Kriya yoga

Kriya yoga is a set of advanced techniques, or kriyas, practiced as a type of yoga popularized in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda, which, according to those who practice it, accelerates the spiritual evolution of the practitioner. Gurus and their disciples of Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship have and continue to initiate into kriya yoga people professing an interest in becoming more spiritual.

History

According to Paramahansa Yogananda's book, Autobiography of a Yogi (http://sources.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography_of_a_Yogi), kriya yoga was well-known in ancient India, but was eventually lost. In 1861 however, the book continues, the immortal yogi Mahavatar Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into kriya yoga. Lahiri Mahasaya then revived the practice, and it soon spread throughout India. Paramahansa Yogananda, a disciple of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri who was himself a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, then brought kriya yoga to the United States and Europe during the 20th century. Since that time it has spread throughout the world through various lineages, most of which claim descent from Lahiri Mahasaya.

Other lineages

In addition to the Self-Relization Fellowship, there are also several other organizations which teach kriya yoga. Two which are particularly of note are Ananda, founded by Swami Kriyananda (a direct disciple of Yogananda) and the Center for Spiritual Awareness, founded by Roy Eugene Davis (also a direct disciple of Yogananda).

Another lineage in teaching kriya yoga stems from Paramyogeshwar Sri Devpuriji, who received his initiation from Siddha Guru Sri Alakh Puriji, also one of the seven Rishis, according to the book Sri Lila-Amrit, the biography of Sri Deep Narayan Mahaprabhuji, written by Dharmsamrat Paramhans Swami Madhavananda.

A third lineage was initiated by Swami Satyananda, who discovered the practices from the ancient tantric scriptures and initiated his followers into the system. This practice is thought by the Bihar yoga / Satyananda yoga tradition. Books in the topic include Swami Satyananda's A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya and Kundalini Tantra.

A fourth lineage is that which descends from Satguru Brahman-Atmananda of the Philippines. He was initiated into kriya yoga by an Indian Master.

Note that some individuals or groups are teaching a method called "kriya" yoga without claiming descent from Lahiri Mahasaya. Some of the lineages mentioned above fit into this category and as such, their system, though perhaps effective, would likely vary significantly from the kriya yoga taught by Lahiri Mahasaya and as described in Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi.

Finally, there are many New Age teachers claiming to teach kriya. Some are affiliated with organisations, some are not. Also note that most of the information above has a Western or American view point. There are many lineages of kriya yoga teachers from Lahiri Mahasaya ongoing in Northern India and Bengal. The kriya techniques are passed on directly from teacher to student. Setting up organisations or teaching for profit is said to contradict the spirit of Lahiri Mahasaya's teaching.

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