22/11/2023
A brief life history of Swami Satyanandaji:
Swami Satyananda Giri
Manmohan (Swami Satyananda) was born to Mohini Mohan Majumdar and Tarabasini Devi on November 17, 1896, at his maternal uncle's house in Bikrampur, Bangladesh. He was a philosopher, singer, songwriter, poet, social worker and above all, a talented disciple and a truly divine master in the lineage of Kriya Yoga.
An indication of his impeccable love for humanity, without distinction of class, caste or religion, became evident at the young age of six or seven when he mocked the rooted tradition of untouchability on a social occasion in the presence of his relatives and friends. At the age of ten, his pursuit of liberation was deep-rooted, strengthening his fiery pursuit of India's independence, as well as the ultimate liberation of humanity from the chains of worldly suffering, slavery and consciousness of the world body.
Swami Satyananda's first encounter with his childhood friend and guide, Mukunda (Paramahamsa Yogananda), took place at the entrance of the School of Mutes and Deaf in Kolkata when he sought to borrow a pump to inflate a football ball for his team ... The intimacy between them grew intensely as they both quickly accelerated toward the realization of Truth. Promising to maintain celibacy throughout their life, they spent their time meditating in detention in a variety of sacred places and temples. Even at night, these two young men stayed completely devoted.
Manmohan visited holy places, spiritual people and saints with Mukunda. Hamsa Swami Kevalananda, Mukunda's great Sanskrit tutor, who taught him the basics of Kriya Yoga, laid the foundation for his spiritual life. The Spartan lifestyle, simple and austere and Kevalanandaji's deep spiritual experience had a huge impact on Manmohan's life.
His long cherished dream came true during his college years when he met his destined guru, Swami Shriyukteshwar, and was initiated into Kriya Yoga. The deep knowledge of his guru, the deep metaphorical interpretation of scriptures, the unfathomable divine experience in Kriya Yoga, and the knowledge of astronomy and astrology played an important role in making him a dedicated and burning disciple. Four years after Mukunda became sannyasi known as Swami Yogananda, Manmohan graduated from college with a bachelor's degree (honours) in Philosophy. In 1919, under the guidance of his guru, he was started on the monastic order and was known as Swami Satyananda Giri.
Inspired and guided by Paramahamsa Yogananda, the spiritual life of Swami Satyananda reached its highlight when he became a monk. He spent most of his time and energy meditating and organizing the residential Ashram school founded by Paramahamsa Yogananda in Ranchi, along with his schoolmate turned sannyasi, Swami Dhirananda.
The illustrious character, honesty and purity of Swami Satyananda, his exemplary lifestyle, his selfless love and care for his disciples and students, inspired Mahatma Gandhi to visit Ashram Ranchi, after which he praised the Ashram and invited Swami Satyananda to visit his own Ashram Sabarmati.
When he visited Mahatma Gandhi's ashram, he was granted a great reception and a warm welcome and was asked to stay in the ashram for several days. Swami Satyananda laid the foundation for the initiation of Mahatma Gandhi and his disciples at Kriya Yoga by Paramahamsa Yogananda, who returned to India in 1935. His love for Mother India and his eagerness to devote his life to the liberation of the people of India manifested when he sadly rejected the offer of his close friend and guide, Paramahamsa Yogananda, to come to America to aid in his divine mission.
Following the call of his beloved Gurudev Swami Shriyukteshwar, he went to Puri Karar Ashram to lead his life under the spiritual guidance of his Gurudev.
After mahasamadhi of his Guru Shriyukteshwarji on March 9, 1936, and a few months after Paramahamsa Yogananda's return to America, Swami Satyananda initiated Rabinaryan Brahmachari (Parmahammahsa Hariharananda) to higher kriya. Leaving the work and management of Puri Ashram to Rabinaryan Brahmachari, he accepted the life of a wandering monk, preaching and teaching Kriya Yoga all over India. His meeting in South India with Ramana Maharshi, a luminous saint recognized for his deep spiritual experience, developed in him an unique and intense love. Ramana Maharshi was impressed by Satyanandaji's captivating personality, and pressured Satyananda to settle permanently in his ashram.
Because of the tragedy in 1944 when the terrible famine devastated Bengal caused Satyanandaji's heart to melt toward the hungry poor. His motto was: ′′ Service with love and meditation for all ". As a show of his love for the oppressed and neglected members of the society, he established the Sevayatan Satsang Mission in Jhargram, an underdeveloped region in the Mednipur district of West Bengal, where he spent the last part of his life from 1944 to 1971 transforming the lives of millions of people. After Paramahamsa Yogananda's mahasamadhi in 1952 and until the end of his life, he remained president of Karar Ashram in Puri. With a life enriched with spiritual experience, dedicated to the cause of humanity and embracing the tenets of Kriya Yoga, he finally left his physical body on August 2, 1971 at his Sevayatan Satsang Mission.
