PARAMAHAMSA HARIHARANANDA AND THE KRIYA YOGA TRADITION

The realization of the unity between the being and soul is yoga.  Again the prime intention of yoga is to establish relationship between man and God.  Like that the direct realization of the existence of God is the aim of spiritual sadhana.  It is made possible by Kriya Yoga sadhana.  The pursuit of spiritual process is sadhana.  In order to achieve the ultimate aim of life it functions as a means.  The means by the help of which great acharyas and yogis have discovered the skills should be followed to realize God as that is the best means.  For a dedicated spiritual aspirant, the scientific techniques of Kriya Yoga functions as the path finders.  It is the essence of Raja yoga as told by Lord Sri Krishna described in the Bhagawad Gita.  It is the essence of the sadhana and Kriya Yoga as described in Yoga darshna by Maharshi Patanjali.  It is a special technique.  Babaji Maharaj taught it to Lahiri baba, Lahiri baba taught it to Sri Yukteswar Giri Maharaj and Sri Yukteswarji taught this skill to Paramahamsa Yogananda and Paramahamsa Hariharananda.  Though this Kriya Yoga is a simple technique, it is like a highway in spiritual sadhana.  Though it holds the essence of all the yogas, it is different from all the techniques.

It can give rise to hope in the hopeless life of this age.  It can give joy to a dejected life.  It can give power to the weak.  It can give intelligence to a dull headed man.  It can provide consolation and peace to a broken man.  It can awaken new power and inspiration for action in a tired and exhausted life.  It can also open up the path towards liberation.  This Kriya Yoga is based on natural breathing.  Huge amounts of oxygen enter into the heart, lungs and the brain during Kriya due to deep breathing.  Oxygen activates the cells of the brain.  By means of this the power of the brain, the ability to understand and intelligence can develop.  The effort towards peace is the aim of every religion.  By the help of this Kriya Yoga technique, deep peace and self-realization are experienced.  Quick success can be achieved in any fields of life by this sadhana.

For spiritual development, the complete rise of body, mind, intellect, morality and wisdom is necessary.  Kriya Yoga is the most powerful process for this change.  The yogic posture known as Mahamudra transmits the life force into all the parts of the body in equal proportion and into the spine also.  The susumna inside the spine functioning like a magnet transforms into an all accomplishing divine force.  It is known as the awakening of the Kundalini.  It makes the brain clear and quiet because our total consciousness is centred in the susumna.  By this Kriya Yoga, the evolution and upliftment of man becomes sharper.  As at the touch of electric waves a living body experiences vibration, just like that at the initiation of Kriya Yoga sadhana a sadhaka experiences divine light, divine vibration and divine anahata sound.  The word ‘Kriya’ is derived from the root ‘kr’, its meaning is ‘to do’.  We will have to discharge all our duties and responsibilities.  The meaning of ‘ya’ refers to the power that inspires us to do our duties which means God.  We will have to experience this power in every action and feeling.  By Kriya Yoga sadhana a sadhaka witnesses a new awakening and new horizons of bliss.  Its influence is as fruitful as mathematical truth.  Simultaneous development of the body, mind and sprit within a brief time is the specialty of this Kriya Yoga.  Therefore it is a life-giving and easy process.

The great guru of Kriya Yoga Paramahamsa Hariharananda was born in a staunch Brahmin family at Habibpur within Nadia, the hold land of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s birth, in West Bengal.  He was a close disciple of Sri Yukteswarji, the founder of Karar Ashram.  Later at the direction of his guru he received higher Kriya sadhana from Paramahamsa Yogananda.  Paramahamsa Yogananda was a yogi know across the world.  Paramahamsa Hariharananda received the six stages of Samadhi between 1943 and 1947.  He became known as a brahmadarshi siddha yogi in the tradition of Lahiri baba, Sri Yukteswarji and Pramahamsa Yogananda.  He drew the attention of the learned people in India and the West due to his scholarship in the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, Astrology, Astronomy, Palmistry and various yoga sadhanas.  He claimed a position of great honour among the Indian yogis. 

With the support of Hariharananda Kriya Yoga Mission Pramahamsa Hariharananda established a Kriya Yoga Ashram in Sambalpur and placed the house-hold sadhaka Rajarshi Ragabananda here.  This Kriya Yoga Ashram offers spiritual instructions to the sadhakas and the seekers for their self-realization. For the fulfillment of this goal every day meditation and sadhana techniques are taught at the direct guidance of Rajarshi Raghabananda.  At his direction Hariharananda Kriya Yoga Mission has established various meditation centers for the propagation and teaching of Kriya Yoga sadhana towards the betterment of human civilization.