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Article #2: Kriya Yoga overview

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






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