Paramahansa Yogananda
1893–1952
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India. From a young age, he showed an intense spiritual inclination, eventually becoming a disciple of the revered Swami Sri Yukteswar. Yogananda was educated at Serampore College and soon after dedicated his life to spiritual pursuits. In 1920, he traveled to the United States as India's delegate to an International Congress of Religious Liberals in Boston. There, he founded the Self-Realization Fellowship, which became the foundation for his lifelong mission: introducing the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga to the Western world. He spent much of his later life in America, establishing centers and lecturing widely until his passing in 1952.
Yogananda's literary legacy is most notably defined by his seminal work, "Autobiography of a Yogi" (1946), which is featured on our site. The book blends his personal spiritual journey with discussions of Hindu philosophy, accounts of miraculous events, and explorations of yoga and meditation. Celebrated for its accessible prose and candid storytelling, "Autobiography of a Yogi" has inspired millions of readers worldwide and is considered a spiritual classic. Yogananda's influence endures through his writings and the ongoing work of the Self-Realization Fellowship, which continues to promote his teachings on spiritual realization and self-transformation.
