| Kriya Yoga is a very specific system of Yoga | | | | Yogananda says that Patanjali was referring |
| that was revived in modern times by Lahiri | | | | to Kriya Yoga when he wrote "Kriya Yoga |
| Mahasaya, c 1861. Paramahansa Yogananda | | | | consists of body discipline, mental control, |
| brought it into widespread public awareness | | | | and meditating on Aum."[5] And again when he |
| through his book Autobiography of a Yogi. The | | | | says,"Liberation can be accomplished by that |
| system consists of a number of yogic | | | | pranayama which is attained by disjoining the |
| techniques that hasten the practitioner's | | | | course of inspiration and expiration." |
| spiritual development and help to bring about | | | | |
| a profound state of tranquility and | | | | There are numerous organizations and teachers |
| God-communion. | | | | that present themselves as teaching the Kriya |
| | | | Yoga that Lahiri Mahasaya brought to the |
| Yogananda writes that, "The Kriya Yogi | | | | world. Following are some of them, arranged |
| mentally directs his life energy to revolve, | | | | by the Guru lineage from which they |
| upward and downward, around the six spinal | | | | descended. |
| centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, | | | | |
| sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which | | | | That trace their source to Lahiri Mahasaya, |
| correspond to the twelve astral signs of the | | | | through various branches |
| zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half | | | | |
| minute of revolution of energy around the | | | | Kriya Yoga Institute, founded by Paramahamsa |
| sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle | | | | Hariharananda, a direct disciple of Swami Sri |
| progress in his evolution; that half-minute | | | | Yukteswar Giri. |
| of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual | | | | |
| unfoldment." | | | | Kriya Yoga Foundation (various practice |
| | | | groups in most European countries, Russia and |
| Recent history | | | | India), founded by Swami Shankarananda Giri, |
| | | | a direct disciple of Swami Narayana Giri |
| According to Yogananda, Kriya Yoga was | | | | (Prabhujee) who in turn was one of the |
| well-known in ancient India, but was | | | | closest disciples of Swami Sri Yukteswar |
| eventually lost, due to "priestly secrecy and | | | | Giri. |
| man -- indifference." The story of Lahiri | | | | |
| Mahasaya receiving initiation into Kriya Yoga | | | | The filial lineage of Lahiri Mahasaya |
| by the immortal yogi Mahavatar Babaji in 1861 | | | | continues in the person of Shibendu Lahiri, |
| is recounted in Autobiography of a Yogi.[2] | | | | the great-grandson of Lahiri Mahasaya. |
| At that meeting, Yogananda wrote that | | | | |
| Mahavatar Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya, "The | | | | Yogacharya Dr.Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee is a |
| Kriya Yoga that I am giving to the world | | | | disciple of Satya Charan Lahiri Mahasaya, |
| through you in this nineteenth century, is a | | | | grandson of Lahiri Mahasaya. |
| revival of the same science that Krishna gave | | | | |
| milleniums ago to Arjuna; and was later known | | | | Sri Shailendra Sharma is a disciple of Shree |
| to Patanjali and Christ." | | | | Satya Charan Lahiri Mahasaya, one of the |
| | | | grandsons of Lahiri Mahasaya. |
| Through Lahiri Mahasaya, Kriya Yoga soon | | | | |
| spread throughout India. Yogananda, a | | | | Swami Satyeswarananda Giri is a disciple of |
| disciple of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri who was | | | | Swami Satyananda Giri, a direct disciple of |
| himself a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, then | | | | Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. |
| brought Kriya Yoga to the United States and | | | | |
| Europe during the 20th century. Since that | | | | That trace their source to Lahiri Mahasaya |
| time it has spread throughout the world | | | | through Paramahansa Yogananda |
| through various Guru lineages, most of which | | | | |
| claim descent from Lahiri Mahasaya. | | | | Self-Realization Fellowship, founded by |
| | | | Paramahansa Yogananda. |
| Lahiri Mahasaya's most well-known disciples | | | | |
| were Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Panchanon | | | | Ananda, founded by Swami Kriyananda, a direct |
| Bhattacharya, Swami Pranabananda, Swami | | | | disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. |
| Kebalananda, Swami Keshabananda, and | | | | |
| Bhupendranath Sanyal (Sanyal Mahasaya). | | | | Center for Spiritual Awareness, founded by |
| | | | Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of |
| Early scripture references | | | | Paramahansa Yogananda. |
| | | | |
| Yogananda says that Krishna refers to Kriya | | | | Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism, |
| Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita: | | | | founded by Swami Premananda, a direct |
| | | | disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. |
| "Offering inhaling breath into the outgoing | | | | |
| breath, and offering the outgoing breath into | | | | Cross and Lotus organization, founded by |
| the inhaling breath, the yogi neutralizes | | | | Yogacharya Mildred Hamilton, a direct |
| both these breaths; he thus releases the life | | | | disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. |
| force from the heart and brings it under his | | | | |
| control." | | | | Song of the Morning Retreat Center, founded |
| | | | by Yogacharya Oliver Black, a direct disciple |
| Also, that Krishna was referring to Kriya | | | | of Yogananda. |
| Yoga when "Krishna relates that it was he, in | | | | |
| a former incarnation, who communicated the | | | | Temple of Kriya Yoga, begun by Goswami |
| indestructible yoga to an ancient illuminato, | | | | Kriyananda, Disciple of Shri Shelliji, direct |
| Vivasvat, who gave it to Manu, the great | | | | Disciple of Yogananda. |
| legislator. He, in turn, instructed Ikshwaku, | | | | |
| the father of India -- solar warrior | | | | Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, founded |
| dynasty." | | | | by Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian, a direct |
| | | | disciple of Roy Eugene Davis |