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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.

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 semi-legendary guru to reintroduce the lost practise of Kriya Yoga to the phenomenal world. Lahiri's disciples included both 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.

Teachings

Lahiri's 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. He 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.” Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, chapter 26

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

  1. A true guru will never ask for money or gifts.
  2. A true guru will never assume any special title that might separate him from, or elevate him above others.
  3. A true guru will never ask that his followers surrender their free will to him in any way.Bhagavad Gita: Complete Works of Lahiri Mahasay/Commentaries, by Shyama Charan Lahiri.

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, he allowed 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..." Yogananda, Paramhansa. Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 35. Other disciples of Lahiri also started organizations to spread the Kriya Yoga message, including Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri's 'Satsanga Sabha'. Swami Shriyukteshvar Giri Maharaj, by Swami Satyananda, published by Yoganiketan

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

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External links

1828 births | 1895 deaths | Hindu religious figures | Yogis

Lahiri Mahasaya

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Lahiri Mahasaya".

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