Autobiography of a Yogi

About the Book: Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, also known as "Premavatar," was born to devout Bengali parents on January 5, 1883, the second of eight children. His parents and his guru, Jnanavatar Sri Yukteshwara Giri, were followers of Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasya of Benares, an enlightened soul who promoted Kriya Yoga, the technique of attaining divinity through self-realization. Trained in meditation, scriptures, and Kriya Yoga, Paramahansa Yogananda was sent by his guru as an emissary to spread Eastern spiritual knowledge to the West. He achieved this with great success during his stay in the United States from 1920 to 1952. Thus, he chronicled his life experiences in *A Yogi's Autobiography*, which traces the journey of a young Mukunda Lal Ghosh who was thirsty for divine knowledge. During his journey, beginning with a divinely gifted silver amulet given to his mother, he met such dignitaries as Mahendra Nath Gupta, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, and the eminent scholar Jagadish Chandra Bose, culminating in his meeting with his guru, Jnanaavatar Sri Yukteshwara Giri in Benares. The humble disciple, with his simplified explanations of divinity and miracles, and his connection of Indian philosophy with Christian theosophy, paid tribute befitting his spiritual master and the mission entrusted to him. About the Author: The yogi entered mahasamadhi on March 7, 1952, at a historic event—the banquet given in honor of the then Indian ambassador. His body was preserved in the Los Angeles morgue and remained fresh even twenty days after his death. His shrine in California is regularly visited by those influenced by his teachings.