Paramahansa grew up in a spiritual household with parents who followed Lahiri Mahasaya. |
From a young age, he showed a keen interest in spiritual tales. |
At six, he was captivated by spiritual stories. |
Yogananda's father held a managerial position at the Bengal-Nagpur Railway. |
In 1910, at 17 years old, he encountered his spiritual mentor, Swami Yukteswar Giri. |
Upon joining the Swami order in 1914, he assumed the name Yogananda. |
In 1915, after renouncing worldly pleasures, he officially became 'Swami Yogananda Giri.' |
Established in 1917 in Dihika, West Bengal, the school he founded later moved to Ranchi as the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. |
In 1920, Yogananda spread Indian yoga and meditation teachings in the United States, laying the groundwork for the Self-Realization Fellowship. |
His extensive travels across America were termed the 'Spiritual Campaign.' |
From 1924, he embarked on cross-country speaking tours, attracting large audiences. |
Yogananda was a pioneer among Indian spiritual teachers for spending much of his life in the U.S. until his passing. |
During his 1935 visit to India, he introduced Mahatma Gandhi to Kriya Yoga. |
His guru Sri Yukteswar honored him with the title 'Paramahansa' in 1935. |
Moving back to the USA in 1936, he penned his seminal work, 'Autobiography of a Yogi,' published in 1946. |
His final years were spent secluded, writing and mentoring disciples before his passing in 1952. |
Before his passing, Yogananda appointed Rajarsi Janakananda as the president of Self-Realization Fellowship. |
Aside from his autobiography, he authored several spiritual books, including 'The Second Coming of Christ' and 'God Talks With Arjuna.' |
In his honor, the Indian government released a commemorative stamp in 1977. |
'Autobiography of a Yogi' has been translated into 45+ languages and recognized as a top spiritual book of the 20th century. |
Yogananda's autobiography influenced notable figures like George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, and Steve Jobs. |
The global reach of the Self-Realization Fellowship now extends to over 175 countries. |
In 2017, India commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Yogoda Satsanga Society with a postal stamp issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. |
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind visited the Ranchi Ashram for the official release of a Hindi translation of Yogananda's book in 2017. |