Sunday, September 2, 2007

PARAMAHAMSA PRAJNANANDA, DISCIPLE OF PARAMAHAMSA HARIHARANANDA GIRI

This is Paramahamsa Prajnanananda who was appointed by Paramahamsa Hariharananda as his successor, to continue his mission as a world teacher disseminating the teachings of Kriya Yoga.

Born: 10th August 1960

Paramahamsa Upadhi conferred: 10th August 1998

PARAMAHAMSA PRAJNANANANDA
Born : 10th August 1960
Paramahamsa Upadhi conferred : 10th August 1998.

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda was born as Triloki Dash in the village of Pattamundai in Orissa, India. Raised in a pious and spiritual atmosphere, he began searching for a spiritual mentor in early childhood. In 1980, while still a student in college, he met his Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda, who initiated him into Kriya Yoga. Unlike his peers, Triloki Dash spent much of his time in prayer, puja, and meditation. He frequently retreated to the solitude of remote Himalayan caves to be in the company of sages and saints seeking ultimate Truth. He kept up a rigorous spiritual practice under the tutelage of his beloved Gurudev while working as a professor of Economics at Ravenshaw College in Cuttack.

In 1995, Brahmachari Triloki Dash was initiated as a sannyasi, monk, by Paramahamsa Hariharananda. Receiving the name Swami Prajnanananda Giri, he was directed by his Gurudev the next day to travel to Europe, the USA, and other countries in order to propagate Kriya Yoga through public lectures, seminars, retreats, and meditation. Long before Triloki Dash became a monk, Paramahamsa Hariharananda predicted, "Whatever is started by me has to be completed by him."

Three years later, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda was given the title of Paramahamsa, the highest title given to monks and saints who attain the apogee of God-realization, by his Gurudev on August 10, 1998, on his birthday.

Aglow with radiant wisdom, ever joyful, and reveling in the selfless sacrifice of a silent and secluded monk’s life, Prajnananada has ceaselessly traveled around the world to promote the message of Kriya Yoga to all who seek liberation. He has written and translated numerous books on spiritual topics, skillfully interpreting ageless philosophies in the light of modern science and technology. Using a simple, succinct, candid style, he demonstrates a broad scriptural knowledge, profound wisdom, and a delightful way with words. Able to focus on multiple tasks at one time with perfect precision and mastery, Prajnananandaji projects a buoyant, energetic God-intoxication.

In 1999, Prajnananandaji became the third Indian monk, following Swami Vivekananda and Shri Ravi Sankar, to address the Parliament of World Religions. As the president of Prajnana Mission, he has undertaken projects that promote spiritual education, social and health services, and philanthropic works around the world. He established Hariharananda Balashram, a residential school for poor and orphan children in Arua near his own birthplace, Pattamundai. Following his master's vision, Prajnananandaji created a beautiful ashram with international repute at Balighai, in Orissa, called Hariharananda Gurukulum, and its latest addition, a majestic samadhi temple commemorating his Gurudev.

This world-revered master of Kriya Yoga is the epitome of boundless love, wisdom, and action, representing a combination of Swami Vivekananda, Shri Shankara, and Shri Chaitanya. What Swami Vivekananda was to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Arjuna to Shri Krishna, Prajnananandaji is to his Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda. Paramahamsa Prajnanananda stands distinguished and unique among saints and sages of India.

He Holds the Key

- By Jyothi Bathina

On a hot summer afternoon in a small village in Orissa, India, a little brahmin boy named Triloki Dash sits under the spreading branches of an ancient banyan tree. He sits poring over his school books in the quiet shade and behind him stands the village temple to Lord Shiva, the supreme yogi, closed now in the midday heat. The priest has performed his morning worship and the temple is padlocked until evening.

But little Triloki holds the key, and whenever a devotee comes late and panting, tired and dusty in the afternoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of her Divine Beloved, carrying milk and curd and ghee to perform abhishek, he does not have the heart to turn her away. He sees her disappointment, watches silently her desperate efforts to rouse even one brahmin priest in the village to help perform the puja and finally when she returns and sits dejected on the temple steps, muttering disconsolately to herself, he asks her what is the matter. The woman turns to him with new hope, asking if he is a brahmin boy and if he can help her with the puja. With a mischievous gleam in those bright black eyes, Triloki nods yes, and from his hand emerges the heavy key to the temple doors. In a flash, he changes into an orange dhoti which he keeps beside him just for such emergencies, and runs up the stone steps. His nimble fingers unlock the doors and he pushes them wide open. Small and fragile though he seems, he valiantly struggles to fetch the heavy buckets of water to give Lord Shiva his ritual bath and with great devotion and ardor, he himself performs the abhishek, decorates the lingam with flowers, gives arati and offers it to the ecstatic devotee. She blesses him with tears in her eyes, giving loud thanks to the mother who has borne such a son.

That Triloki Dash is now Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, no longer a schoolboy, he is well-versed in all the scriptures, no longer sitting under the village tree, he travels three continents, teaching the gospel of love and truth and divinity. Many things have changed, but one thing has not. He is still waiting and watching, ready to unlock the doors to untold spiritual riches, to union with the Divine. No matter how late the traveler, no matter how weary, if our desire is strong and our motive pure, he will never turn us away. Willing to share the secret of love, willing to unlock the mysteries of yoga, willing to carry the immense burden of all our sins and sorrows upon his own frail back, washing them away with the purity of his love and compassion, decorating our path with the wisdom and beauty of his presence, he offers us the arati of salvation with a generous heart.

The school boy is now a teacher, a teacher who gives everything he has, putting everything aside to serve us, his students, to enable us to walk steadily on the path to God. On this auspicious day of his birth, let us echo that devotee of long ago, in giving thanks to God and to his human mother Vaidehi Dash, who bore such a beautiful son.

Source : http://www.prajnanamission.org/bioPrajnana.shtml

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PARAMAHAMSA HARIHARANANDA GIRI, DISCIPLE OF SRI YUKTESHWAR MAHASAYA

This is Paramahamsa Hariharananda. A fully God-realized and highly respected disciple of Shriyukteshwar. One of the great Kriya Yoga masters and world teachers, he had attained the pulseless, breathless state of meditation known as nirvikalpa samadhi -- the highest attainment of a dedicated Yogi.

Born: 27th May 1907,Monday(Baisakh Purnima) Childhood Name: Rabindranath

Father: Haripada Bhattacharya

Mother : Nabinkali Devi

Initiated by Sri Yukteswar Giri in the year 1932

Left the World: 3rd. December 2002 in Miami, U S A.

Bhusamadhi : 15th Dec. 2002 at Balighai Hariharananda Gurukulam in Puri, State - Orissa, Country - India.

Paramahamsa Hariharananda known affectionately as "BABA" (Father) to his students, was widely known as a God-realized Kriya Yogi in the lineage of Babaji Maharaj, Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Shriyukteshwar Giri and Paramahamsa Yogananda .

But who was Baba? A divine mystery, A Fountain of Chaotic Beauty & Immortal Bliss and An Ocean of Infinite Compassion & Humility. As Baba himself once said, "If anyone tried to know who is Baba, he would go mad"...

He spent his life studying, teaching and fulfilling his mission to share the philosophy and technique of Kriya Yoga with the people of the world. He was much revered as a fountain of love, strength, and wisdom for the thousands of students he personally taught all over the world.

Baba was born as Robindranath Bhattacharya, into a family that strongly emphasized spiritual practice and education,in the hamlet of Habibpur, on the bank of the sacred river Ganga, in the district of Nadia, West Bengal, 65 Km from Kolkata. Nadia is considered one of the holiest places in India as many great saints and sages were born there.

Nadia is well known for the birthplace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1485-1533). Deemed to be a reincarnation of Shri Krishna, he was instrumental in reviving the bhakti(devotional) movement in India.
Baba's father Haripada Bhattacharya was an affluent community landlord. He was a Brahmin, known for his integrity and self-discipline. He was as scholar of Sanskrit, well versed in the scriptures of Hinduism and had a thorough knowledge of Ayurveda, homeopathy, some modern medicine as well as an interest in legal matters. He led a strict life with a deep love for God and had high ethical and moral standards.He was a respected priest, astrologer, and healer. He had divined the special destiny of his tenth child, and used to call him affectionately "Sannyasi Thakur" (Lord monk).

Baba's mother, Nabin Kali, was a pious and devoted woman from the village of Birnagar, Nadia and came from a Brahmin family. Nabin Kali literally means Eternal Mother Divine. She had a compassionate heart and charitable nature helping the poor and needy in the community. She was a virtuous and tender-hearted woman, who imbued her son with qualities of extraordinary compassion and tenderness.

Nabin Kali and Haripada had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. Rabindranath was the youngest son and later came to be known as Paramahamsa Hariharananda.

At four and a half, Hariharananda had already memorized all the puja mantras of Hinduism by simply hearing his father, recite them a few times. By the age of twelve, he took initiation in the path of Jnana Yoga from the renowned realized master Shri Bijoy Krishna Chattopadhyay after visiting him a couple of times in the company of his brother Pareshnath and brother-in-law, both disciples of his. A disciple of Trailinga Swami of Benares, Bijoy Krishna Chattopadhyaya was known as "Howrah Thakur" because he lived in the Howrah suburb of Kolkata.

In 1932, he went to meet the great Kriya master, Swami Shriyukteshwar Giri. Pleased by the divine propensities of young Rabindranath, Shriyukteshwarji initiated him into Kriya Yoga, in his Serampore ashram, West Bengal, also taught him cosmic astrology, and entreated him to come and live in his Karar Ashram in Puri, Orissa. Due to Professional and family obligations, Robi was not able to fulfill his master's wishes until six years later.

In 1935, he met Paramahamsa Yogananda, and received the second Kriya initiation from him. In 1938, he renounced the material life and entered his Master's Ashram in Puri, Orissa, starting the life of an ascetic monk as Brahmachari Rabinarayan.

He received the third Kriya initiation from Swami Satyananda Giri in 1941, the then head of the Karar Ashram and childhood friend of Paramahamsa Yogananda.

Shrimat Bhupendranath Sanyal Mahasaya (1877-1962), youngest disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, and close friend of Rabindranath Tagore.the last higher Kriya initiations were given by Shrimat Bhupendranath Sanyal, during 1943 to 1945 the pious householder disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya.

During his time in Puri, he had the great fortune of meeting and receiving the blessings of many divine masters such as Sri Anandamoyee Ma. The Holy Mother, who also had an ashram in Puri, used to call him affectionately her "Sahib Baba" as she first met him before his monkhood, when he was still wearing fashionable Western clothes.

BABA also spent some time with Nanga Baba Digambara Paramahamsa, the great "sky-clad" realized master who lived on the far side of Puri near the Lokanath Temple. This mysterious saint is also identified as Totapuri, the guru of Ramakrishna, and is said to have lived over 350 years. A holy hermitage of Nanga Baba known as Girinaribanta Ashram by locals of Puri is there emanating divine serenity and peace in solitude.

Baba also met Shri Sitaram Das Omkarnath, a well-known Vaishnava saint of Varanasi. Omkarnath Baba was cousion our beloved Baba also from Naida the holy land of Sri chaitanya.

In the mid-40's, the most secret technique of samadhi was revealed to him by a young, anonymous and mysterious yogi, who came and appeared in Karar Ashram. During this period he attained six stages of samadhi.

In 1948, after eleven years spent in silence and seclusion in his cell, he attained the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the pulseless and breathless highest spiritual attainment of a dedicated yogi.

A few months later, in 1949, while still in seclusion in his monastic cell, he obtained twice the vision of the deathless yogi Babaji Maharaj, who blessed him and prophesized that his mission would be to spread the original message of the Kriya masters to the whole world.

After following a strict spiritual practice of meditation and maintaining silence for many years, he was empowered by Paramahamsa Yogananda, in 1951, to initiate others into Kriya Yoga. Thus, he started his long missionary work that took him to the length and breadth of his beloved India. In his monastic cell, most nights found him meditating before his presiding deity Mother Kali, a form of formless Divine mother.
On September 27, 1958 the Divine Mother appeared before him and blessed him with Her divine effulgence, confirming his divine mission for the spiritual upliftment of the world.

On May 27, 1959 he took formal monastic vows from the Shankaracharya of Puri Srimad Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha (the Hindu equivalent to the Pope) and was named Swami Hariharananda Giri.

The year 1974 marked his first journey to the West, where he would return every year to spread the message of divine love through conscious awareness of God within. His travels took him all over Europe, South America, the United States, and Canada where he established centers and ashrams. He remained extensively in the West after 1990 and his work continues from headquarters on three continents: Vienna, Austria; Miami, USA; and Jagatpur, Orissa, India.

Kriya Yoga is non-sectarian and is practiced by people of all religions. Paramahamsa Hariharananda was well versed in the holy scriptures of India, the Holy Bible, the Torah, the Quran, as well as Buddhist scriptures and the teachings of all religions. He illuminated their meaning by providing interpretations in a new metaphorical way. His writings include "Kriya Yoga: The Scientific Process of Soul-Culture," "The Bhagavad Gita In the Light of Kriya Yoga: A Rare Metaphorical Explanation for God-Realization," and numerous other publications.

Baba initiated his chosen disciple Brahmachari Triloki into monkhood and named him as Swami Prajnanananda, to carry out his mission in the west. On August 10, 1998, the highest title, Paramahamsa, a designation reserved for monks and saints who have attained the summit of realization was conferred upon Swami Prajnanananda by his Master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji is the president of Kriya organizations started by Baba Hariharanandaji Maharaj and the current head of a great lineage of Kriya Yoga Guru Parampara.

A significant part of Hariharananda's legacy is evident in the charitable works he committed to throughout his lifetime. Through the Hariharananda Charitable Health Centers over 50,000 people receive medical care and supplies each year. As a part of the Charitable Health Centers a variety of outreach and educational programs have been implemented including mobile medical and dental services, livestock vaccinations, the building of library's and schools, and AIDS education/awareness programs.

Source : http://www.prajnanamission.org/bioGurudev.shtml

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Saturday, September 1, 2007

SWAMI SATYANANDA, DISCIPLE OF SRI YUKTESHWAR MAHASAYA

This is Swami Satyananda Giri, one of the foremost disciples of Swami Shriyukteshwar and childhood friend of Paramahamsa Yogananda. He was the acharya of Ranchi Brahmacharya Ashram and President of Karar Ashram until his demise (mahasamadhi). He is one of the Kriya Masters of Paramahamsa Hariharananda.

SWAMI SATYANANDA GIRI

Born : 17th November 1896
Passed : 2nd August 1971

Manmohan (Swami Satyananda) was born to Mohini Mohan Majumdar and Tarabasini Devi on the 17th of November, 1896, in his maternal uncle's house in Bikrampur (Bangladesh). He was a philosopher, singer, composer, poet, social worker, and above all, a gifted disciple and truly divine master in the lineage of Kriya Yoga. A hint of his impeccable love for humanity, without distinction of class, caste, or religion, was evident at the young age of six or seven when he flouted the entrenched tradition of untouchability on a social occasion in the presence of his relatives and friends. By the age of ten, his quest for liberation was extremely deep-rooted, making strong his burning quest for the independence of India as well as for the ultimate liberation of mankind from the fetters of worldly sufferings, bondage, and body consciousness.

Swami Satyananda's first encounter with his childhood friend and guide, Mukunda (Paramahamsa Yogananda), took place at the entrance to the Dumb and Deaf School in Kolkata when he sought to borrow a pump to inflate a football for his team. The intimacy between them grew intensely as they both sped quickly toward realizing Truth. Promising to maintain celibacy throughout their lives, they spent their time meditating in seclusion in a variety of holy places and temples. Even at night these two young men remained utterly devoted, unlike the others who spent their time in wild revelry and merrymaking.

Manmohan visited holy places, spiritual people, and saints with Mukunda. Hamsa Swami Kevalananda, the great Sanskrit tutor of Mukunda, who taught him the basics of Kriya Yoga, laid the foundation for his spiritual life. The spartan, simple, austere lifestyle and the profound spiritual experience of Kevalanandaji had a great impact on Manmohan's life. His long cherished dream was fulfilled during his college years when he met his guru of destiny, Swami Shriyukteshwar, and was initiated into Kriya Yoga. His guru's deep insight, profound metaphorical interpretation of the scriptures, fathomless divine experience in Kriya Yoga, and knowledge of astronomy and astrology played a major role in making him a dedicated and ardent disciple. Four years after Mukunda became a sannyasi known as Swami Yogananda, Manmohan graduated from the university with a B.A. (Honors) in Philosophy. In 1919, under the direction of his guru, he was initiated into the monastic order and became known as Swami Satyananda Giri.

Inspired and guided by Paramahamsa Yogananda, Swami Satyananda's spiritual life reached its crescendo when he became a monk. He spent most of his time and energy meditating and organizing the residential ashram school founded by Paramahamsa Yogananda in Ranchi, along with his schoolmate turned sannyasi, Swami Dhirananda. Swami Satyananda's illustrious character, honesty, and purity, his exemplary lifestyle, selfless love, and care for his disciples and students, inspired Mahatma Gandhi to visit Ranchi Ashram, after which he praised the ashram and invited Swami Satyananda to visit his own Sabarmati ashram.

When he visited Mahatma Gandhi's ashram, he was accorded a grand reception and hearty welcome and was requested to stay in the ashram for several days. Swami Satyananda laid the foundation for Mahatma Gandhi and his disciples' initiation into Kriya Yoga by Paramahamsa Yogananda, who returned to India in 1935. His love for mother India and his eagerness to dedicate his life to the liberation of the people of India was manifest when he sadly declined the offer of his bosom friend and guide Paramahamsa Yogananda to come to America to help in his divine mission.

Following the call of his dear Gurudev Swami Shriyukteshwar, he went to Puri Karar Ashram to lead his life under the spiritual guidance of his Gurudev. Later he was installed as the ashram swami. After his Gurudev's mahasamadhi on March 9, 1936, and a few months after Paramahamsa Yogananda's return to America, Swami Satyananda intiated Rabinaryan Brahmachari (Parmahamsa Hariharananda) into higher kriyas. Leaving the work and management of Puri Ashram to Rabinaryan Brahmachari, he accepted the life of a wandering monk, preaching and teaching Kriya Yoga all over India. His encounter in South India with Ramana Maharshi, a luminous saint renowned for his deep spiritual experience, turned into a unique, intense love. Ramana Maharshi was impressed by Satyanandaji’s captivating personality, and he pressed Satyananda to settle down permanently in his ashram.

Tragedy truck in 1944 when the terrible famine in Bengal turned Satyanandaji’s melting heart toward the starving and famished poor. His motto was, “service with love and meditation for all.” As a token of his love for the downtrodden and underserved society, he established the Sevayatan Satsang Mission in Jhadagram, an underdeveloped region in the Mednipur district of West Bengal, where he spent the later part of his life from 1944 to 1971 transforming the lives of millions of people. After Paramahamsa Yogananda's mahasamadhi in 1952 and until the end of his life, he remained the president of Puri Karar Ashram. With a life enriched with spiritual experience, dedicated to the cause of humanity, and espousing the message of Kriya Yoga, he ultimately left his mortal body on the second of August, 1971, in his Sevayatan Satsang Mission.

Source : http://www.kriya.org/about__guru.php?id=6

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PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA SARASWATI, DISCIPLE OF YUKTESHWAR MAHASAYA

Paramahansa Yogananda, a chief disciple of Shri Yukteshwar. He is widely known for his authoring of the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" and was the first Kriya Yoga master to come to the West in 1920.

Born: 5th January 1893

Mahasamadhi: 7th March 1952

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952)

SRIMAT BHUPENDRANATH SANYAL MAHASAYA, DISCIPLE OF LAHIRI MAHASAYA

Shrimat Bhupendranath Sanyal, the renowned yogi and youngest disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya. A householder, highly educated and advanced spiritually, he authored dozens of spiritual books. He established ashrams in Puri, Orissa and Bhagalpur, Bihar. Paramahamsa Hariharananda was directly initiated by Bhupendranath Sanyal, as he lived in Puri for a long period of time.

Born: 28th February 1877 ( 20th January 1877)

Initiated on 23rd. June 1893 at Varanasi.

SRIMAT BHUPENDRANATH SANYAL MAHASAYA

Born : 20th Jauary 1877
Initiated : 23rd June 1893 at Varanasi
Mahasamadhi : 18th January 1962.

A boy of sixteen, initiated into Kriya Yoga, stood before the great master Lahiri Mahasaya with a handful of flowers, a moistened heart, and tears streaming down his face. The great master entreated him to confirm his dream in the holy abode of his Gurudev. Moved deeply by his profound yearning for godhood, purity, and humility, Lahiri Mahasaya made the boy’s dream a reality by initiating him into the holy path of Kriya Yoga.

Bhupendranath Sanyal Mahasaya was born on January 20, 1877, in the village of Sadhana Para in the district of Nadia in West Bengal, India. This area is a holy and spiritually fertile land that has given birth to many great personalities, sages, and saints such as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Paramahamsa Hariharananda, and Shri Sitaram Das Omkaranath.

Early in life, when he was barely two, his mother passed away and abandoned him completely to the care, nourishment, and guidance of his maternal uncle, elder sister, and sister’s husband. Sanyal Mahasaya bloomed into a divine person filled with inner joy and beauty in the spiritual environment of this Brahmin family. His regular spiritual practice began in 1890 at the age of thirteen just after his sacred thread ceremony and his initiation into the gayatri mantra. He passed his time reading religious books, scriptures, and meeting spiritual persons, saints, and sages. His spiritual practice and education were impeded by frequent illnesses during his schooling and subsequently in his college days.

Sanyal Mahasaya's frequent illnesses compelled his sister to seek the intervention of his Gurudev. He assuaged her, however, saying Sanyal Mahasaya would live long, and many works urgently awaited his attention to be fully accomplished. Sanyal Mahasaya was so sincere, devoted, and committed to the practice of Kriya Yoga that he quickly ascended to the higher techniques and experiences. This inspired his Gurudev to allow him to initiate others into Kriya Yoga.

Lahiri Mahasaya, sensing his imminent departure from this earth, omnisciently advised his dear disciple Sanyal Mahasaya to learn other higher techniques from Panchanan Bhattacharya, a highly advanced disciple and founder of Arya Mission, and to spread the message of Kriya Yoga. In spite of his avowed determination to accept a monastic life, Sanyal Mahasaya was destined to marry Kalidasi Devi at the age of twenty-one, following the footprints of his ideal and exemplary Gurudev. While discharging his household chores, as a father of two sons and four daughters, there is no evidence that he ever strayed from the Kriya Yoga path. Ascending to a state of Self-realization in 1902, he was widely adored as a well-established and fully accomplished yogi. His talents and skills, his untainted, unalloyed character, as well as his inner spiritual enrichment, created a close friendship with Rabindranath Tagore, with whom he worked as a teacher from 1902 to 1909, founding Shantiniketan Institute. The sacred serenity of Puri attracted him to pilgrimage to Puri many times. He established an ashram there named Gurudham in 1923 and an ashram named Bhagalpur in 1924. Bhagalpur became a center for the spread of Kriya Yoga.

A gifted and prolific writer, Sanyal Mahasaya wrote many spiritual books and commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita in Bengali, demonstrating his understanding of the scriptures in the light of Kriya Yoga.

On the 18th of January, 1962, he entered into the eternal abode know as mahasamadhi, but he remains immortal in the hearts of thousands of devotees and spiritual seekers who got a glimpse of an ancient rishi, a great yogi, and a divine guide and master.

Source : http://www.kriya.org/about__guru.php?id=4

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SRI YUKTESHWAR< DISCIPLE OF LAHIRI MAHASAYA

SWAMI SRIYUKTESWAR MAHARAJ - DISCIPLE OF LAHIRI MAHASAYA

Swami SriYukteshwar, disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya. He received instruction from Lahiri Baba and founded the well-known Karar Ashram in Puri, India. Shriyukteshwarji was a highly realized yogi and initiated and guided many disciples in the Kriya Yoga technique.

Born: 10th May,1855 Initiated by Lahiri Mahasaya in the year 1883.

Mahasamadhi : 9th March, 1936.

SWAMI SRIYUKTESHWAR
Born: 10th May,1855
Mahasamadhi : 9th March, 1936 at PURI Ashram, Odisha, India.
Biography

Yukteswar was born Priyanath Karar in Serampore, India to Kshetranath Karar and Kadambini. Priyanath lost his father at a young age, and took on much of the responsibility for managing his family's land holdings. A bright student, he passed the entrance exams and enrolled in Srirampur Christian Missionary College, where he developed an interest in the Bible. This interest would later express itself in his book, The Holy Science, which discusses the unity behind the scientific principles underlying Yoga and the Bible. He also attended Calcutta Medical College (then affiliated with the University of Calcutta) for almost two years.

After leaving college, Priyanath married and had a daughter. His wife died a few years after their marriage, and he eventually was formally intitiated into the monastic Swami order as "Sriyuktesvar Giri" (note: thus 'Sri' is not a separate honorific, but part of his given name). "...many follow the usual procedure (for writing or saying someone's name informally) and drop the "Sri" and say only "Yukteshvar", but this is not correct. If one wants to put a "Sri" at the beginning as in the prevalent fashion, then his name would look as: "Sri Sriyukteswar Giri".

In 1884, Priyanath met Lahiri Mahasaya, who became his Guru and initiated him into the path of Kriya Yoga. Yukteswar spent a great deal of time in the next several years in the company of his guru, often visiting Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares. In 1894, while attending the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, he met the Guru of Lahiri Mahasaya, Mahavatar Babaji, who asked Yukteswar to write a book comparing Hindu scriptures and the Christian bible. Mahavatar Babaji also bestowed on Yukteswar the title of 'Swami' at that meeting.[9] Yukteswar completed the requested book in 1894, naming it Kaivalya Darsanam, or The Holy Science.

A revolutionary interlude

"Priyanath Karar" has been mentioned by James Campbell Ker in the Bihar and Orissa History Sheet (p. 498) of his Political Trouble in India, A Confidential Report, 1917, First Reprint 1973. Arun Chandra Guha writes that when Bankimchandra Chatterjee was a Deputy Magistrate at Chinsura, patriotic literary figures like Yogendra Vidyabhushan, Bhudev Mukherjee, Nabin Chandra Sen, Hemchandra Banerjee used to meet in his house. Under their inspiration and advice, Tincowri Chatterjee started physical culture centres at Chandernagore, Chinsura and Serampore. Professor Charu Chandra Roy organised them into revolutionary groups during the agitations against the Partition of Bengal in 1905. The famous Tantric saint Tarapada Banerjee, alias Tara Khepa, openly advocated rebellion against British rule while holding classes on the Gita and the Chandi. Preonath Karar was a member of those centres.

“A few months before the session of the Surat Congress, Suranath traveled in the guise of a Tantric priest all over Bengal (…) preaching sedition… went Calcutta and stayed there for a month at the Sandhya office… He then formed a central committee (…), Mokshada, Shyamsundar Chakravarti, Arabinda Ghose, Tara Khepa, Annada Kaviraj and others as members.” A few days before the publication of the Yugantar, at Benares, Preonath with Hrishikesh and Suranath “convened a public meeting as well as a meeting of the pundits wherein it was settled by quotations from the Hindu Astrology and Astronomy and announced firmly that the sinful Iron Age was now over…”

Spiritual life

Yukteswar converted his large two-story family home in Serampore into an ashram, named "Priyadham", where he resided with students and disciples. In 1903, he also established an ashram in the seaside town of Puri, naming it "Kararashram". From these two ashrams, Yukteswar taught students, and began an organization named "Sadhu Sabha".

An interest in education resulted in Yukteswar developing a syllabus for schools, on the subjects of physics, physiology, geography, astronomy, and astrology. He also wrote a book for Bengalis on learning basic English and Hindi called "First Book", and wrote a basic book on astrology. Later, he became interested in the education to women, which was uncommon in Bengal at that time.

Yukteswar was especially skilled in Jyotiṣa (Indian astrology), and prescribed various astrological gemstones and bangles to his students. He also studied astronomy and science, as evidenced in the formulation of his Yuga theory in The Holy Science.

Yukteswar and his disciple, Paramahansa Yogananda

He had only a few long-term disciples, but in 1910, the young Mukunda Lal Ghosh would become Yukteswar’s most well known disciple, eventually spreading the teachings of Kriya Yoga throughout the world as Paramahansa Yogananda. Yogananda attributed Yukteswar’s small number of disciples to his strict training methods, which Yogananda said “cannot be described as other than drastic”.

Regarding the role of the Guru, Yukteswar said:

Look, there is no point in blindly believing that after I touch you, you will be saved, or that a chariot from heaven will be waiting for you. Because of the guru's attainment, the sanctifying touch becomes a helper in the blossoming of Knowledge, and being respectful towards having acquired this blessing, you must yourself become a sage, and proceed on the path to elevate your Soul by applying the techniques of sadhana given by the guru.

Author W.Y. Evans-Wentz described his impression of Yukteswar in the preface to Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi:

Sri Yukteswar was of gentle mien and voice, of pleasing presence, and worthy of the veneration, which his followers spontaneously accorded to him. Every person who knew him, whether of his own community or not, held him in the highest esteem. I vividly recall his tall, straight, ascetic figure, garbed in the saffron-colored garb of one who has renounced worldly quests, as he stood at the entrance of the hermitage to give me welcome. His hair was long and somewhat curly, and his face bearded. His body was muscularly firm, but slender and well-formed, and his step energetic.

Yukteswar died at his Puri ashram on March 9, 1936.

The Holy Science

Main article: The Holy Science

Yukteswar wrote The Holy Science in 1894. In the introduction, he wrote:

The purpose of this book is to show as clearly as possible that there is an essential unity in all religions; that there is no difference in the truths inculcated by the various faiths; that there is but one method by which the world, both external and internal, has evolved; and that there is but one Goal admitted by all scriptures.

The work introduced many ideas that were revolutionary for the time — for instance Yukteswar broke from Hindu tradition in stating that the earth is not in the age of Kali Yuga, but has advanced to Dwapara Yuga. His proof was based on a new perspective of the precession of the equinoxes. He also introduced the idea that the sun takes a ‘star for its dual’, and revolves around it in a period of 24,000 years, which accounts for the precession of the equinox. Research into this theory is being conducted by the Binary Research Institute, which produced a documentary on the topic titled The Great Year, narrated by James Earl Jones. A sign of the ubiquity of Yukteswar's calculations in modern culture is that there is an iPhone Application for calculating them, just as there are calculators for currencies, lengths, areas and volumes

The theory of the Sun's binary companion expounded by Yukteswar in The Holy Science has attracted the attention of David Frawley, who has written about it in several of his books.

According to Frawley, the theory offers a better estimate of the age of Rama and Krishna and other important historical Indian figures than other dating methods, which estimate some of these figures to have lived millions of years ago — belying accepted human history.

Noted disciples

Paramahansa Yogananda

Satyananda Giri

Motilal Mukherjee ("Howrah Thakur")

Bhabananda

Narayan Giri ("Prabhujee")

Paramahamsa Hariharananda

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukteswar_Giri

MAHASAMADHI OF SRI YUKTESWAR GIRI

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YOGIRAJ LAHIRI MAHASAYA , DISCIPLE OF BABAJI MAHARAJ KRIYA YOGI

This is Yogiraj Lahiri Baba. In 1861, in the Himalayas, he received initiation and guidance from Babaji on Kriya Yoga. The story goes that one day his employer decided to transfer him to an office located in a small town in the foothills of the Himalayas. While out walking one afternoon after his arrival, he met Babaji. He then stayed with him for a while and was instructed in the scientific techniques of Kriya Yoga. Babaji told him to initiate any person who sincerely desired to learn and practice Kriya Yoga. Shortly thereafter Lahiri Baba's employer decided to transfer him back to his hometown. From that time on, Lahiri Baba initiated and guided thousands of devotees. For this reasons, he is often thought of as the father of Kriya Yoga.

Born: 30th September 1828

Passed:26th September 1895

L A H I R I M A H A S A Y A

BORN : 30th Sept.1828
Passed : 26th Sept. 1895
At Varanasi
Shyama Charan Lahiri (Bengali: শ্যামাচরণ লাহিড়ী Shêmā Chôron Lahiṛi), (September 30, 1828 – September 26, 1895), best known as Lahiri Mahasaya, was an Indian yogi and a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. He was also popularly known as Yogiraj and Kashi Baba. He revived the yogic science of Kriya Yoga when he learned it from Mahavatar Babaji in 1861. Lahiri Mahasaya was also the guru of Yukteswar Giri. Mahasaya is a Sanskrit, spiritual title translated as 'large-minded'. He was unusual among Indian holy men in that he was a householder — marrying, raising a family, and working as an accountant for the Military Engineering Department of the British Indian government. Lahiri lived with his family in Varanasi rather than in a temple or monastery. He achieved a substantial reputation among 19th century Hindu religionists.

He became well known in the west through Paramahansa Yogananda, a disciple of Yukteswar Giri, and through Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. Yogananda wrote that Lahiri was chosen by Mahavatar Babaji to reintroduce the lost practice of Kriya Yoga to the world. Lahiri's disciples included both of Yogananda's parents as well as Yogananda's own guru. Lahiri Mahasaya prophesied that the infant Yogananda would become a yogi, and "As a spiritual engine, he will carry many souls to God's kingdom.'"

Early life

Lahiri was born into a Brahmin family in the Ghurni village (presently a neighbourhood of Krishnanagar town) in Nadia district of Bengal Province. He was the youngest son of Muktakashi, wife of Gaur Mohan Lahiri. His mother died when he was a child — there is very little known about her, except that she was a devotee of Lord Shiva. At the age of three or four, he was often seen sitting in meditation, with his body buried in the sand up to his neck. When Lahiri was five, the family's ancestral home was lost in a flood, so the family moved to Varanasi, where he would spend most of his life.

As a child, he studied Urdu and Hindi, gradually moving on to Bengali, Sanskrit, Persian, French and English at the Government Sanskrit College, along with study of the Vedas. Reciting the Vedas, bathing in the Ganges, and worship were part of his daily routine.

In 1846, he was married to Srimati Kashi Moni. They had two sons, Tincouri and Ducouri, and three daughters, Harimoti, Harikamini and Harimohini. His work as an accountant in the Military Engineering Department of the English government took him all over India. After the death of his father, he took on the role of supporting the entire family in Varanasi.

Teacher of Kriya Yoga

In 1861, Lahiri was transferred to Ranikhet, in the foothills of the Himalayas. One day, while walking in the hills, he heard a voice calling to him. After climbing further, he met his Guru Mahavatar Babaji, who initiated him into the techniques of Kriya Yoga. Babaji told Lahiri that the rest of his life was to be given to spreading the Kriya message.

Soon after, Lahiri Mahasaya returned to Varanasi, where he began initiating sincere seekers into the path of Kriya Yoga. Over time, more and more people flocked to receive the teachings of Kriya from Lahiri. He organized many study groups and gave regular discourses on the Bhagavad Gita at his "Gita Assemblies." He freely gave Kriya initiation to those of every faith, including Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, at a time when caste bigotry was very strong. He encouraged his students to adhere to the tenets of their own faith, adding the Kriya techniques to what they already were practicing.

He continued his dual role of accountant and supporter to his family, and a teacher of Kriya Yoga, until 1886, when he was able to retire on a pension. More and more visitors came to see him at this time. He seldom left his sitting room, available to all who sought his darshan. He often exhibited the breathless state of superconscious samādhi.

Over the years he gave initiation to gardeners, postmen, kings, maharajas, sannyasis, householders, people considered to be lower caste, Christians, and Muslims. At that time, it was unusual for a strict Brahmin to associate so closely with people from all castes.

Some of his notable disciples included Panchanon Bhattacharya, Yukteswar Giri, Pranabananda, Keshabananda, Bhupendranath Sanyal, and the parents of Paramahansa Yogananda. Others who received initiation into Kriya Yoga from Lahiri included Vhaskarananda Saraswati of Benares, Balananda Brahmachari of Deogarh, Maharaja Iswari Narayan Sinha Bahadur of Benares and his son. Biographer and Yogacharya Dr. Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee, in his book "Purana Purusha" depicts that Lahiri initiated Sai Baba of Shirdi into Kriya Yoga, based on a passage in Lahiri's 26 secret diary.

He gave permission to one disciple, Panchanon Bhattacharya, to start an institution in Kolkata to spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga. The Arya Mission Institution published commentaries by Lahiri on the Bhagavad Gita, along with other spiritual books, including a Bengali translation of the Gita. Lahiri himself had printed thousands of small books with excerpted passages from the Gita, in Bengali and Hindi, and distributed them for free, an unusual idea at that time.

In 1895 he began gathering his disciples, letting some of them know that he would soon be leaving the body. Moments before his passing, he said simply, "I am going home. Be comforted; I shall rise again." He then turned his body around three times, faced north, and consciously left his body, entering mahasamadhi. Lahiri Mahasaya died on September 26, 1895.

Teachings

Kriya Yoga

The central spiritual practice which he taught to his disciples was Kriya Yoga, a series of inner pranayama practices that quickly hasten the spiritual growth of the practitioner. He taught this technique to all sincere seekers, regardless of their religious background. In response to many types of problems that disciples would bring him, his advice would be the same — to practice more Kriya Yoga. Regarding Kriya Yoga, he said:

Always remember that you belong to no one, and no one belongs to you. Reflect that some day you will suddenly have to leave everything in this world–so make the acquaintanceship of God now. Prepare yourself for the coming astral journey of death by daily riding in the balloon of God-perception. Through delusion you are perceiving yourself as a bundle of flesh and bones, which at best is a nest of troubles. Meditate unceasingly, that you may quickly behold yourself as the Infinite Essence, free from every form of misery. Cease being a prisoner of the body; using the secret key of Kriya, learn to escape into Spirit.

He taught that Kriya practice would give the yogi direct experience of truth, unlike mere theoretical discussion of the scriptures, and to:

Solve all your problems through meditation. Exchange unprofitable religious speculations for actual God-contact. Clear your mind of dogmatic theological debris; let in the fresh, healing waters of direct perception. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the Divine Voice has the answer to every dilemma of life. Though man’s ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite Succor is no less resourceful.

Guru-disciple relationship

Lahiri often spoke of the Guru-disciple relationship in the context of Kriya Yoga. He always gave the Kriya technique as an initiation, and taught that the technique was only properly learned as part of the Guru-disciple relationship. Frequently he referred to the realization that comes through practicing Kriya as taught by the Guru, and the grace that comes through the 'transmission' of the Guru. He also taught that the grace of the Guru comes automatically if his instructions are followed. He suggested contacting the Guru during meditation, counseling that it wasn't always necessary to see his physical form.

Regarding the necessity of the help of a Guru to deep yoga practice, he said:

It is absolutely necessary for all devotees to totally surrender to their Guru. The more one can surrender to the Guru, the more he can ascertain the subtlest of the subtle techniques of yoga from his Guru. Without surrender, nothing can be derived from the Guru.

The relationship Lahiri Mahasaya had with his own disciples was very individual. He even taught the Kriya Yoga practice slightly differently to each, depending on the spiritual needs of the individual disciple

Other teachings

Lahiri taught that if one is earning an honest living and practicing honesty, then there was no need to alter one's external life in any significant way in order to become aware of God's presence. If a student neglected his worldy duties, he would correct him.[2] It was extremely rare for him to advise sannyas, or complete worldly renunciation by becoming a swami. Instead, he advised marriage for most of his disciples along with Kriya Yoga practice.

He generally eschewed organized religion. However, this wasn't a strict dogma for him, as he allowed at least one of his advanced disciples, Panchanon Bhattacharya, to open the “Arya Mission Institution” in Kolkata to spread the Kriya teachings. Other disciples of Lahiri also started organizations to spread the Kriya Yoga message, including Sriyukteswar Giri with his Satsanga Sabha. Generally, he preferred Kriya to spread naturally.

Lahiri frequently taught the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. His regular Gita assemblies, called Gita Sabha, attracted many disciples. He asked several of his close disciples to write interpretations of the Gita by tuning in to his own realization. Lahiri taught that the battle of Kurukshetra was really an inner psychological battle, and that the different characters in the battle were actually psychological traits within the struggling yogi. This understanding would later become the foundation of Paramahansa Yogananda's commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita. He also taught that the epic story of the Mahabharata showed the soul's descent into matter, and its challenges in retracing its way back to spirit.

Source :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahiri_Mahasaya

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BABAJI MAHARAJ - KRIYAYOGI

This is the great avatar Babaji. An avatar is a great spiritual being beyond human limitations. Babaji guides from a distance, is rarely seen and usually remains invisible. Babaji appeared one day as a man of some twenty years of age and is currently over 2000 years old. He still looks the same as seen in the picture. He is usually seen in the Himalayas.

Born : 203 AD

Signature of BABAJI MAHARAJ

Mahaavatar Kriya Babaji was born during the "festival of lights" (Kartikai Deepam), at the end of November, (when the star Rohini was in its ascendancy) in 203 A.D. The festival occurs on the night before the new moon during the Tamil month of Kartikai. His birth occurred in Tamil Nadu, in a small village at the juncture of the Cauvery River and the Arabian Sea (presently, the seaport town Porto Novo), on the southeast coast of India. The time of his birth was auspicious and indicated the advent of a divine being. His parents gave him the name "Nagaraj", or "King of Serpents" to honor the great primordial life force of "kundalini shakti".

Babaji was kidnapped at the age of five by a Pathan and taken north to Dacca, presently in Bangladesh, and later released. Thereafter, he wandered with religious mendicants till the age of eleven. During this time, he migrated to Benaras where he rose to be a Sanskrit scholar. Discontent with his early success, he sailed by boat to the shrine of Katarigama on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. For eighteen months he plunged into such contemplation (meditation) where he could analyze different philosophical systems.

During this period, he met his gurus, the great siddha saints Boganathar and Agastyar. With their blessings and guidance, he attained enlightenment at the age of 12 and physical immortality at the age of 16. He has remained in the same body near Badrinath in the Himalayas ever since then.

Babaji's mission is to assist humanity in realizing God. With God realization humanity will develop the Universal Vision of Love, which can transform this world into a Divine Paradise. His mission has also been to assist the work of spiritual teachers around the world. His disciples have included Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century, the great reformer of Hinduism, the saint Kabir who united Hindus and Muslims at the beginning of the 16th century, Lahiri Mahasaya in the 19th, Brahmarishi Barfani Dadaji in the 19th and 20th centuries and Jagadguru Ramanandacharyaji at present, among many others. Like others in the famed 18 Siddha tradition of south India,Babaji has surrendered his entire being, even the consciousness of the cells of his physical body to the Divine. After experiencing "union" with God or the ultimate Reality in this creation, these Siddhas experienced the transformation of their intellectual, mental, vital and physical bodies into divinity. The spiritual attainment of the 18 Siddhas and Babaji has been because of the grace of God (whom the Siddhas called Shiva, Muruga, Vishnu or Shakti) and the Kriyas or techniques used by them to prepare their gross bodies for the descent of the Divinity. Collectively, the techniques are known as "Kriya Yoga Siddhantham", which means, the practical yoga techniques that bring about final perfection in the realization of God or the ultimate Truth.

He lives with a small circle of disciples, but some of his greatest disciples are working in the world. His mission continues to manifest itself through the work of all who turn to him as their source of inspiration, as well as those who express pure love in thought, word and deed. Babaji is present wherever there is divine love. With their first initiation, the disciples learn to communicate with Babaji, and then transform their lives. Then they go and help resolve humanity's myriad, debilitating problems. The great vehicles of his mission are sadhana (the five fold path of Kriya Yoga), self-surrender of the limiting ego-consciousness, and selfless service

Source : http://omchaitanya.com/about_babaji.htm

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Bhoganathar , his young disciple Babaji Nagaraj at Kataragama

Kriya Babaji's visit to Kataragama in 214 AD as a chela of eleven years of age called Nagaraj to meet his first guru the fabulously long-lived rishi siddha Bhoganathar (one of the 18 siddhas pertaining to the present cycle of the four yugas, namely Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali Yugas). Siddha

BHOGAR

NAME OF SIDDHA

PLACE OF SAMATHI

DURATION OF LIFE

GURU

DISCIPLES

CONTRIBUTIONS

Bhogar

Palani

300 Years, 18 Days

Agastiyar
Kalangi Nathar

Babaji
Konkanavar
Karuvoorar
Pulippani

Yoga
Kaya Kalpa
Medicine
alchemy
Natural sciences
Philosophy

Bognathar who is also known as the Palani Malai Siddhar is one among the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Kalanginathar and Agastyar. He is a great alchemist of all times. His contributions include yoga, kaya kalpa, medicine, alchemy, natural sciences, philosophy etc. He is the one who has created and installed the idol of Lord Muruga in Palani malai temple. Till now even after ages, the composition of the idol has been a mystery to all scientists around the world. His disciples include Babaji, Konkanavar, Karuvoorar and Idai Kadar.

Source : http://www.palanitemples.com/english/18_siddhas_details.htm

Bhoganathar Siddhar Tamil Siddha who brought early Taoist practices from South India to China by Yogi Ananda Saraswathi

BHOGANATHAR SIDDHAR is identified as a Tamilian initiated into Jnana Yoga by Siddha Kalangi Nathar. These are his own admissions in ‘Jnana Sagarama’ – Bhogar’s Oceanic Life Story of 557 verses. Kalangi Nathar is controversially said to be a Chinese taken to Shaivite Siddha practice and spiritualism. He is one of the Eighteen Siddhas. Bhogar belonged to goldsmith caste by birth.

KALANGI NATHAR was born in Kasi. He is said to have attained the swarupa Samadhi – immortal Samadhi at the ago of 315. He is said to have made China the centre of his spiritual and teaching actitivities. Kalangi Nathar is from the ancient lineage of Nava Nath Sadhus. These sadhus are aligned to Lord Shiva and take to strict Shaivite practice.

There are nine important shrines associated with Nava Nath Sadhus. The main five are in the Himalayan range. The first, Amarnath is said to be where Lord Shiva first taught Kriya Yoga to Parvati. The other spots are Kedarnath, Badrinath, Kailasanath and Pasupatinath.

PALANI HILLS: Bhogar chose Palani Hills or Palani Malai for his spiritual enhancement and final stage of intensive tapas. There he developed the first three stages of Kundalini Yoga which he described in his ‘Kriya Kundalini Pranayama’. Through the grace of Lord Muruga, the eternally young Kumara Swami, Bhogar attained swarupa samadhi.

Thus Kumaraswami Temple in Palani became the epicenter of Bhogar’s activities from where he is said to have travelled astrally to several countries. It was in Palani that Bhogar convened a conference of siddhas. This was in 3102 BC to determine a suitable path forward in the Kali Yuga. The conference chose Bhakti Yoga for the coming period of darkness. Bhogar was assigned the task of defining worship rituals for Palani Andavar of Lord Muruga of Palani.

Bhogar outlined the procedure for the ceremonial bathing of the diety, Abhikeam for Palani Andavar. He also prescribed many sacred substances for abishekam. Panchamirtham is attributed to Bhogar. It consists of consists of five fruits and honey. This is followed till today by Hindus.

Bhogar wanted a temple deity to last throughout the Kali Yuga. Even class granite gave way sometimes. So Bhogar fashioned Nava Pashanam out of nine secret herbal and chemical ingredients with a catalyst. This compound created a substance harder than rock and steel. This is a mystery to scientist till this day.

PALANIANDAVAR TEMPLE: In Tamil Sangam literature, Palani is mentioned as ‘Podhini’. In ‘Thirumurukatruppadai’, Palani is named as the Lord Muruga’s third ‘Padai Veedu’ or sacred sthala. Many siddhas are said to have lived in this region. The deity of Palani is known as Dandayudhapani Swami, the Lord having the Staff in his Hand. Lord Dandayudhapani is in His renunciation form in his loincloth holding a danda in his hand. His message is ‘Renounce all to reach Me’ It is written that Lord u'. Here Lord Murugan of Kurinji land is the God of Beauty and Youth.

The deity at the sanctum sanctorum is unique as it is made out of an amalgam of nine minerals popularly called Navapashanam. This is Bhogar’s findings of herbal compounds being: Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam, Gauri, Vellai, Mridharsingh and Silasat.

SAPTANABDA: Pullippani is Bhogar’s disciple. He is so named as he is believed to have wandered in the forests atop a puli –tiger. Pullipanni quotes Bhogar as authority and is often referred to as abalaka. In his written dialogues, he states that Bhogar proceeded to China to spread the knowledge of siddha sciences. In noting astral travel, Pullipani implies an aircraft in use by Bhogar. These are documented in the Saptakanda. Pullipani took the name Yu when he travelled with Bhogar to China.

BO-YANG: Apparently Kalangi Nathar summoned Bhogar to China telepathically, as he decided to enter into samādhi in seclusion for 3,000 years. Bhogar was to take over Kalangi’s mission there. Some writings suggests a sea travel while others claim Bhogar reached China by astral means. There Kalangi instructed Bhogar in all aspects of the Siddha sciences including ‘kaya kalpa’ herbal formulae to promote longevity. Thereafter Kalangi is said to have entered into trance.

Bhogar is said to have assumed the name of Bo-yang after he took over the satguru’s seat. It is said he transmigrated his vital body into the physical body of a deceased Chinese man and called himself Bo-yang. It took 35 kinds of herbs to prepare ‘kaya kalpa’ formulae. It was tried on a dog, thereafter Bhogar demonstrated swarupa samadhi by taking the herbs-compounds.

BHOGAM: The name Bo-yang is derived from ‘Bhogam’ meaning material and spiritual bliss. It refers to the experience of Kundalini shakti, the feminine primordial ‘Yin’ energy which awakens when it passes up to the crown of the head, the seat of Shiva, the masculine ‘Yang’ pole, in the Sahasra cakra at the summit of the head and unites with it. The result of this integration of feminine and masculine parts of the being, is yoga of Shakti and Shiva, Yin and Yang. This Satchitananda state was unknown in China. Bhogar bring this to light there. But who is Bo-yang really?

LAO TSE: The kaya kalpa formulae that gave Bhogar lustrous body, pranayama techniques and kundalini yoga with Yin and Yang perspectives point to contemporaneously points to another parallel Chinese figure – Lao Tse. There are many writings that Bo-Yang is none other than Lao Tse.

He was the founder of Taoism of the 5th century B.C. He too propounded the theory of duality of matter; Yin and Yang conforming to Siddha Shiva-Shakti doctrine. The latter doctrine was uttered first by Adi-Siddhar, Agasthya Muni around 3500 BC. But alchemy as a science was known to the Chinese only around 135 BC. All Chinese alchemy literature seems to have commenced after Bhigar’s arrival in China and after 135 BC. There was no previous literature about Shiva-Shakti versus Yin and Yang before that also.

Geographically Bo-Yang and Lao-Tes seem to be from the same place. So, the emergence of Lao Tse with his theory of duality of matter or Yin and Yang and Bhogar’s presence in China at that very moment suggests one person in the working. There was another example in Yacob in Arabia who was Siddharishi Sriramadevar from India.

There is another give away. Bhoganathar Siddha is said to have left China around 400 BC. Thereafter there is no record of Lao-Tzu. Before that the said Lao-Tze published ‘Tao Ching’ with 37 verses. This is a book about ‘doing good to him who has done injury’, a replica of the Tamil Siddha, Thiruvalluvar’s works the Thirukkura. This Yoga Siddhanta was unknown to the Chinese except through Bhogar.

BHOGAR SAPTA KANDAM: Upon his return, Bhogar visited several shrines in the Himalayas. He went to Kamarupa, the Assamese Tantric Shakti shrine. With the blessing of Lord Shiva, Bhogar composed Bhogar Sapta Kandam of 700,000 verses, later abridged to 7,000 verses. In the South, he introduced Cina-caram, the Chinese salts and chemistry and porcelain making. He submitted his Bhigar Sapta Kandam to Agastya Muni at Courtrallam. The academy of siddhas endorsed Bhogar’s works.

DISCIPLES: Konkanavar, Karuvoorar, Nandeeswar, Kamala Muni, Satta Muni, Macchamuni, and Sundarandar became his disciples to study the sciences of kaya kalpa and yoga. This teaching mission was continued by Pulipani.

SHRINE: There are various claims as to Bhogar’s shrines. Generally it is believed to be in the Palani Hills. It is south west of the Palaniandavar Temple. Bhogar's body rests here. The image of Nava Durga or Mother Bhuvaneshvari, Shiva Linga in its Maragadha or emerald form worshipped by Bhoghar are found here. There is also a mysterious underground passage that links the sanctum sanctorum with the Bhogar shrine.

Hara Hara Mahadev.

source : http://vedicgoddess.weebly.com

Bhogar Nathar

Bhogar receiving instructions from his teacher Kalangi Nathar

Bhogar woshiping Lord Dandayudhapani

Bhogar worshipping Lord Dandayudhapani

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Ananta Himalayas