Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) is a modern Hindu saint and yogi who introduced Kriya Yoga to the West, becoming a pivotal figure in the global spread of Hindu spirituality. Born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India, he was initiated into the monastic Swami order by his guru, Sri Yukteswar Giri, who gave him the name Yogananda (meaning 'bliss through yoga') and later the title Paramahansa ('supreme swan'), denoting the highest spiritual realization. His life and teachings are chronicled in his spiritual classic, 'Autobiography of a Yogi' (1946), which has inspired millions worldwide and is considered a foundational text of modern Hindu spirituality. The book recounts his encounters with saints, his training under Sri Yukteswar, and the science of Kriya Yoga, a rapid technique of God-realization revived by his guru lineage, which traces back to Mahavatar Babaji, an immortal yogi mentioned in the text.

Yogananda's teachings are rooted in the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which he interpreted through the lens of Kriya Yoga. He emphasized the unity of all religions and the direct experience of God through meditation. In 1920, he founded the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in the United States, which continues to disseminate his teachings globally. His iconography typically depicts him seated in a meditative posture, wearing a white robe, with a serene and compassionate expression, often accompanied by the SRF emblem, which symbolizes the lotus of spiritual awakening.

Devotees revere him as a realized master and a jagadguru (world teacher), and his mahasamadhi (conscious departure from the body) on March 7, 1952, is celebrated as Yogananda Mahasamadhi. Regional worship traditions include daily meditation, chanting of his mantra 'Om Yogānanda Namaḥ', and study of SRF lessons. In Hindu cosmology, Yogananda is seen as a modern exemplar of the ancient yogic path, demonstrating that liberation is attainable in the present age. His legacy bridges the Vedic tradition of direct realization with contemporary global spirituality, fulfilling the prophecy in the Bhagavata Purana (11.5.32) that in the Kali Yuga, the path of nama-sankirtana (chanting God's names) and meditation would be the primary means of salvation.

Depicted in meditation or seated posture. White robe, serene, compassionate expression. Often shown with SRF insignia.