Paramahansa Yogananda: Life, Kriya Yoga and Autobiography of a Yogi
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) was a Hindu monk who taught Kriya Yoga in the United States for more than 30 years. Born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, he founded the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India in 1917 and the Self-Realization Fellowship in America in 1920, and his book Autobiography of a Y
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) was a Hindu monk who taught Kriya Yoga in the United States for more than 30 years. Born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, he founded the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India in 1917 and the Self-Realization Fellowship in America in 1920, and his book Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) introduced millions of readers to Hindu spiritual teachers.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 January 1893, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Died | 7 March 1952, Los Angeles |
| Birth name | Mukunda Lal Ghosh |
| Guru | Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri |
| Monastic vows | 1915, Swami order |
| Founded | Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (1917); Self-Realization Fellowship (1920) |
| Best-known book | Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) |
Early life and guru
Mukunda Lal Ghosh was born in Gorakhpur into a Bengali family; his parents were disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya. In 1910 he met Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri in Varanasi and trained at his hermitage in Serampore. He graduated from Calcutta University in 1915 and the same year took vows as a monk of the Swami order, receiving the name Yogananda.
Founding YSS and SRF
In 1917 he started a school for boys at Dihika, which moved to Ranchi and became the base of the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. In 1920 he went to Boston as a delegate to an International Congress of Religious Liberals, and the same year founded the Self-Realization Fellowship. He made its headquarters at Mount Washington in Los Angeles in 1925 and lectured across the United States.
Kriya Yoga and his teaching
Yogananda taught Kriya Yoga, a meditation technique passed to him through the line of Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar. He taught that God can be known by direct experience through meditation, and wrote on the unity of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Gospels.
Autobiography of a Yogi
Published in 1946, the book tells his life story and describes the saints he met in India, among them Sri Yukteswar, Anandamayi Ma and Mahatma Gandhi, whom he initiated into Kriya Yoga in 1935. It has been translated into many languages and remains in print.
Death and legacy
He died in Los Angeles on 7 March 1952; his followers call it his mahasamadhi. YSS and SRF continue his work in India and worldwide. India Post issued stamps in his honour in 1977 and 2017.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Paramahansa Yogananda's guru?
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri of Serampore, a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya.
When did Yogananda go to America?
In 1920, as a delegate to a religious congress in Boston. He founded the Self-Realization Fellowship that year.
When was Autobiography of a Yogi published?
In 1946.
What is Kriya Yoga?
A meditation technique taught in Yogananda's line of gurus, given to students by initiation in YSS and SRF.
Sources
- Self-Realization Fellowship, "Paramahansa Yogananda" (yogananda.org).
- Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, "Paramahansa Yogananda" (yssofindia.org).
- Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi (1946).
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026.
Related: Mahavatar Babaji · Swami Vivekananda · Famous Hindus born in January
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