Kriya Yoga overview

Kriya Yoga is a very specific system of Yoga thatdynasty."
was revived in modern times by Lahiri Mahasaya, cYogananda says that Patanjali was referring to Kriya
1861. Paramahansa Yogananda brought it intoYoga when he wrote "Kriya Yoga consists of body
widespread public awareness through his bookdiscipline, mental control, and meditating on Aum."[5]
Autobiography of a Yogi. The system consists of aAnd again when he says,"Liberation can be
number of yogic techniques that hasten theaccomplished by that pranayama which is attained by
practitioner's spiritual development and help to bringdisjoining the course of inspiration and expiration."
about a profound state of tranquility andThere are numerous organizations and teachers that
God-communion.present themselves as teaching the Kriya Yoga that
Yogananda writes that, "The Kriya Yogi mentallyLahiri Mahasaya brought to the world. Following are
directs his life energy to revolve, upward andsome of them, arranged by the Guru lineage from
downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary,which they descended.
cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygealThat trace their source to Lahiri Mahasaya, through
plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signsvarious branches
of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-halfKriya Yoga Institute, founded by Paramahamsa
minute of revolution of energy around the sensitiveHariharananda, a direct disciple of Swami Sri
spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in hisYukteswar Giri.
evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one yearKriya Yoga Foundation (various practice groups in
of natural spiritual unfoldment."most European countries, Russia and India), founded
Recent historyby Swami Shankarananda Giri, a direct disciple of
According to Yogananda, Kriya Yoga was well-knownSwami Narayana Giri (Prabhujee) who in turn was
in ancient India, but was eventually lost, due toone of the closest disciples of Swami Sri Yukteswar
"priestly secrecy and man -- indifference." The storyGiri.
of Lahiri Mahasaya receiving initiation into Kriya YogaThe filial lineage of Lahiri Mahasaya continues in the
by the immortal yogi Mahavatar Babaji in 1861 isperson of Shibendu Lahiri, the great-grandson of Lahiri
recounted in Autobiography of a Yogi.[2] At thatMahasaya.
meeting, Yogananda wrote that Mahavatar BabajiYogacharya Dr.Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee is a disciple
told Lahiri Mahasaya, "The Kriya Yoga that I amof Satya Charan Lahiri Mahasaya, grandson of Lahiri
giving to the world through you in this nineteenthMahasaya.
century, is a revival of the same science that KrishnaSri Shailendra Sharma is a disciple of Shree Satya
gave milleniums ago to Arjuna; and was later knownCharan Lahiri Mahasaya, one of the grandsons of
to Patanjali and Christ."Lahiri Mahasaya.
Through Lahiri Mahasaya, Kriya Yoga soon spreadSwami Satyeswarananda Giri is a disciple of Swami
throughout India. Yogananda, a disciple of Swami SriSatyananda Giri, a direct disciple of Swami Sri
Yukteswar Giri who was himself a disciple of LahiriYukteswar Giri.
Mahasaya, then brought Kriya Yoga to the UnitedThat trace their source to Lahiri Mahasaya through
States and Europe during the 20th century. SinceParamahansa Yogananda
that time it has spread throughout the world throughSelf-Realization Fellowship, founded by Paramahansa
various Guru lineages, most of which claim descentYogananda.
from Lahiri Mahasaya.Ananda, founded by Swami Kriyananda, a direct
Lahiri Mahasaya's most well-known disciples weredisciple of Paramahansa Yogananda.
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Panchanon Bhattacharya,Center for Spiritual Awareness, founded by Roy
Swami Pranabananda, Swami Kebalananda, SwamiEugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa
Keshabananda, and Bhupendranath Sanyal (SanyalYogananda.
Mahasaya).Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism, founded
Early scripture referencesby Swami Premananda, a direct disciple of
Yogananda says that Krishna refers to Kriya Yoga inParamahansa Yogananda.
the Bhagavad Gita:Cross and Lotus organization, founded by
"Offering inhaling breath into the outgoing breath, andYogacharya Mildred Hamilton, a direct disciple of
offering the outgoing breath into the inhaling breath,Paramahansa Yogananda.
the yogi neutralizes both these breaths; he thusSong of the Morning Retreat Center, founded by
releases the life force from the heart and brings itYogacharya Oliver Black, a direct disciple of
under his control."Yogananda.
Also, that Krishna was referring to Kriya Yoga whenTemple of Kriya Yoga, begun by Goswami
"Krishna relates that it was he, in a formerKriyananda, Disciple of Shri Shelliji, direct Disciple of
incarnation, who communicated the indestructibleYogananda.
yoga to an ancient illuminato, Vivasvat, who gave itCenter for Spiritual Enlightenment, founded by Rev.
to Manu, the great legislator. He, in turn, instructedEllen Grace O'Brian, a direct disciple of Roy Eugene
Ikshwaku, the father of India -- solar warriorDavis