Lahiri Mahasaya

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Lahiri Mahasaya

Born	30 September 1828 Ghurnigram, West Bengal, India
Died	26 September 1895 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Shyama Charan Lahiri, best known as Lahiri Mahasaya (September 30, 1828 - September 26, 1895) was an Indian yogi and the guru of Sri Yukteswar Giri. Mahasaya is a Sanskrit religious title meaning 'great soul'.

He was unusual among Indian holy men in that he was a householder. Lahiri lived with his family in Varanasi rather than in a temple or monastery apart from family life. Nonetheless, he achieved a substantial reputation among 19th century Hindu religionists.

1 Teachings
2 Notes
3 See also
4 External links

Paramahansa Yogananda tells many stories of Lahiri Mahasaya in his Autobiography of a Yogi. He was an office worker until the age of about 30, when he met his guru, Mahavatar Babaji. Lahiri was said to have been chosen by his guru to reintroduce the lost practice of Kriya Yoga to the phenomenal world. Lahiri's disciples included both of Yogananda's parents as well as Yogananda's own guru Sri Yukteswar. Lahiri Mahasaya is said to have prophesied that the infant Yogananda would become a great yogi.

[edit] Teachings

The central spiritual practice which he taught to his disciples was Kriya Yoga, a series of inner pranayama practices that quickly hasten the spiritual growth of the practitioner. He taught this technique to all sincere seekers, regardless of their religious background. Regarding Kriya Yoga, he said:

“Always remember that you belong to no one, and no one belongs to you. Reflect that some day you will suddenly have to leave everything in this world–so make the acquaintanceship of God now. Prepare yourself for the coming astral journey of death by daily riding in the balloon of God-perception. Through delusion you are perceiving yourself as a bundle of flesh and bones, which at best is a nest of troubles. Meditate unceasingly, that you may quickly behold yourself as the Infinite Essence, free from every form of misery. Cease being a prisoner of the body; using the secret key of Kriya, learn to escape into Spirit.”^[1]

He also encouraged direct experience of truth, as opposed to theoretical discussion of the scriptures, and to:

“Solve all your problems through meditation. Exchange unprofitable religious speculations for actual God-contact. Clear your mind of dogmatic theological debris; let in the fresh, healing waters of direct perception. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the Divine Voice has the answer to every dilemma of life. Though man’s ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite Succor is no less resourceful.” ^[2]

Lahiri also taught that if one is earning an honest living and practicing honesty in all his or her dealings, then one need not alter one's external life in any significant way in order to become aware of God's presence in one's own daily life. If a student neglected his worldy duties, he would correct him.

He generally eschewed organized religion. However, this wasn't a strict dogma for him, as he personally made at least one exception to this principal, allowing one of his advanced disciples, Panchanon Bhattacharya "to open an “Arya Mission Institution” in Calcutta. Here the saintly disciple spread the message of Kriya Yoga..." ^[3] Other disciples of Lahiri also started organizations to spread the Kriya Yoga message, including Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri's 'Satsanga Sabha'. ^[4]

Three notable principles taught by Lahiri about what he believed to be the fundamental characteristics of a true guru were:^[5]

A true guru will never ask for money or gifts. (It's notable that Lahiri himself was instructed by Babaji to ask for a donation from people who he initiated into Kriya Yoga. This practice has been continued by many of his disciples. ^[6]).
A true guru will never assume any special title that might separate him from, or elevate him above others. (It's notable that 'Mahasaya' itself is a title which means 'great soul'. It was given to him by his disciples, along with several other titles. ^[7]).
A true guru will never ask that his followers surrender their free will to him in any way. (However, Lahiri Mahasaya, guided the free will of his disciples. Sri Yukteswar said, "When I encountered my guru, Lahiri Mahasaya, my will was guided by whims. But when I attuned my will to Lahiri Mahasaya’s wisdom-guided will, my own will became free, because guided by wisdom." ^[8])

Some of his notable disciples include, Sri Panchanon Bhattacharya, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Swami Pranabananda, Swami Keshabananda, and Sri Bhupendranath Sanyal.

[edit] Notes

^ Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, chapter 35
^ Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, chapter 26
^ Yogananda, Paramhansa. Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 35.
^ Swami Shriyukteshvar Giri Maharaj, by Swami Satyananda, published by Yoganiketan
^ Bhagavad Gita: Complete Works of Lahiri Mahasay/Commentaries, by Shyama Charan Lahiri.
^ Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasay, by Swami Satyananda Giri: "He (Babaji) instructed that the aspirant should give at least 5 rupees at the initiation as a symbolic offering of physical penance, which Sri Shyamacharan should receive in Sriguru's name. Later, the Lord also instructed His disciples who were eligible to initiate others into Kriya to follow the same injunction. Probably because of Babaji Maharaj's orders, no initiator-guru is allowed to use this money on his own behalf."
^ Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, chapter 35: "Other titles bestowed on Lahiri Mahasaya by his disciples were Yogibar (greatest of yogis), Yogiraj (king of yogis), and Munibar (greatest of saints), to which I have added Yogavatar (incarnation of yoga)."
^ Yogananda, Paramhansa. The Essence of Self-Realization, chapter 15, The Disciple's Part