(An article dictated by Paramahamsa Hariharananda to Rajarshi Raghabananda)
Source: The Essence of Kriya Yoga, by Rajarshi Raghabananda, May 2008 First edition.
Kriya Yoga technique is the essence of karma yoga, rajas yoga and bhakti yoga methods propounded by Lord Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Kriya Yoga is applied part of the yogic scriptures, that is why we call it the scientific method of cultivating God-realization.
According to Lord Shri Krishna, he taught this immortal yoga to Vivashvan, (Sun God), who conveyed it to Manu, his son, and Manu imparted it to his own son, Ikshwaku. Thus handed down from father to son, this yoga came to the knowledge of the rajarshis, (royal sages). But, through a long lapse of time, it more or less disappeared. Subsequently, the Lord taught this sacred yoga to Arjuna and the other Pandavas. This yoga was fundamentally meant for householders for their Self-realization.
Famous sages like Vyasa, Vashistha, Janaka, Valmiki and Parashara practiced this Kriya Yoga in the midst of their family life and reached the divine goal. This yoga occupied an important place in the Bhagavad Gita and in the earlier philosophical yoga taught by Lord Krishna yet it became neglected again and almost disappeared due to chaotic conditions in the social life of India.
A new era was ushered in during the mid-19th century when the immortal Babaji Maharaj gave a scientific orientation to this yoga. Through his householder disciple, Lahiri Mahashaya, he offered this Kriya Yoga for the spiritual betterment of the human race. His disciple Swami Shriyukteshwar transmitted the Kriya Yoga teachings to his student Paramahamsa Yogananda, who was destined to spread the teachings widely in the West after he moved to California in the late 1920’s. Over the next 30 years Yoganandaji, initiated over one hundred thousand westerners in the first kriya technique. This powerful spiritual transmission laid the foundation in America for the popularity of the yoga movement, which is still blossoming today. With the goal of deepening this process of soul cultivation, here is a brief description of all six kriyas as they were taught by Babaji to Lahiri Mahashaya. It is impossible to practice then without the personal instruction from another evolved soul or a qualified Kriya Yoga master. But the knowledge of this path may act as a beacon that guides you in your spiritual journey, and will assist you in understanding the practical yoga of God-realization taught in the Bhagavad Gita.
