The Autobiography of a Yogi

Introduction by Jayaram V

Paramahansa Yogananda was born on January 5, 1893, in Gorakhpur, India. His original name was Mukunda Lal Ghosh. He hailed from a well-to-do Bengali family. From his early childhood, his parents were well aware of the spiritual significance of his birth. As a boy he was driven by an intense urge to seek the Divine and develop a friendly attitude towards God in all his forms and aspects. 

He went through many personal experiences that strengthened his faith in the Divine and propelled him to find a Guru who would help him reach the Highest Truth. At the age of 17 he met Swami Yukteswar Giri and became his disciple. He spent the next ten years under the guidance of his Guru, practicing Kriya Yoga and exploring the inner worlds. To prepare him for his future mission in the western world, his Guru encouraged him to join a college and receive modern education. 

After he completed his education in 1915, Swami Yukteswar initiated him into monk hood and gave him the name Yogananda. The Swami became very popular both in the east and the west through his teachings and his speeches. His Autobiography of a Yogi, which was published in 1943, attracted the attention of many. After spreading the message of love in many parts of the world and proving beyond doubt that through sustained self efforts human beings can ascend to extraordinary transcendental heights, he passed away on March 7, 1952. 

It has been said that due to his extraordinary spiritual powers, his body did not suffer any decay even twenty long days after his death, a fact which was recorded officially by the doctors. 

Hinduwebsite is proud to present the original 1946 edition of His Autobiography in its entirety. We believe this edition is in the public domain and we have reproduced the same here according to the Berne Convention. This book has profound spiritual significance for any one interested in spiritual matters, irrespective of caste and creed. It narrates in great detail the first hand experiences of sri Yogananda and his encounters with the higher worlds and divine beings. 

Sri Yogananda proved beyond doubt that any one with devotion, determination and concentration can transcend human limitations and experience the divine and establish oneself in the divine consciousness. Any one who reads his experiences with a deep faith in the spiritual possibilities of human existence,  is bound to be influenced by the powerful vibrations this book brings into his or her consciousness. Be prepared for an incredible journey into the deeper recesses of our own consciousness.

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