Paramhansa Yogananda was born in 5 January 1893 in Gorakhpur, India. His birth name was Mukunda Lal Ghosh.

Author of the best-selling spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, this beloved world teacher came to America in 1920, and was the first great master of yoga to live and teach in the West for an extended period (more than 30 years). He is now widely recognized as the Father of Yoga in the West.

At one point in the early 20’s Yogaganda was the best known speaker in America.

Hundreds of thousands filled the largest halls in major American cities to see the yoga master from India. One evening in one of his lecture in Carnegie Hall in New York he had over 3000 people chant joyfully Oh God Beautiful for over an hour.

Many felt in a state of ecstasy. Afterward, a man bursted into Yogananda’s interview room and threw a revolver emotionally onto his desk crying; For what you have done to me this evening I can’t go back to that way of life anymore.

In another instance he would have all the audience clasping hands together and saying those who are in tune with me will not be able to take their hands apart, and have people try and try without success until he commanded with the word “Now”. That wasn’t hypnosis it was a very strong uplifting magnetism of a great yoga master.

Among his admirers and devotees are well know people like Henry Ford, Elvis Presley, George Harrison, Steve Jobs and Mahatma Gandhi.

Autobiography of a Yogi was the only book in Steve Jobs’ Ipad and he reread it every year. In his funeral 500 copies of this book were given to the visitors by his previous arrangement

The world impact of Yogananda’s life becomes increasingly known to the world. It has been said and many of his followers believe that the life of this great yoga master will have a major impact of the world, and indeed will change the very course of history.

He was indeed a liberated soul, an avatar, a giant among saints, one of those few that come from age to age that have been sent by God with the divine mission of guiding mankind out of the fogs of delusion into the clear light of Divine understanding.

There are many stories of miracles and premonitions that he performed during his life, told by his disciples and people who met him that reveal the greatness of this master.

Some people like one of his disciples Peggy Deitz witnessed him levitate; Tulsi Bose saw him resurrect a dead person; he healed many seriously ill people; Brother Bhakananda witnessed how the Master materialized carrot juice, filling many glasses miraculously from an almost empty pitcher

Sometimes in his early years he would have doctors come up and feel his pulse. And test him in various ways, he could in instant stop his heart, and he would have two doctors feeling his pulse and he would have 2 different pulses on each wrist.

One of his direct disciples Swami Kriyananda writes how Yogananda often said to them which always proved right at the end “I know every thought you think”

He also had a great physical power due to his yogic mastery over the subtle energy or prana. In Symphony Hall in Boston he was lecturing once on the merits of his yoga and energization exercises, and mentioned the great physical strength one derives from them. He then threw out the challenge: ‘Would anyone here like to try my strength?’ “Six tall, burly policemen jumped up onto the stage!

The audience gasped, certain that he’d fail this test. “Then, facing those policemen, he placed his back against the wall. Then he asked the men to push on his stomach all together, as hard as they could. They did so. ‘Is that the best you can do?’ He demanded.

“‘Yeah!’ they grunted, clenching their teeth. “Suddenly he arched his back. All six of them went tumbling back into the orchestra pit!”

To Master Yogananda, death was no “undiscovered country from whose no traveller returns.” He often said that he spent much of his time in the astral world, where the scriptures teach that is there where a soul goes after death. Thus, to him, death itself was no tragedy.

He had full power over life and death because he was an avatar, there are many stories of his life that illustrate this.

After his mahasamadhi (Last exit of the body) in March 7 1952 Yogananda’s body remained in a state of complete incorruption for three weeks after his passing, up to the moment his body was laid in the crypt.

This event was documented by a notarized letter of the mortuary. It was a true phenomenon which was even described even in TIME magazine. And to this day nobody knows if today his body is still incorrupt.

However Yogananda did not advocate displaying such powers in public. He said:

Many come expecting miracles, but those who have realized god never show their powers, unless god directs them to. The spiritual path is not a circus. People don’t see that in that complete humility lies the greatest miracle!

He often said that he have come for a special dispensation. The interpretation of the yoga scriptures and to disseminate kriya yoga to the west. The prophecy of his param guru (The guru of his guru) Lahiri Mahasaya more than 50 years came true.

Yogananda was the one who was divinely appointed by Babaji to teach the great technique of kriya yoga to the world, which quickens man’s spiritual evolution tremendously for a very short period of time. Assuming that one does it correctly and with devotion.

“Kriya Yoga is the jet airplane route to God.” He often told his disciples.

“Kriya is the most effective technique available to mankind today for reaching the goal of Yoga: union with the Divine. One Kriya, which takes about 30 seconds, is equivalent to one year of natural spiritual growth.

One thousand Kriya practiced in eight hours gives the yogi, in one day, the equivalent of one thousand years of natural evolution: 365,000 years of evolution in one year.

I practice a few times kriya and the body is gone, and I am in the infinite bliss. The bliss that surpasses any description.

Learn Kriya yoga. Go quickly to God in his infinite bliss. Do not waste any time. This world is a delusion and will never give you the eternal happiness that you are looking for. Only in Him you will find it. ”

After his mahasamadhi in March 7 1952 Yogananda’s body remained in a state of complete incorruption for three weeks after his passing, up to the moment his body was laid in the crypt.

This event was documented by a notarized letter of the mortuary. It was a true phenomenon which was even described even in TIME magazine. And to this day nobody knows if today his body is still incorrupt.

He said once these powerful and loving words: after I am gone, only love can take my place.

It is said that he is a prem avatar – a Divine incarnation of love.

Watch the Video Below to Learn More About Yogananda and Kriya Yoga: