Sri Panchanon Bhattacharya

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Sri Panchanon Bhattacharya was one of the main disciples of the Indian Yogi, Sri Lahiri Mahasaya. He was the first disciple permitted to initiate others into Kriya, and it was through him that Lahiri Baba's teachings were first spread in Bengal.

Bhattacharya Maharaj took to the life of Brahmacarya, permanent celibacy, at a very young age. In course of his wandering he met Sri Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares. Lahiri Baba accepted him as a disciple and he gave up his sannyas vows to return back to householder life. He worked as a humble flower seller. Sri Panchanon Bhattacharya was one of the earliest disciples of Sri Lahiri Mahasay.

Panchanan Bhattacharya was the first of Lahiri Mahasaya's disciples who was allowed to teach Kriya to others. Around the year 1885 he was permitted by the sage to set up an institution, the Arya Mission Institution, for inspiring the public to practise Yoga and spiritual discipline.

Paramahansa Yogananda in his book, Autobiography of a Yogi:

"The master now permitted his disciple, Panchanon Bhattacharya, to open in Calcutta a yoga center, the "Arya Mission Institution". The centre distributed certain yogic herbal medicines, and published the first inexpensive editions in Bengal of the Bhagavad-Gita. The Arya Mission Gita, in Hindi and Bengali, found its way into thousands of homes..."
(Autobiography of a Yogi, 1972, page 381-382).