Gurus & Saints of India
Lahiri Mahasaya
Shyamacharan Lahiri, known as Lahiri
Mahasaya (1828-1895), used to receive devotees at all hours of the day and
night in his Varanasi home. Never sleeping, scarcely breathing, his face
radiating light and joy, this great master sat with his legs locked in the
lotus posture — a true “yogavatar”, or incarnation of spiritual union.
Lahiri founded no large organization to spread his work. One by one,
spiritual seekers found him in his Varanasi nook. He embraced everyone who
sought his help, no matter their gender, nationality, caste, or religious
beliefs. He was a friend of humanity, and the great Trailanga Swami was one
of many who spoke highly of his fixed state of self-realization.
The guru showed by his example how one could lead an ordinary worldly life —
he worked as an accountant, was married and had children — and
simultaneously achieved the highest spiritual states known to mankind.
Along with a treasury of priceless teachings and a large number of
spiritually advanced disciples — which included Swami Pranabananda, Ram
Gopal Muzumdar, Panchanon Bhattacharya, and many others — Lahiri Mahasaya
blessed India and all the world by requesting that his guru Babaji extend
initiation into the sacred science of kriya yoga (an advanced meditation
technique) to all sincere spiritual seekers.
As a result of Lahiri’s request — and the instrumentality of Lahiri’s
disciples, especially the line of Yukteswar and Yogananda — hundreds of
thousands of yogis around the globe have experienced deeper meditations and
inner bliss.