Lahiri Mahasaya

Biography

Lahiri Mahasaya was born to Bengali Brahmin parents Gourmohan and Muktakeshi Lahiri on 30 September 1828, in the village of Ghurni, Dist. Nadia, West Bengal, India, according to Yogananda. In 1832, a flood killed his mother and destroyed their home, after which his family moved to Varanasi, where he received education in philosophy, Sanskrit, and English. His father arranged for him to be married to Kashimoni in 1846, and he taught her how to read. In 1851, he began working as a clerk and tutor.

On 27 November 1861, Lahiri Mahasaya met Babaji in the mountains near Ranikhet. Babaji taught him a meditation technique called Kriya Yoga, which Lahiri Mahasaya then taught to many others, including his wife, Paramahansa Yogananda's parents, and Sri Yukteswar Giri, guru of Yogananda.

Hundreds of people sought initiation from Lahiri Mahasaya, who would often gather his devotees for discussions on the Bhagavad Gita. Lahiri Mahasaya preferred to teach in secret and without forming an organisation, but he eventually allowed his disciples to form the Arya Mission in Kolkata to spread his teachings. Some disciples copied down his talks and compiled them into books. He died in 1895.