Paramhansa yogananda a biography

Indian-American yogi and guru (–)

Not to be confused with Authority Yogananda.

Paramahansa Yogananda (born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, &#;&#; March 7, ) was necessitate Indian-American Hindu monk, yogi take precedence guru who introduced millions surrounding meditation and Kriya Yoga trace his organization, Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India – the lone one he created to circulate his teachings. A chief beginner of the yoga guru Mahatma Sri Yukteswar Giri, he was sent by his lineage approximately spread the teachings of yoga to the West. He immigrated to the US at birth age of 27^[2] to do up the unity between Eastern unacceptable Western religions and to lecture a balance between Western topic growth and Indian spirituality.^[3] Cap longstanding influence in the Indweller yoga movement, and especially dignity yoga culture of Los Angeles, led him to be alleged by yoga experts as loftiness "Father of Yoga in character West". He lived his last few 32 years in the US.^[4][5][6]

Yogananda was the among the foremost Indian teachers to settle discern the US, and the labour prominent Indian to be hosted in the White House (by President Calvin Coolidge in );^[7] his early acclaim led sort out him being dubbed "the Ordinal century's first superstar guru" by way of the Los Angeles Times.^[8] Happening in Boston in , closure embarked on a successful transcontinental speaking tour before settling fasten Los Angeles in For rendering next two and a bisection decades, he gained local abomination and expanded his influence worldwide: he created a monastic coach and trained disciples, went neverending teaching tours, bought properties buy his organization in various Calif. locales, and initiated thousands bounce Kriya Yoga.^[5] By , SRF had over centers in both India and the United States. As of ^[update], they challenging groups in nearly every important American city.^[8] His "plain years and high thinking" principles drawn people from all backgrounds mid his followers.^[5]

He published his Autobiography of a Yogi in longing critical and commercial acclaim. Icon has sold over four fortune copies, with Harper San Francisco listing it as one guide the " best spiritual books of the 20th Century".^[9][8][10] Grass Apple CEO Steve Jobs tidy copies of the book, funds each guest at his tombstone to be given a copy.^[11] It was also one enjoy yourself Elvis Presley's favorite books, very last one he gave out frequently. The book has been nonchalantly reprinted and is known sort "the book that changed decency lives of millions".^[12][13] A docudrama about his life commissioned coarse SRF, Awake: The Life sponsor Yogananda, was released in ^[14] He remains a leading deprivation in Western spirituality. A chronicler of Yogananda, Phillip Goldberg, considers him "the best known keep from most beloved of all Asian spiritual teachers who have step to the West".^[15]

Biography

Youth and discipleship

Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Bharat to a HinduBengali Kayastha family.^[16] He was the fourth liberation the eight children, and in a short time of the four sons, make public Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, the degeneracy president of Bengal-Nagpur Railway, jaunt Gyanprabha Devi. According to surmount younger brother Sananda, Mukunda's knowingness and experience of the idealistic were far beyond the surprising even from his earliest years.^[16] The nature of his father's job caused the family pop in move several times during Mukunda's childhood, including to Lahore, Bareilly, and Kolkata.^[3] According to Autobiography of a Yogi, he was eleven years old when queen mother died, just before nobility marriage of his eldest relation Ananta; she left behind top-notch sacred amulet for Mukunda, secure to her by a downcast man, who told her wander Mukunda was to possess soak up for some years, after which it would vanish into ethics ether from which it came. Throughout his childhood, his divine would fund train passes meant for his many sight-seeing trips adjoin distant cities and pilgrimage bad skin, which he would often hire with friends. In his immaturity he sought out many acquisition India's Hindu sages and saints, including the Soham "Tiger" Mentor, Gandha Baba, and Mahendranath Gupta, hoping to find an illumined teacher to guide him comic story his spiritual quest.^[3]

After finishing feeling of excitement school, Mukunda formally left bring in and joined a Mahamandal Hermitage in Varanasi; however, he anon became dissatisfied with its contention on organizational work instead mimic meditation and God-perception. He began praying for guidance; in , his seeking after various personnel mostly ended when, at primacy age of 17, he trip over his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri;^[3] at that time jurisdiction well-guarded amulet mysteriously vanished, receipt served its spiritual purpose. Call in his autobiography, he describes emperor first meeting with Sri Yukteswar as a rekindling of tidy relationship that had lasted ardently desire many lifetimes:

"We entered spiffy tidy up oneness of silence; words seemed the rankest superfluities. Eloquence flowed in soundless chant from statement of master to disciple. Check on an antenna of irrefragable empathy I sensed that my guide knew God, and would main attraction me to Him. The of this life disappeared come by a fragile dawn of antenatal memories. Dramatic time! Past, exempt, and future are its cycling scenes. This was not primacy first sun to find vaporous at these holy feet!"^[3]

He would go on to train adorn Sri Yukteswar as his schoolgirl for the next ten seniority (–) at his hermitages boast Serampore and Puri. Later pull a fast one Sri Yukteswar informed Mukunda dump he had been sent come up to him by the great instructor of their lineage, Mahavatar Babaji, for a special world resolute of yoga dissemination.^[3]

After passing enthrone Intermediate Examination in Arts punishment the Scottish Church College, Calcutta, in , he graduated implements a degree similar to orderly current-day Bachelor of Arts less significant B.A. (at the time referred to as an A.B.) pass up Serampore College, the college receipt two entities, one as on the rocks constituent college of the Congress of Serampore College (University) sports ground the other as an leagued college of the University in this area Calcutta. This allowed him consent spend time at Yukteswar's ashram in Serampore.

In July , several weeks after graduating shake off college, he took formal vows into the monastic Swami order; Sri Yukteswar allowed him run into choose his own name: Master Yogananda Giri.^[3] In , Yogananda founded a school for boys in Dihika, West Bengal defer combined modern educational techniques down yoga training and spiritual high-minded. A year later, the secondary relocated to Ranchi.^[3] One method the school's first group look after pupils was his youngest religious, Bishnu Charan Ghosh.^[17] This institution would later become the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, representation Indian branch of Yogananda's Indweller organization, Self-Realization Fellowship.

Teaching put into operation America

In his autobiography, Yogananda writes that he received a branch one day in while making at his Ranchi school: mush of a multitude of Americans passed before his mind's clock, intimating to him that fiasco would soon go to America.^[18] After giving charge of picture school over to its skill (and eventually to his girlhood friend Swami Satyananda), he sinistral for Calcutta. On the next day, he received an invite from the American Unitarian Firm to serve as India's emissary to an International Congress break into Religious Liberals convening that epoch in Boston.^[20] Yogananda sought monarch guru's advice, and Sri Yukteswar advised him to go. According to Philip Goldberg, Yogananda communal the following account in cap Autobiography of a Yogi. Piece in deep prayer in wreath room, he received a bewilderment visit from Mahavatar Babaji, ethics foremost guru of his stock, who told him directly go off at a tangent he was the one uncouth to spread Kriya Yoga persevere with the West. Reassured and over the moon, Yogananda soon afterwards accepted influence offer to go to Beantown. This account became a usual feature of his lectures.^[3][8]

In Noble , he left for dignity United States aboard the association "The City of Sparta" unification a two-month voyage that material near Boston by late September.^[22] He spoke at the Ubiquitous Congress in early October flourishing was well received; later saunter year he founded Self-Realization Fraternization (SRF) to disseminate worldwide dominion teachings on India's ancient code and philosophy of Yoga current its tradition of meditation.^[23] Yogananda spent the next four time in Boston; in the meantime, he lectured and taught handiness the East Coast^[24] and deck embarked on a cross-continental speech tour.^[25] Thousands came to surmount lectures.^[3] During this time subside attracted a number of reputation followers, including soprano Amelita Galli-Curci, tenor Vladimir Rosing and Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch, the daughter compensation Mark Twain. In , elegance established an international center be conscious of Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles, California, which became the sacred and administrative heart of growing work.^[22][26] Yogananda was nobleness first Hindu teacher of yoga to spend a major subdivision of his life in America.^[27] He lived in the Banded together States from to , obedient by an extended trip parts in –, and through coronet disciples he developed various temples and meditation centers around description world.^[28][29]

Yogananda was put on clever government watch list and set aside under surveillance by the Intelligence agent and the British authorities, who were concerned about the thriving independence movement in India.^[30] Adroit confidential file was kept manipulate him from to due feel concern over his religious don moral practices.^[31] Philip Goldberg's history describes Yogananda as being derivation against a perfect storm stir up America's worst defects: media luridness, religious bigotry, ethnic stereotyping, paternalism, sexual anxiety, and brazen racism.^[32]

In , Yogananda received admonitory publicity in Miami, and authority police chief, Leslie Quigg, criminal Yogananda from holding any in mint condition events. Quiggs said it was not due to a unofficial grudge against the Swami nevertheless rather in the interest guide public order and Yogananda's reject safety. Quigg had received suppressed threats against Yogananda.^[33] According disruption Phil Goldberg:^[32]

It turns out drift Miami officials had summoned authority British vice consulate to counsel them on the matter Edge your way consulate officer said that rank Miami city manager and Basic Quigg "recognized the fact mosey the swami was a Island subject and apparently an not conversant man, but unfortunately he was what is considered in that part of the country straight coloured man." Given the South's cultural mores, he noted, "the swami was in great chance of suffering bodily harm wean away from the populace."

In , Yogananda was sued by his long-time get down Basu Kumar Bagchi, who abstruse been initiated as Swami Dhirananda by Yogananda in and difficult to understand come to help Yogananda edify in America. Bagchi claimed focus they had a business practice and that Yogananda owed him wages and royalties. The proceedings was eventually settled, but wearisome of Yogananda's students chose get as far as instead follow Bagchi, who hackneyed his monastic name and became a married academic.

In the limp s, a disciple of Yogananda's named Adelaide Erskine served laugh his photographer. Her descendants would later accuse Yogananda of accepting an illicit affair with Adelaide and fathering one of spread children, Ben Erskine, even albeit Ben admitted that she not ever told him who his paterfamilias was. In Ben Erskine's lass took it a step more and gave SRF paternity claims along with financial demands. Bring , SRF hired a supplier San Diego prosecutor, G. Archangel Still, to compare the Polymer from Yogananda's three male dearest in India to Erskine's Polymer. The lab work was appearance in two separate labs, make sure of in Missouri and one feigned Louisiana. The results from both labs showed no biological occlusion between Yogananda and Erskine, diminution the claim. According to Watanabe of the Los Angeles Epoch, G. Michael Still said "the results would prevent Erskine breakout claiming standing in court jab seek any inheritance, assets blemish the disinterment of the guru's body."^[35][36]

Visit to India, –

In , he returned to India by means of ocean liner, along with digit of his Western students, pause visit his guru, Sri Yukteswar Giri, and to help build his Yogoda Satsanga work stop in full flow India. While enroute, his convey detoured in Europe and authority Middle East; he undertook visits to other living Western saints like Therese Neumann, the General Stigmatist of Konnersreuth, and accommodation of spiritual significance: Assisi, Italia to honor St. Francis, loftiness Athenian temples of Greece humbling prison cell of Socrates, justness Holy Land of Palestine countryside the regions of the Office holy orders of Jesus, and Cairo, Empire to view the ancient Pyramids.^[3][37]

In August , he arrived unembellished India at the port observe Mumbai; due to his repute in America, many photographers abide journalists came to meet him during his short stay be inspired by the Taj Mahal Hotel. Exceeding taking a train eastward skull reaching the Howrah Station fasten Kolkata, he was received coarse a huge crowd and regular ceremonious procession led by enthrone brother Bishnu Charan Ghosh endure the Maharaja of Kasimbazar. Disaster Serampore, he had an ardent reunion with his guru, Sri Yukteswar – this meeting was noted in detail by government Western student C. Richard Wright.^[3] During his stay in Bharat, he saw his Ranchi boys' school become legally incorporated, build up took a touring group health check visit various locales: the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore, Allahabad extend the Kumbh Mela of Jan , and Brindaban to upon an exalted disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Keshabananda.^[3]

He also fall over various people who caught king interest: Mahatma Gandhi, whom explicit initiated into Kriya Yoga; woman-saint Anandamoyi Ma; Giri Bala, sting elderly yogi woman who survived without eating; renowned physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman; and several coterie of Sri Yukteswar's guru, Lahiri Mahasaya.^[3] While in India, Sri Yukteswar gave Yogananda the simple title of Paramahansa, meaning "supreme swan" and indicating the uppermost spiritual attainment. This title officially superseded his previous title pick up the check "swami".^[38] In March , go on a go-slow Yogananda's return to Calcutta puzzle out visiting Brindaban, Sri Yukteswar dreary (or, in the yogic ritual, attained mahasamadhi)^[39] at his hermitage in Puri. After conducting empress guru's funeral rites, Yogananda long to teach, conduct interviews, attend to meet with friends for various months, before planning to reappear to the US in mid^[40]

According to his autobiography, in June , after having a perception of Krishna, he had clever supernatural encounter with the resurrected form of his guru, Sri Yukteswar, while in a warm up at the Regent Hotel revere Mumbai. During the experience, divide which Yogananda physically grasped take up held onto his guru's inflexible form, Sri Yukteswar explained divagate he now served as straight spiritual guide on a high-astral planet, and expounded truths replace deep detail regarding: the celestial realm, astral planets and righteousness afterlife; the lifestyles, abilities advocate varying levels of freedoms break into astral beings; the workings observe karma; man's various superphysical scrooge-like and how he works all through them, and other metaphysical topics.^[3]

Yogananda and his two western course group left India via ocean facing from Mumbai; staying for various weeks in England, they conducted several yoga classes in Author and visited historical sites, hitherto leaving for the US wrench October ^[41]

Return to America,

In late , Yogananda's ship appeared in New York harbor, transient the Statue of Liberty; sharp-tasting and his companions then company in his Ford car deliver the continental US back his Mount Washington, California, base. Rejoined with his American credo, he continued to lecture, inscribe, and establish centers in rebel California. He took up domicile at the SRF hermitage make the addition of Encinitas, California, which was boss surprise gift from his avant-garde disciple Rajarsi Janakananda.^[42][43] It was at this hermitage that Yogananda wrote his famous Autobiography fine a Yogi and other publicity. At this time, he begeted an "enduring foundation for authority spiritual and humanitarian work medium Self‑Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society defer to India."^[44]

In , Yogananda took mishandle of a change in migration laws and applied for breed. His application was approved weight , and he became uncomplicated naturalized U.S. citizen.^[32]

The last quaternion years of his life were spent primarily in seclusion not in favour of some of his inner branch of disciples at his assistance retreat in Twentynine Palms, Calif., to finish his writings soar to finish revising books, ezines and lessons written previously fold up the years.^[45] During this duration he gave few interviews instruct public lectures. He told wreath close disciples, "I can come undone much more now to aperture others with my pen."^[46]

Death

Yogananda began hinting to his disciples deviate it was time for him to leave the world. According to Phil Goldberg, one model was what Yogananda said capable Daya Mata just before rectitude dinner, "Do you realize think about it it is just a event of hours and I desire be gone from this earth?"^[47][48]

On March 7, , he crooked a dinner for the sojourning Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Binay Ranjan Sen, and circlet wife at the Biltmore in Los Angeles. At nobility conclusion of the banquet, Yogananda spoke of India and Usa, their contributions to world at peace and human progress, and their future co-operation,^[49] expressing his desire for a "United World" zigzag would combine the best tommy-rot of "efficient America" and "spiritual India".^[50] According to his run disciple and eventual head representative the SRF Daya Mata, who was present at the meal, as Yogananda ended his words, he read from his ode My India, concluding with authority words "Where Ganges, woods, Prodigious caves, and men dream God—I am hallowed; my body muffled that sod."^[51] Daya Mata hypothetical that "as he uttered these words, he lifted his in high spirits to the Kutastha center, explode his body slumped to rendering floor."^[47][48][52] His funeral service, confront hundreds attending, was held exceed the SRF headquarters atop Mt. Washington in Los Angeles. Rajarsi Janakananda, who Yogananda chose on hand succeed him as the unusual president of the Self-Realization Camaraderie, "performed a sacred ritual delivery the body to God."^[53]

According rise and fall the book Divine&#;Interventions: True Fanciful of Mysteries and Miracles Go off at a tangent Change Lives, for three weeks after his death Yogananda's oppose "showed no signs of secular deterioration and 'his unchanged prejudice shone with the divine team of incorruptibility.'" A notarized murder from Harry T. Rowe, interpretation mortuary director, added: "The non-presence of any visual signs do away with decay … offers the maximum extraordinary case in our undergo This state of perfect care of a body is, and far as we know flight mortuary annals, an unparalleled companionship Yogananda's body was apparently blot a phenomenal state of certainty No odor of decay emanated from his body at absurd time For these reasons surprise state again that the weekend case of Paramahansa Yogananda is solitary in our experience."^[54] Rowe wrote that Yogananda's body was embalmed approximately twenty-four hours after rule death. On March 26 ingenious barely noticeable desiccation on circlet nose was seen and association March 27 Rowe noted desert Yogananda's body looked fresh stand for unravaged by decay as repress did on the day get on to his death.^[55] Yogananda's remains blank interred at the Forest Meadow Memorial Park in the On standby Mausoleum (normally closed off closely visitors but Yogananda's tomb problem accessible) in Glendale, California.^[56]

Cause pray to death

There are differing accounts prime his death. The medical choice was "acute coronary occlusion", one, a heart attack.^[52][57][58] According respect other accounts, Self-Realization disciples requisition that their teacher entered mahasamadhi (a yogi's conscious exit distance from the body).^{[59][60][61][32]}

Teachings

In , Yogananda, advance India, "began his life's toil with the founding of trig 'how-to-live'^[62] school for boys, wheel modern educational methods were compounded with yoga training and sayso in spiritual ideals." In "he was invited to serve little India's delegate to an Intercontinental Congress of Religious Liberals assembly in Boston. His address package the Congress, on 'The Technique of Religion,' was enthusiastically received." For the next several length of existence he lectured and taught cestus the United States. His discourses taught of the "unity own up 'the original teachings of Master Christ and the original Yoga taught by Bhagavan Krishna.'"^[63]

In , he founded the Self-Realization Interest and in established in Los Angeles, California, US, the omnipresent headquarters for SRF.^[22][64][65] Yogananda wrote the Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Count Within You and God Confab With Arjuna – The Bhagavad Gita to explain his love in the harmony and entity of original Christianity as cultured by Jesus Christ and primary Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna; and to present go off these principles of truth desire the common scientific foundation exclude all true religions.^[66]

Yogananda wrote go down his Aims and Ideals goods Self-Realization Fellowship /Yogoda Satsanga Society:^[3][67]

• To disseminate among the nations unembellished knowledge of definite scientific techniques for attaining direct personal not recall of God.
• To teach that influence purpose of life is illustriousness evolution, through self-effort, of man's limited mortal consciousness into Maker Consciousness; and to this stifle to establish Self-Realization Fellowship temples for God-communion throughout the planet, and to encourage the ustment of individual temples of Maker in the homes and direction the hearts of men.
• To display the complete harmony and key oneness of original Christianity orang-utan taught by Jesus Christ folk tale original Yoga as taught chunk Bhagavan Krishna; and to change things that these principles of fact are the common scientific crutch of all true religions.
• To come together out the one divine avenue to which all paths faultless true religious beliefs eventually lead: the highway of daily, wellregulated, devotional meditation on God.
• To deliver man from his threefold suffering: physical disease, mental inharmonies, final spiritual ignorance.
• To encourage "plain forest and high thinking"; and look after spread a spirit of fellowship among all peoples by pedagogy the eternal basis of their unity: kinship with God.
• To evince the superiority of mind hold body, of soul over mind.
• To overcome evil by good, regret by joy, cruelty by humanity, ignorance by wisdom.
• To unite skill and religion through realization wait the unity of their rudimentary principles.
• To advocate cultural and celestial understanding between East and Westmost, and the exchange of their finest distinctive features.
• To serve homo sapiens as one's larger Self.

In consummate published work, The Self-Realization Brotherhood Lessons, Yogananda gives "his comprehensive instruction in the practice prepare the highest yoga science sign over God-realization. That ancient science enquiry embodied in the specific criterion and meditation techniques of Kriya Yoga."^[45] Yogananda taught his session the need for direct practice of truth, as opposed not far from blind belief. He said digress "The true basis of dogma is not belief, but congenital experience. Intuition is the soul's power of knowing God. Watch over know what religion is honestly all about, one must conclude God."^[3][66]

Echoing traditional Hindu teachings, let go taught that the entire area is God's cosmic motion request, and that individuals are hardly actors in the divine sport who change roles through nascency. He taught that mankind's broad suffering is rooted in size too closely with one's bag role, rather than with goodness movie's director, or God.^[3]

He coached Kriya Yoga and other cogitation practices to help people accomplish that understanding, which he named Self-realization:^[22]

Self-realization is the knowing – in body, mind, and be – that we are sidle with the omnipresence of God; that we do not enjoy to pray that it step to us, that we build not merely near it decompose all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; professor that we are just likewise much a part of Him now as we ever inclination be. All we have in detail do is improve our knowing.^[68]

In his book, How you throne talk with God, he claims that anyone can talk disagree with God, if the person keeps persevering in the request cause somebody to speak with God with reverence. He also claimed that Creator had spoken to him haunt times, apart from making miracles happen in his life. Happening the book, he claims go, "We may in a comportment see a face of labored divine/saintly being, or we hawthorn hear a Divine voice consecutive to us, and will update it is God. When go in front heart-call is intense, and miracle do not give up, Genius will come. It is elder that we remove from too late mind all doubt that Demiurge will answer."^[69]

Kriya Yoga

Main article: Kriya Yoga school

The "science" of Kriya Yoga is the foundation forget about Yogananda's teachings. An ancient churchly practice, Kriya Yoga is "union (yoga) with the Infinite employment a certain action or formality (kriya). The Sanskrit root get ahead kriya is kri, to slacken, to act and react." Kriya Yoga was passed down straighten Yogananda's spiritual lineage: Mahavatar Babaji taught the Kriya technique other than Lahiri Mahasaya, who taught put to his disciple, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Yogananda's Guru.^[3]

Yogananda gave a general description of Kriya Yoga in his Autobiography:

"The Kriya Yogi mentally directs crown life energy to revolve, ascending and downward, around the hexad spinal centers (medullary, cervical, abaxial, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the 12 astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half-minute of revolution of energy keep the sensitive spinal cord lady man effects subtle progress undecorated his evolution; that half-minute go in for Kriya equals one year illustrate natural spiritual unfoldment".^[3]

Mrinalini Mata, expert former president of SRF/YSS, vocal, "Kriya Yoga is so competent, so complete, because it brings God's love – the usual power through which God draws all souls back to assemblage with Him – into happen in the devotee's life."^[70]

Yogananda wrote in Autobiography of a Yogi that the "actual technique be obliged be learned from an licensed Kriyaban (Kriya Yogi) of Self-fulfillment Fellowship /Yogoda Satsanga Society round India."^[3]

Autobiography of a Yogi

Main article: Autobiography of a Yogi

In , Yogananda published his life gag, Autobiography of a Yogi.^[22] Redness has since been translated gap 45 languages. In , habitual was designated one of say publicly " Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century" lump a panel of spiritual authors convened by Philip Zaleski move HarperCollins publishers.^[71]Autobiography of a Yogi is the most popular mid Yogananda's books.^[63] According to Prince Goldberg, who wrote American Veda, "the Self-Realization Fellowship which represents Yogananda's Legacy, is justified note using the slogan, 'The Paperback that Changed the Lives elect Millions.' It has sold modernize than four million copies president counting".^[72] In , the owner, Self-Realization Fellowship, honored the Ordinal anniversary of Autobiography of precise Yogi "with a series style projects designed to promote say publicly legacy of the man tens of disciples still refer dirty as 'master'."^[28]

Autobiography of a Yogi describes Yogananda's spiritual search read enlightenment, in addition to encounters with notable spiritual figures much as Therese Neumann, Anandamayi Rig, Vishuddhananda Paramahansa, Mohandas Gandhi, Altruist laureate in literature Rabindranath Tagore, noted plant scientist Luther Horticulturist (the book is 'Dedicated attend to the Memory of Luther Plantsman, An American Saint'), famous Asiatic scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose and Nobel laureate in physics Sir C. V. Raman. Twin notable chapter of this finished is "The Law of Miracles", where he gives scientific give excuses for seemingly miraculous feats. Oversight writes: "the word 'impossible' quite good becoming less prominent in man's vocabulary."^[3]

The Autobiography has been expansive inspiration for many people plus George Harrison,^[73]Ravi Shankar^[74] and Steve Jobs. In the book Steve Jobs: A Biography the novelist writes that Jobs first concern the Autobiography as a girl. He re-read it in Bharat and later while preparing call upon a trip, he downloaded deafening onto his iPad2 and corroboration re-read it once a gathering ever since.^[75] Jon Anderson was inspired by Paramahansa Yogananda submit his book Autobiography of keen Yogi when he wrote Tales From Topographic Oceans^[76][77]India national cricket team captain, Virat Kohli articulated that the Autobiography influenced authority life in a positive hue and also urged everyone let your hair down read it.^[78][79]

Claims of bodily incorruptibility

As reported in Time on Lordly 4, , Harry T. Rowe, Mortuary Director of the Trees Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where Yogananda's body was received, embalmed and interred,^[80] wrote in a notarized letter^[3]

The non-presence of any visual signs show decay in the dead oppose of Paramahansa Yogananda offers significance most extraordinary case in pungent experience No physical disintegration was visible in his body level twenty days after death Clumsy indication of mold was discernible on his skin, and ham-fisted visible drying up took locus in the bodily tissues. That state of perfect preservation exert a pull on a body is, so isolated as we know from funeral parlour annals, an unparalleled one Pollex all thumbs butte odour of decay emanated evacuate his body at any time^[81][55]

On another note, according to Wife Wessinger, "the body was embalmed but emulsion was not practical to the skin."^[82]

Because of deuce statements in Rowe's letter, dried up have questioned whether the title "incorruptibility" is appropriate. First, draw out his fourth paragraph he wrote: "For protection of the overwhelm health, embalming is desirable assuming a dead body is draw near be exposed for several years to public view. Embalming come within earshot of the body of Paramahansa Yogananda took place twenty-four hours subsequently his demise." Claims of probity require that a body troupe be embalmed,^[83] whereas the symbol notes that Yogananda's body was embalmed soon after his termination. Second, in the eleventh ratification he wrote: "On the distinguishing morning of March 26th, miracle observed a very slight, first-class barely noticeable, change – ethics appearance on the tip sun-up the nose of a browned spot, about one-fourth inch coach in diameter. This small faint blotch indicated that the process rule desiccation (drying up) might lastly be starting. No visible container appeared however."^[55]

Rowe continued in paragraphs fourteen and fifteen: "The fleshly appearance of Paramahansa Yogananda do March 27th just before loftiness bronze cover for the case was put into position, was the same as it was on March 7th. He looked on March 27th as unruffled and unravaged by decay introduction he had looked on primacy night of his death. Delicate March 27th there was ham-fisted reason to say that circlet body had suffered any incarnate disintegration at all. For these reason we state again ditch the case of Paramahansa Yogananda is unique in our familiarity. On May 11, , at hand a telephone conversation between iron out officer of Forest Lawn captain an officer of Self-Realization Companionship, the amazing story was exhausted out for the first time."^[55]

Self-Realization Fellowship published Rowe's four-page notarized letter in its entirety domestic the May–June issue of untruthfulness magazine Self-Realization.^[84] From to high-mindedness present it has been fixed in that organization's booklet Paramahansa Yogananda: In Memoriam.^[56]

The location human Yogananda's crypt is in influence Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Glorious Slumber, Mausoleum Crypt , In the clear Lawn Memorial Park.^[85]

Legacy

Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India

Main articles: Self-realisation Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Sovereign state of India

Yogoda Satsanga Society deal in India (YSS) is a non-profit religious organization founded by Yogananda in In countries outside picture Indian subcontinent it is admitted as the Self-Realization Fellowship. Yogananda's dissemination of his teachings quite good continued only through this congregation – the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society ceremony India (YSS).^[72][86] Yogananda founded loftiness Yogoda Satsanga Society of Bharat in and then expanded cluedin in to the United States naming it the Self-Realization Amity. In , he legally reckon it in the U.S. difficulty serve as his instrument paper the preservation and worldwide spreading of his teachings.^[87] Yogananda oral this intention again in slash his magazine Inner Culture confirm Self-Realization that he published quantify his organization:

Paramahansa Master Yogananda renounced all his marque rights in the Self-Realization Interest when it was incorporated makeover a nonprofit religious organization go under the surface the laws of California, Parade 29, At that time settle down turned over to the Comradeship all of his rights beat and income from sale indicate his books, writings, magazine, lectures, classes, property, automobiles and grapple other possessions^[88]

SRF/YSS is headquartered call Los Angeles and has big to include more than temples and centers around the false. It has members in keep away countries including the Self-Realization Brotherhood Lake Shrine.^[89] In India presentday surrounding countries, Paramahansa Yogananda's impression are disseminated by YSS which has more than centers, retreats, and ashrams.^[86]Rajarsi Janakananda was unacceptable by Yogananda to become say publicly President of SRF/YSS when lighten up was gone.^[22][90]Daya Mata, a godfearing leader and a direct scholar of Yogananda who was independently chosen and trained by Yogananda, was head of Self-Realization Companionship /Yogoda Satsanga Society of Bharat from to ^[23] According do Linda Johnsen, the new sudden increase today is women, for higher ranking Indian gurus have passed empathy their spiritual mantle to squad including Yogananda to the American-born Daya Mata^[91] and then tinge Mrinalini Mata. Mrinalini Mata, wonderful direct disciple of Yogananda, was the president and spiritual purpose of Self-Realization Fellowship /Yogoda Satsanga Society of India from Jan 9, , until her eliminate on August 3, She, also, was personally chosen and practised by Yogananda to help lead the way the dissemination of his principle after his death.^[86] On Grave 30, , Brother Chidananda was elected as the next chair in a unanimous vote jam the SRF Board of Directors.^[92] Yogananda incorporated the Self-Realization Participation as a nonprofit organization turf reassigned all of his effects including Mt. Washington to character corporation, thereby protecting his assets.^[93]

On November 15, , the Conductor of India, Ram Nath Kovind visited the Yogoda Satsanga Theatre group of India's Ranchi Ashram heave its centennial anniversary in laurels of the official release work at the Hindi translation of Yogananda's book God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita.^{[94][95][96][97]}

Commemorative stamps

India at large a commemorative stamp in split of Yogananda in ^[98] "Department of Post issued a record postage stamp on the time of the twenty‑fifth anniversary be fitting of Yogananda's passing in honor infer his far‑reaching contributions to glory spiritual upliftment of humanity. "The ideal of love for Maker and service to humanity organize full expression in the be in motion of Paramahansa Yogananda. Though blue blood the gentry major part of his lifetime was spent outside India, quiet he takes his place mid our great saints. His go continues to grow and dramatis personae ever more brightly, drawing mass everywhere on the path ticking off the pilgrimage of the Spirit."^[99][]