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Lahiri Mahasaya (1828–1895) kriya yoga

teacher

Sri Lahiri Baba, also called Yogiraj, was a mod-

est but intensely pious and learned man. He was

a disciple of the legendary BABAJI, an honored

teacher of KRIYA YOGA, and a pioneer in women’s

education in India.

Born as Shyamacharan Lahiri to Gourmohan

and Muktakeshi Lahiri on September 30, 1828,

in the village of Ghurani in the Punjab, Lahiri

Mahasaya was raised in a pious family of devout

followers of Lord SHIVA. Gourmohan Lahiri was a

recognized pundit and scholar of King Krishnana-

gar’s court. In early childhood, Shyamacharan’s

mother would find him smeared in ashes and sit-

ting in MEDITATION with his eyes closed. The most

significant of these events took place when both

mother and son were completely absorbed in the

worship of Lord Shiva in the temple. Muktakeshi

opened her eyes upon hearing “mother” from an

unknown voice. Standing before her was a monk

draped in a saffron cloth with locked and matted

hair. The monk was the immortal yogi, Babaji. He

told her that he had initiated her son for the pur-

pose of liberating both saints and householders

from worldly suffering using simple techniques

of SELF-REALIZATION. He assured her that her son

would remain in the world and would be a highly

respected being committed to the God-realization

of others.

In 1832, a flood destroyed the family home

and killed his mother. Shyamacharan moved with

his father and sister first to Calcutta and then to

BENARES (Varanasi), a city holy to Lord Shiva. As

a boy, he was humble, quiet, calm, and detached.

He attended an English school and studied SAN-

SKRIT, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and English. At age 12

he entered Sanskrit University in Benares. In 1848

he completed a degree in English, with significant

study of Indian philosophy and literature, as well

as Western philosophy. He studied the VEDAS with

the noted Maharashtrian Sanskrit scholar Pundit

Nagabhatta. He later continued Sanskrit study

under the tutelege of Pundit Devanarayan Gho-

sal Vidya Vachaspathi from Bengal. Gourmohan

was proud of his son’s achievement, but was also

concerned that his quiet nature would lead him

to asceticism, so he arranged for a marriage. The

wedding took place in 1846; Shyamacharan was

18, and Kashimoni was 10, as was common prac-

tice of that time. During their 47-year marriage,

she remained completely loyal and supportive of

her husband’s goal of self-realization. They lived

a simple, impoverished life in the early years of

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