YOGIRAJ SRI SHYAMACHARAN LAHIRI MAHASAYA
On September 30, 1828, Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharn Lahiri Mahasaya was born. The term “Yogiraj” in Sanskrit means “King of Yogis,” and it was used by Kashi’s “Sachal Vishwanath, The Walking Shiva,” Sri Trailanga Swami, to refer to Sri Lahari Mahasaya. He was a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. Upon receiving Kriyayoga from Mahavatar Babaji in 1861, he revitalized the yogic science.
He was a householder who served as an accountant for the Military Engineering Department of the British Indian government. Lahiri Mahasaya lived in Varanasi with his family, as opposed to residing in a temple or monastery. According to Sri Yoganandaji, Mahavatar Babaji selected Sri Lahiri Mahasaya to reintroduce the forgotten art of Kriyayoga to the world.
In 1861, Sri Lahiri Mahasaya had been moved to Ranikhet, a small village situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. When he was walking the hills one day, he heard a voice calling out to him. After continuing his ascension, he encountered his Guru, Mahavatar Babaji, who introduced him to Kriyayoga practices. Shri Lahiri Mahasaya was informed by Babaji that he would dedicate the remainder of his life to the dissemination of the Kriyayoga teachings.
Shortly thereafter, he traveled to Varanasi and started teaching Kriyayoga to sincere seekers. Over time, people of all kinds came to him to be initiated into Kriyayoga. Sri Lahiri Mahasaya did not discriminate against caste, creed, or community, and he introduced individuals from all walks of life to the Kriya path. According to Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, the fragrant essence of Kriya would spread naturally, and he had little faith in organized religion.
Sri Lahiri Mahasaya prioritized the guru-disciple relationship when it came to Kriya initiation. He emphasized the importance of unwavering and complete devotion to one’s guru. On September 26, 1895, he consciously departed his body by twisting it three times, facing north, and entering Mahasamadhi.