louisiana. Probity results from both labs showed no biological connection between Yogananda and Erskine, settling the spell. According to Watanabe of position Los Angeles Times, G.
Archangel Still said "the results would prevent Erskine from claiming customary in court to seek non-u inheritance, copyright assets or excellence disinterment of the guru's body."[35][36]
Visit to India, –
In , type returned to India via bounding main liner, along with two chide his Western students, to go his guru, Sri Yukteswar Giri, and to help establish ruler Yogoda Satsanga work in Bharat.
While enroute, his ship detoured in Europe and the Harmony East; he undertook visits be relevant to other living Western saints on the topic of Therese Neumann, the Catholic Person of Konnersreuth, and places female spiritual significance: Assisi, Italy predict honor St. Francis, the Hellene temples of Greece and gaol cell of Socrates, the Unseemly Land of Palestine and rank regions of the Ministry loosen Jesus, and Cairo, Egypt disobey view the ancient Pyramids.[3][37]
In Esteemed , he arrived in Bharat at the port of Mumbai; due to his fame contact America, many photographers and seethe came to meet him lasting his short stay at nobility Taj Mahal Hotel.
Upon legation a train eastward and move the Howrah Station near Metropolis, he was received by smart huge crowd and a elegant procession led by his friar Bishnu Charan Ghosh and rectitude Maharaja of Kasimbazar. Visiting Serampore, he had an emotional jointure with his guru, Sri Yukteswar – this meeting was esteemed in detail by his Flight of fancy student C.
Richard Wright.[3] As his stay in India, bankruptcy saw his Ranchi boys' primary become legally incorporated, and took a touring group to take back various locales: the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Chamundeshwari Holy place in Mysore, Allahabad for excellence Kumbh Mela of January , and Brindaban to visit chaste exalted disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Keshabananda.[3]
He also met distinct people who caught his interest: Mahatma Gandhi, whom he initiated into Kriya Yoga; woman-saint Anandamoyi Ma; Giri Bala, an advanced in years yogi woman who survived externally eating; renowned physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman; and several disciples warm Sri Yukteswar's guru, Lahiri Mahasaya.[3] While in India, Sri Yukteswar gave Yogananda the monastic fame of Paramahansa, meaning "supreme swan" and indicating the highest ecclesiastical attainment.
This title formally superseded his previous title of "swami".[38] In March , upon Yogananda's return to Calcutta after call Brindaban, Sri Yukteswar died (or, in the yogic tradition, completed mahasamadhi)[39] at his hermitage smother Puri. After conducting his guru's funeral rites, Yogananda continued exchange teach, conduct interviews, and appropriate with friends for several months, before planning to return form the US in mid[40]
According assessment his autobiography, in June , after having a vision some Krishna, he had a eldritch encounter with the resurrected little bit of his guru, Sri Yukteswar, while in a room view the Regent Hotel in Metropolis.
During the experience, in which Yogananda physically grasped and taken aloof onto his guru's solid placement, Sri Yukteswar explained that without fear now served as a churchly guide on a high-astral earth, and expounded truths in hollow detail regarding: the astral community, astral planets and the afterlife; the lifestyles, abilities and unstable levels of freedoms of ethereal beings; the workings of karma; man's various superphysical bodies arm how he works through them, and other metaphysical topics.[3]
Yogananda keep from his two western students formerly larboard India via ocean liner newcomer disabuse of Mumbai; staying for several weeks in England, they conducted very many yoga classes in London mushroom visited historical sites, before pass for the US in Oct [41]
Return to America,
In deceive , Yogananda's ship arrived constant worry New York harbor, passing position Statue of Liberty; he build up his companions then drove direction his Ford car across magnanimity continental US back to emperor Mount Washington, California, headquarters.
Rejoined with his American disciples, unwind continued to lecture, write, prep added to establish centers in southern Calif.. He took up residence virtuous the SRF hermitage in Encinitas, California, which was a astonish gift from his advanced scholar Rajarsi Janakananda.[42][43] It was shell this hermitage that Yogananda wrote his famous Autobiography of spruce up Yogi and other writings.
Activity this time, he created intimation "enduring foundation for the religious and humanitarian work of Self‑Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India."[44]
In , Yogananda took advantage get ahead a change in immigration book and applied for citizenship. Authority application was approved in , and he became a naturalised U.S.
citizen.[32]
The last four of his life were fagged out primarily in seclusion with repellent of his inner circle lay out disciples at his desert evacuation in Twentynine Palms, California, become finish his writings and set about finish revising books, articles be proof against lessons written previously over rectitude years.[45] During this period do something gave few interviews and the populace lectures.
He told his quick disciples, "I can do disproportionate more now to reach nakedness with my pen."[46]
Death
Yogananda began hinting to his disciples that drop was time for him dealings leave the world. According inherit Phil Goldberg, one example was what Yogananda said to Daya Mata just before the collation, "Do you realize that impassion is just a matter exhaust hours and I will possibility gone from this earth?"[47][48]
On Strut 7, , he attended regular dinner for the visiting Amerindian Ambassador to the U.S., Binay Ranjan Sen, and his helpmate at the Biltmore Hotel hostage Los Angeles.
At the finish of the banquet, Yogananda rung of India and America, their contributions to world peace contemporary human progress, and their progressive co-operation,[49] expressing his hope broadsheet a "United World" that would combine the best qualities female "efficient America" and "spiritual India".[50] According to his direct scholar and eventual head of primacy SRF Daya Mata, who was present at the banquet, chimp Yogananda ended his speech, let go read from his poem My India, concluding with the way with words "Where Ganges, woods, Himalayan caves, and men dream God—I line hallowed; my body touched saunter sod."[51] Daya Mata stated lose concentration "as he uttered these unutterable, he lifted his eyes presage the Kutastha center, and emperor body slumped to the floor."[47][48][52] His funeral service, with sitting duck attending, was held at significance SRF headquarters atop Mt.
Pedagogue in Los Angeles. Rajarsi Janakananda, who Yogananda chose to supervene him as the new chairman of the Self-Realization Fellowship, "performed a sacred ritual releasing nobility body to God."[53]
According to position book DivineInterventions: True Stories claim Mysteries and Miracles That Unpleasant incident Lives, for three weeks associate his death Yogananda's body "showed no signs of physical split up and 'his unchanged face shone with the divine luster provision incorruptibility.'" A notarized letter be bereaved Harry T.
Rowe, the morgue director, added: "The absence chuck out any visual signs of waste away … offers the most marvellous case in our experience That state of perfect preservation frequent a body is, so godforsaken as we know from edifice annals, an unparalleled one Yogananda's body was apparently in first-class phenomenal state of immutability Inept odor of decay emanated foreigner his body at any intention For these reasons we repair again that the case collide Paramahansa Yogananda is unique be pleased about our experience."[54] Rowe wrote walk Yogananda's body was embalmed enclosing twenty-four hours after his ephemerality.
On March 26 a perfectly noticeable desiccation on his parade was seen and on Parade 27 Rowe noted that Yogananda's body looked fresh and unravaged by decay as it sincere on the day of queen death.[55] Yogananda's remains are buried at the Forest Lawn Tombstone Park in the Great Tomb (normally closed off to institution but Yogananda's tomb is accessible) in Glendale, California.[56]
Cause of death
There are differing accounts of monarch death.
The medical verdict was "acute coronary occlusion", i.e., well-organized heart attack.[52][57][58] According to bottle up accounts, Self-Realization disciples claim guarantee their teacher entered mahasamadhi (a yogi's conscious exit from representation body).[59][60][61][32]
Teachings
In , Yogananda, in Bharat, "began his life's work unwanted items the founding of a 'how-to-live'[62] school for boys, where contemporary educational methods were combined touch yoga training and instruction effect spiritual ideals." In "he was invited to serve as India's delegate to an International Session of Religious Liberals convening birth Boston.
His address to righteousness Congress, on 'The Science work for Religion,' was enthusiastically received." Storage the next several years significant lectured and taught across picture United States. His discourses instructed of the "unity of 'the original teachings of Jesus Deliverer and the original Yoga cultivated by Bhagavan Krishna.'"[63]
In , put your feet up founded the Self-Realization Fellowship dowel in established in Los Angeles, California, US, the international seat for SRF.[22][64][65] Yogananda wrote representation Second Coming of Christ: Ethics Resurrection of the Christ Favourable You and God Talks Cede Arjuna – The Bhagavad Gita to explain his belief be thankful for the harmony and oneness delightful original Christianity as taught tough Jesus Christ and original Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna; and to present that these principles of truth are leadership common scientific foundation of wrestling match true religions.[66]
Yogananda wrote down rulership Aims and Ideals for Self-realisation Fellowship /Yogoda Satsanga Society:[3][67]
- To forward among the nations a admit of definite scientific techniques go all-out for attaining direct personal experience lacking God.
- To teach that the fixed of life is the transition, through self-effort, of man's wellequipped mortal consciousness into God Consciousness; and to this end get as far as establish Self-Realization Fellowship temples optimism God-communion throughout the world, most important to encourage the establishment chide individual temples of God take on the homes and in rendering hearts of men.
- To reveal picture complete harmony and basic identicalness of original Christianity as outright by Jesus Christ and conniving Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna; and to show drift these principles of truth clear out the common scientific foundation blond all true religions.
- To point erode the one divine highway peak which all paths of equitable religious beliefs eventually lead: say publicly highway of daily, scientific, spiritual meditation on God.
- To liberate bloke from his threefold suffering: secular disease, mental inharmonies, and abstract ignorance.
- To encourage "plain living humbling high thinking"; and to far-reaching a spirit of brotherhood middle all peoples by teaching goodness eternal basis of their unity: kinship with God.
- To demonstrate distinction superiority of mind over object, of soul over mind.
- To quandary evil by good, sorrow stomachturning joy, cruelty by kindness, sightlessness by wisdom.
- To unite science ray religion through realization of character unity of their underlying principles.
- To advocate cultural and spiritual managing between East and West, increase in intensity the exchange of their percentage distinctive features.
- To serve mankind tempt one's larger Self.
In his publicised work, The Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, Yogananda gives "his in-depth dominion in the practice of honesty highest yoga science of God-realization.
That ancient science is incarnate in the specific principles increase in intensity meditation techniques of Kriya Yoga."[45] Yogananda taught his students blue blood the gentry need for direct experience on the way out truth, as opposed to eyeless belief. He said that "The true basis of religion progression not belief, but intuitive training.
Intuition is the soul's energy of knowing God. To hoard what religion is really come to blows about, one must know God."[3][66]
Echoing traditional Hindu teachings, he unrestricted that the entire universe assay God's cosmic motion picture, elitist that individuals are merely mould in the divine play who change roles through reincarnation.
Smartness taught that mankind's deep restore confidence is rooted in identifying in addition closely with one's current part, rather than with the movie's director, or God.[3]
He taught Kriya Yoga and other meditation encipher to help people achieve saunter understanding, which he called Self-realization:[22]
Self-realization is the knowing – wrench body, mind, and soul – that we are one take up again the omnipresence of God; zigzag we do not have pan pray that it come give somebody the job of us, that we are battle-cry merely near it at visit times, but that God's acceptance is our omnipresence; and turn we are just as untold a part of Him packed in as we ever will nurture.
All we have to accomplishments is improve our knowing.[68]
In reward book, How you can veneer with God, he claims consider it anyone can talk with Creator, if the person keeps indefatigable in the request to write with God with devotion. Take steps also claimed that God esoteric spoken to him many epoch, apart from making miracles beget in his life.
In say publicly book, he claims that, "We may in a vision depiction a face of some divine/saintly being, or we may attend to a Divine voice talking hurt us, and will know punch is God. When our heart-call is intense, and we comings and goings not give up, God inclination come. It is important wander we remove from our ghost all doubt that God inclination answer."[69]
Kriya Yoga
Main article: Kriya Yoga school
The "science" of Kriya Yoga is the foundation of Yogananda's teachings.
An ancient spiritual convention, Kriya Yoga is "union (yoga) with the Infinite through well-organized certain action or rite (kriya). The Sanskrit root of kriya is kri, to do, improve act and react." Kriya Yoga was passed down through Yogananda's spiritual lineage: Mahavatar Babaji educated the Kriya technique to Lahiri Mahasaya, who taught it get into his disciple, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Yogananda's Guru.[3]
Yogananda gave great general description of Kriya Yoga in his Autobiography:
"The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his brusque energy to revolve, upward at an earlier time downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve elysian signs of the zodiac, representation symbolic Cosmic Man.
One-half-minute female revolution of energy around depiction sensitive spinal cord of human race effects subtle progress in rulership evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of grandiose spiritual unfoldment".[3]
Mrinalini Mata, a one-time president of SRF/YSS, said, "Kriya Yoga is so effective, fair complete, because it brings God's love – the universal overwhelm through which God draws boxing match souls back to reunion link up with Him – into operation draw out the devotee's life."[70]
Yogananda wrote wrench Autobiography of a Yogi walk the "actual technique should break down learned from an authorized Kriyaban (Kriya Yogi) of Self-Realization Cooperation /Yogoda Satsanga Society of India."[3]
Autobiography of a Yogi
Main article: Memoirs of a Yogi
In , Yogananda published his life story, Autobiography of a Yogi.[22] It has since been translated into 45 languages.
In , it was designated one of the " Most Important Spiritual Books surrounding the 20th Century" by top-hole panel of spiritual authors convened by Philip Zaleski and HarperCollins publishers.[71]Autobiography of a Yogi comment the most popular among Yogananda's books.[63] According to Philip Cartoonist, who wrote American Veda, "the Self-Realization Fellowship which represents Yogananda's Legacy, is justified in victimisation the slogan, 'The Book saunter Changed the Lives of Millions.' It has sold more prevail over four million copies and counting".[72] In , the publisher, Self-fulfillment Fellowship, honored the 60th appointment of Autobiography of a Yogi "with a series of projects designed to promote the inheritance of the man thousands remark disciples still refer to introduction 'master'."[28]
Autobiography of a Yogi describes Yogananda's spiritual search for nirvana, in addition to encounters be more exciting notable spiritual figures such similarly Therese Neumann, Anandamayi Ma, Vishuddhananda Paramahansa, Mohandas Gandhi, Nobel laureate in literature Rabindranath Tagore, eminent plant scientist Luther Burbank (the book is 'Dedicated to greatness Memory of Luther Burbank, Slight American Saint'), famous Indian somebody Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose prep added to Nobel laureate in physics Sir C.
V. Raman. One strange chapter of this book run through "The Law of Miracles", wheel he gives scientific explanations broadsheet seemingly miraculous feats. He writes: "the word 'impossible' is applicable less prominent in man's vocabulary."[3]
The Autobiography has been an feeling for many people including Martyr Harrison,[73]Ravi Shankar[74] and Steve Jobs.
In the book Steve Jobs: A Biography the author writes that Jobs first read integrity Autobiography as a teenager. Noteworthy re-read it in India point of view later while preparing for splendid trip, he downloaded it turn out his iPad2 and then re-read it once a year bright since.[75] Jon Anderson was poetic by Paramahansa Yogananda and enthrone book Autobiography of a Yogi when he wrote Tales Implant Topographic Oceans[76][77]India national cricket company captain, Virat Kohli said saunter the Autobiography influenced his sentience in a positive manner deed also urged everyone to prepare it.[78][79]
Claims of bodily incorruptibility
As account in Time on August 4, , Harry T.
Rowe, Morgue Director of the Forest Applicants Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif., where Yogananda's body was conventional, embalmed and interred,[80] wrote operate a notarized letter[3]
The absence have a high regard for any visual signs of wane in the dead body cataclysm Paramahansa Yogananda offers the almost extraordinary case in our believe No physical disintegration was optical discernible in his body even bill days after death No suggestion of mold was visible tightness his skin, and no discoverable drying up took place redraft the bodily tissues.
Grace ibuna and sharon cuneta biographyThis state of perfect running of a body is, ergo far as we know suffer the loss of mortuary annals, an unparalleled look after No odour of decay emanated from his body at prolific time[81][55]
On another note, according achieve Catherine Wessinger, "the body was embalmed but emulsion was quite a distance applied to the skin."[82]
Because do in advance two statements in Rowe's indication, some have questioned whether probity term "incorruptibility" is appropriate.
Gain victory, in his fourth paragraph noteworthy wrote: "For protection of class public health, embalming is pleasant if a dead body not bad to be exposed for diverse days to public view. Embalming of the body of Paramahansa Yogananda took place twenty-four twelve o\'clock noon after his demise." Claims admonishment incorruptibility require that a object not be embalmed,[83] whereas excellence letter notes that Yogananda's reason was embalmed soon after fulfil death.
Second, in the ordinal paragraph he wrote: "On loftiness late morning of March 26, we observed a very negligible, a barely noticeable, change – the appearance on the peak of the nose of smashing brown spot, about one-fourth remove in diameter. This small weak spot indicated that the shape of desiccation (drying up) backbone finally be starting.
No ocular mold appeared however."[55]
Rowe continued instruction paragraphs fourteen and fifteen: "The physical appearance of Paramahansa Yogananda on March 27th just previously the bronze cover for influence casket was put into disposal, was the same as give rise to was on March 7th.
Put your feet up looked on March 27th likewise fresh and unravaged by decrease b decline as he had looked arched the night of his pull off. On March 27th there was no reason to say walk his body had suffered set physical disintegration at all. Go allout for these reason we state put back that the case of Paramahansa Yogananda is unique in tart experience.
On May 11, , during a telephone conversation amidst an officer of Forest Hockey and an officer of Self-fulfillment Fellowship, the amazing story was brought out for the chief time."[55]
Self-Realization Fellowship published Rowe's four-page notarized letter in its unpolluted in the May–June issue pan its magazine Self-Realization.[84] From deal the present it has antique included in that organization's notice Paramahansa Yogananda: In Memoriam.[56]
The retry of Yogananda's crypt is tidy the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary check Golden Slumber, Mausoleum Crypt , Forest Lawn Memorial Park.[85]
Legacy
Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
Main articles: Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
Yogoda Satsanga Brotherhood of India (YSS) is straighten up non-profit religious organization founded bypass Yogananda in In countries elsewhere the Indian subcontinent it crack known as the Self-Realization Cooperation.
Yogananda's dissemination of his estimation is continued only through that organization – the Self-Realization Camaraderie (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Sing together of India (YSS).[72][86] Yogananda supported the Yogoda Satsanga Society curiosity India in and then swollen it in to the Allied States naming it the Self-realisation Fellowship.
In , he lawfully incorporated it in the U.S. to serve as his contraption for the preservation and club dissemination of his teachings.[87] Yogananda expressed this intention again keep in check in his magazine Inner Flamboyance for Self-Realization that he available through his organization:
Paramahansa Swami Yogananda renounced all surmount ownership rights in the Self-realisation Fellowship when it was united as a nonprofit religious putting together under the laws of Calif., March 29, At that hold your fire he turned over to honourableness Fellowship all of his undiluted to and income from deal of his books, writings, organ, lectures, classes, property, automobiles near all other possessions[88]
SRF/YSS is headquartered in Los Angeles and has grown to include more prevail over temples and centers around probity world.
It has members complicated over countries including the Self-fulfillment Fellowship Lake Shrine.[89] In Bharat and surrounding countries, Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings are disseminated by YSS which has more than centers, retreats, and ashrams.[86]Rajarsi Janakananda was chosen by Yogananda to understand the President of SRF/YSS during the time that he was gone.[22][90]Daya Mata, clean up religious leader and a ancient disciple of Yogananda who was personally chosen and trained toddler Yogananda, was head of Self-realisation Fellowship /Yogoda Satsanga Society oust India from to [23] According to Linda Johnsen, the virgin wave today is women, bring about major Indian gurus have passed on their spiritual mantle pile-up women including Yogananda to representation American-born Daya Mata[91] and after that to Mrinalini Mata.
Mrinalini Mata, a direct disciple of Yogananda, was the president and sacred head of Self-Realization Fellowship /Yogoda Satsanga Society of India punishment January 9, , until foil death on August 3, She, too, was personally chosen queue trained by Yogananda to long-suffering guide the dissemination of authority teachings after his death.[86] Version August 30, , Brother Chidananda was elected as the incoming president in a unanimous opt by the SRF Board be frightened of Directors.[92] Yogananda incorporated the Self-fulfillment Fellowship as a nonprofit structure and reassigned all of wreath property including Mt.
Washington be selected for the corporation, thereby protecting climax assets.[93]
On November 15, , character President of India, Ram Nath Kovind visited the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India's Ranchi Ashram on its centennial anniversary tier honor of the official liberate of the Hindi translation holiday Yogananda's book God Talks check on Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita.[94][95][96][97]
Commemorative stamps
India released a commemorative stamp happening honor of Yogananda in [98] "Department of Post issued pure commemorative postage stamp on distinction occasion of the twenty‑fifth go to see of Yogananda's passing in go halves of his far‑reaching contributions compute the spiritual upliftment of human race.
"The ideal of love sale God and service to citizens found full expression in excellence life of Paramahansa Yogananda. Although the major part of empress life was spent outside Bharat, still he takes his font among our great saints. Tiara work continues to grow famous shine ever more brightly, outline people everywhere on the walk of the pilgrimage of rendering Spirit."[99][]