Yogiraj Shri Shri Lahiri Mahashay

Professor Bhattacharya offers an English-language version of the life of Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahasaya.

A householder was seated in his own drawing room at Benares, in the lotus posture, surrounded by his disciples. His complexion was fair and his body well-built. His dreamy eyes were half-closed, fixed as they were on something not of this earth. The aura of his tranquility pervaded the atmosphere. He was explaining the Bhagavad-Gita. The householder was the greatest Yogi of the 19th century, whose cosmic consciousness was entirely free from the limitations of space and time. He was Yogiraj Shri Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashaya. Kriya Yoga teaches man that God is to be discovered in his own body first, concentrating his gaze on the point between his eyebrows.

The need for a complete biography in English of Yogiraj Shri Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashaya has been very strongly felt. There are chapters on Shri Shri Lahiri Mahashaya in the English Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda, his spiritual grandson. But all the other biographies of this Great Saint are written in Bengali or Hindi. The present volume is an outcome of a Gracious Command of my beloved Gurudeva Yogiguru Shrimat Brahmachari Anilanandaji Maharaj. How else could I dare to go into the mystery of an astounding spiritual personality like Shri Shri Lahiri Mahashaya? The main outlines of the life of the Yogiraj are the same in all the available versions of his biography. There, are, however, a few minor differences in details. In such cases I have followed the descriptions of his great spiritual descendants whose insight can be absolutely relied upon. Let the fruit of this labour be offered to the Lotus Feet of Shriguru. "Hari Om."

This book contains the following works of Lahiri Mahasaya translated into English by Yoga Niketan: CONTENTS 1. Manu Samhita or Manu-Rahasya 2. Krishna-Yajurvediya Tejabindu Upanishad 3. Krishna-Yajurvediya Dhyanabindu Upanishad 4. Krishna-Yajurvediya Amritabindu Upanishad 5. Niralamba Upanishad 6. Patanjali Yoga Sutras 7. Garland of Letters (Patravali) In the middle of the eyebrows, at the root of the nasal passage, is the abode of Nectar; if one abides there--the One Who resides there--it is He that is Eternal; He is Omnipresent; thus Supreme. - Yogiraj Lahiri Mahasaya from Commentary on Krishna-Yajurvediya Dhyanabindu Upanishad Throw vayu up into space, abide as no-self in the par avastha of Kriya, remain only in Brahman with breath sealed in Brahman and do yunjana. Via this, there will be rechak--meaning: you will be Still. - Yogiraj Lahiri Mahasaya from Commentary on Krishna-Yajurvediya Amritabindu Upanishad Remain steadfast in the poise of Kriya and proceed accordingly and all will be good. - Yogiraj Lahiri Mahasaya from the Garland of Letters 307 pages

The need for a complete biography in English of Yogiraj Shri Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashaya has been very strongly felt. There are chapters on Shri Shri Lahiri Mahashaya in the English Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda, his spiritual grandson. But all the other biographies of this Great Saint are written in Bengali or Hindi. The present volume is an outcome of a Gracious Command of my beloved Gurudeva Yogiguru Shrimat Brahmachari Anilanandaji Maharaj. How else could I dare to go into the mystery of an astounding spiritual personality like Shri Shri Lahiri Mahashaya? The main outlines of the life of the Yogiraj are the same in all the available versions of his biography. There, are, however, a few minor differences in details. In such cases I have followed the descriptions of his great spiritual descendants whose insight can be absolutely relied upon. Let the fruit of this labour be offered to the Lotus Feet of Shri Guru. "Hari Om."

A Collection of Biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga Gurus contains the following four books originally written in Bengali: 1) Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya: A Biography by Swami Satyananda Giri 2) Yogacharya Shastri Mahasaya: A Short Biographical Sketch of Hansaswami Kebalanandaji Maharaj by Swami Satyananda Giri 3) Swami Sriyukteshvar Giri Maharaj: A Biography by Swami Satyananda Giri 4) Yogananda Sanga: Paramhansa Yoganandaji As I Have Seen and Understood Him by Swami Satyananda Giri The collection also contains: Kriya Quotes, excerpts of an interview with Swami Satyananda. Translated into English by Yoga Niketan. 313 pages.

"The true spiritual commentary on the Bhagavad Gita is hereby published. Other than Kriyanvitas, no one else will be capable of understanding this, the reason being that from the beginning to end, Kriya and the states of Kriya are described here. If ordinary people read this they can create opposite meanings and, only paying attention to the words and language, will create all kinds of complicated agrumentations; thus, not understanding the essense of this, they will go about with nothing but the words. But for aware and devoted Kriyavans, this is a jewel of the heart. As they progress in Kriya - in the same way will they easily be able to discern its [the work's] true significance." -distilled from the Introduction of the original Bengali Edition English translation by Yoga Niketan Print edition is 657 pages