The 197th birth anniversary of Lahiri Mahashay was commemorated with deep reverence and joy at the Yogoda Satsang branch ashram in Ranchi. The day’s ceremonies commenced with an online meditation conducted by Swami Shankarananda Giri, which saw participation from devotees across India and the world, from 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM. During the meditation, Swami Shankarananda Giri emphasized that Lahiri Mahashay’s life exemplifies the ideal balance required for happiness in the modern world—integrating the daily practice of Kriya Yoga meditation with Karma Yoga, which is selfless action for the welfare of family and society.
Following this, devotees participated in heartfelt bhajans led by Brahmachari Gautamananda and Brahmachari Aradhyananda from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, filling the ashram with devotional fervor. In the evening, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, devotees participated in a special two-hour meditation led by Brahmachari Hridayananda. Reading from the ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramahansa Yogananda, they shared Lahiri Mahashay’s words, “‘Remember that you belong to none, and none belongs to you. Contemplate that one day you must leave everything in this world, so know God from now itself,’ the great guru says to his disciples. ‘Prepare yourself for the future subtle journey of death by flying daily in the balloon of God-realization. You are considering yourself as a mass of flesh and bones under the influence of Maya, which is only a house of sorrows. Meditate constantly so that you can quickly recognize yourself as the eternally sorrow-free infinite Supreme Being. Learn to escape from the prison of the body through the use of the secret key of Kriya Yoga.’”
Lahiri Mahashay, one of the Gurus of the Yogoda Satsang tradition, was a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji—the great Himalayan immortal yogi. Mahavatar Babaji revealed the ancient, almost lost science of Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahashay and instructed him to initiate all true seekers. A significant aspect of Lahiri Mahashay’s life was his offering of Kriya initiation to spiritual seekers of every religion. He was a householder-yogi who led a balanced life of devotion and meditation, even while fulfilling all his family and social duties. This became an inspiration for thousands of men and women living a worldly life in society. He gave new hope to the excluded and the downtrodden in society, and although he himself was of the highest or Brahmin caste, he made courageous efforts to end the rigid caste fanaticism of his time.
For more information on the path of meditation and Kriya Yoga, please visit yssofindia.org.