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Shyama Charan Lahiri (30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895), also known as Lahiri Mahasaya, was an Indian yogi, Guru, and a disciple of the Kriya Yoga master Mahavatar Babaji. He was unusual among Indian holy people in that he was a householder: marrying, raising a family, and working as a government accountant, he lived with his family in Varanasi rather than in a temple or monastery.
Throughout his life, he spread Kriya naturally and rarely sponsored any organisations; nonetheless, his pious living attracted followers, and he became the guru of many advanced Kriya disciples, such as Panchanan Bhattacharya and Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. Moreover, he became a spiritually inspirational figure for his exceptional lifestyle as an ‘Ideal yogi-householder’ and achieved a substantial reputation among 19th-century Hindu religionists.
He became known in the West through Paramahansa Yogananda, a disciple of Sri Yukteswar Giri, and through Yogananda’s 1946 book ‘Autobiography of a Yogi.’ Yogananda noted his ‘Christlike life’ and considered him a Yogavatar (meaning: Incarnation of Yoga) since the yogic Masters chose Lahiri himself to disseminate the principles of yoga to the world. The book notes that Lahiri was conscientious and understanding of his disciples; he carefully directed them according to their natural inclinations. Stressing the practicality of Kriya, he yet allowed students the freedom to worship based on their backgrounds. Despite being a high-caste Brahmin in an orthodox Hindu society, he also bravely accepted social outcasts and those of other faiths as his students.
Trailanga Swami, the famous saint of Varanasi, had praised Lahiri Mahasaya in the following words, ‘Lahiri Mahasaya is like a divine kitten, remaining wherever the Cosmic Mother has placed him. While dutifully playing the part of a worldly man, he has received that perfect Self-realisation which I have sought by renouncing everything – even my loincloth!‘
Lahiri Mahasaya was born as Shyama Charan Lahiri into a Brahmin family in the Ghurni village (presently a neighbourhood of Krishnanagar town) in Nadia district of Bengal Province. He was the youngest son of Muktakashi, wife of Gaur Mohan Lahiri. His mother died when he was a child — there is very little known about her, except that she was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Even at three or four, he was often seen sitting in meditation, with his body buried in the sand up to his neck. When Lahiri was five, the family’s ancestral home was lost in a flood, so they moved to Varanasi, where he would spend most of his life.
As a child, he studied Urdu and Hindi, gradually moving on to Bengali, Sanskrit, Persian, French and English at the Government Sanskrit College and a study of the Vedas. Reciting the Vedas, bathing in the Ganges, and worship were part of his daily routine.
In 1846, he married Srimati Kashi Moni. They had two sons, Tincouri and Ducouri, and three daughters, Harimoti, Harikamini and Harimohini. His two sons were considered saints. Lahiri’s wife became his disciple and was affectionately called Guru Ma. His work as an accountant in the Military Engineering Department of the British Indian government took him all over India. After his father’s death, he supported the entire family in Varanasi. In 1861 (in his thirty-third year), Lahiri was transferred to Ranikhet, in the foothills of the Himalayas. One day, while walking in the hills, he heard a voice calling him. After climbing further, he met his Guru Mahavatar Babaji, who initiated him into the techniques of Kriya Yoga. Babaji told Lahiri that the rest of his life was to be dedicated to spreading the Kriya message.
Soon after, Lahiri Mahasaya returned to Varanasi, where he began initiating sincere seekers into the path of Kriya Yoga. Over time, more and more people flocked to receive the teachings of Kriya from Lahiri. To note his high spiritual state, his followers called him Mahasaya, a Sanskrit spiritual title translated as ‘large-minded.’ He was also popularly known as Yogiraj and Kashi Baba by his followers. He organised many study groups and gave regular discourses on the Bhagavad Gita. He freely gave Kriya initiation to those of every faith, including Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, at a time when caste bigotry was very strong. He encouraged his students to adhere to the tenets of their own faith, adding the Kriya techniques to what they already were practising.
He continued his dual role as an accountant supporting his family, and a teacher of Kriya Yoga, until 1886 when he could retire on a pension. More and more visitors came to see him at this time. He rarely left his sitting room, available to all who sought his darshan. He often exhibited the breathless state of superconscious samadhi.
Over the years, he gave initiation to gardeners, postmen, kings, maharajas, sannyasis, householders, and people considered lower caste, Christians, and Muslims. At that time, it was unusual for a strict Brahmin to associate so closely with people from all castes.
Paramahamsa Yogananda’s parents were disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya, and when he was but a babe in arms, his mother carried him to the home of her Guru. Blessing the infant, Lahiri Mahasaya said, ‘Little mother, thy son will be a yogi. As a spiritual engine, he will carry many souls to God’s kingdom.‘
Lahiri Mahasaya established no organisation during his lifetime but made this prediction: ‘About fifty years after my passing, an account of my life will be written because of a deep interest in Yoga that will arise in the West. The message of Yoga will encircle the globe. It will aid in establishing the brotherhood of man: a unity based on humanity’s direct perception of the one Father.‘
Indeed, fifty years later, his prediction was fulfilled in America when an increasing interest in yoga in the West inspired Paramahamsa Yogananda to write his ‘Autobiography of a Yogi,’ which contains a beautiful account of Lahiri Mahasaya’s life.
Biographer and Yogacharya Dr. Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee, in his book ‘Purana Purusha,’ points out that Lahiri initiated Sai Baba of Shirdi into Kriya Yoga, based on a passage in Lahiri’s secret diary. He permitted one disciple, Panchanan Bhattacharya, to start an institution in Kolkata to spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga. The Arya Mission Institution published commentaries by Lahiri on the Bhagavad Gita, along with other spiritual books, including a Bengali translation of the Gita. Lahiri himself had printed thousands of small books with excerpted passages from the Gita in Bengali and Hindi and distributed them for free, an unusual idea at that time.
In 1895, he began gathering his disciples, letting some of them know that he would soon be leaving the body. Moments before his passing, he said simply, ‘I am going home. Be comforted; I shall rise again.‘ He then turned his body around three times, faced north, and consciously left his body, entering mahasamadhi. Lahiri Mahasaya died on 26 September 1895, four days before turning 67. He was cremated according to Hindu Brahmin rites at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi.
In 1861, Shyama Charan was chosen to introduce the science of Kriya Yoga to the public after centuries of its guarding by Nasters. At thirty-three, while walking one day in the Himalayan foothills near Ranikhet, he was called by name by his Guru, Mahavatar Babaji. It was a divine reunion of two who had been together in many lives past; at an awakening touch of blessing, Lahiri Mahasaya became engulfed in a spiritual aura of divine realisation that was never to leave him.
Mahavatar Babaji initiated him in the science of Kriya Yoga and instructed him to bestow the sacred technique on all sincere seekers. Lahiri Mahasaya returned to his home in Banaras to fulfill this mission. As the first to teach the lost ancient Kriya science in contemporary times, he is renowned as a seminal figure in the renaissance of yoga that began in modern India in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continues to this day.
Paramahamsa Yogananda wrote in Autobiography of a Yogi: ‘As the fragrance of flowers cannot be suppressed, so Lahiri Mahasaya, quietly living as an ideal householder, could not hide his innate glory. Devotee-bees from every part of India began to seek the divine nectar of the liberated master….The harmoniously balanced life of the great householder-Guru became the inspiration of thousands of men and women.‘
As Lahiri Mahasaya exemplified the highest ideals of Yoga, the union of the little self with God, he is recognised as a Yogavatar, or incarnation of Yoga.
The central spiritual practice he taught to his disciples was Kriya Yoga, a series of inner pranayama practices that quickly hasten the spiritual growth of the practitioner. He taught this technique to all sincere seekers, regardless of their religious background. His advice would be the same in response to many types of problems that disciples would bring him — to practice more Kriya Yoga.
Regarding Kriya Yoga, he said, ‘Always remember that you belong to no one, and no one belongs to you. Reflect that someday you will suddenly have to leave everything in this world – so make the acquaintanceship of God now. Prepare yourself for the coming astral journey of death by daily riding in the balloon of God-perception. Through delusion, you perceive yourself as a bundle of flesh and bones, which at best is a nest of troubles. Meditate unceasingly, that you may quickly behold yourself as the Infinite Essence, free from every form of misery. Cease being a prisoner of the body; using the secret key of Kriya, learn to escape into Spirit.‘
He taught that Kriya practice would give the yogi direct experience of truth, unlike mere theoretical discussion of the scriptures, and said, ‘Solve all your problems through meditation. Exchange unprofitable religious speculations for actual God contact. Clear your mind of dogmatic theological debris; let in the fresh, healing waters of direct perception. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the Divine Voice has the answer to every life dilemma. Though man’s ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite Succour is no less resourceful.‘
Lahiri often spoke of the Guru-disciple relationship in the context of Kriya Yoga. He always gave the Kriya technique as an initiation and taught that the method was only learned adequately as part of the Guru-disciple relationship. Frequently he referred to the realisation that comes through practising Kriya as taught by the Guru and the grace that comes through the ‘transmission’ of the Guru. He also taught that the grace of the Guru comes automatically if his instructions are followed. He suggested contacting the Guru during meditation, counseling that it wasn’t always necessary to see his physical form.
Regarding the necessity of the help of a Guru to deep yoga practice, he said, ‘It is absolutely necessary for all devotees to surrender to their Guru totally. The more one can surrender to the Guru, the more he can ascertain the subtlest of the subtle techniques of yoga from his Guru. Without surrender, nothing can be obtained from the Guru.‘
The relationship Lahiri Mahasaya had with his disciples was very individual. He even varied how he taught the Kriya Yoga practice to each disciple, depending on their individual spiritual needs.
Lahiri taught that if one is earning an honest living and practising honesty, then there is no need to alter one’s external life in any significant way to become aware of God’s presence. If a student neglected his worldly duties, he would correct him. He was extremely rare to advise sannyasi or complete worldly renunciation by becoming a swami. Instead, he suggested marriage for most of his disciples along with Kriya Yoga practice.
He generally eschewed organised religion, but he allowed at least one advanced disciple, Panchanan Bhattacharya, to open the ‘Arya Mission Institution’ in Kolkata to spread Kriya teachings. Other disciples of Lahiri also started organisations to spread the Kriya Yoga message, including Yukteswar Giri with his Satsanga Sabha. But, generally, he preferred Kriya to spread naturally.
Lahiri frequently taught the Bhagavad Gita. His regular Gita assemblies, called Gita Sabha, attracted many disciples. He asked several of his close disciples to write interpretations of the Gita by tuning in to their own realisation. Lahiri taught that the Battle of Kurukshetra was an inner psychological battle and that the different characters were psychological traits within the struggling yogi. This understanding would later become the foundation of Paramahansa Yogananda’s commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita ‘God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita.’ He also taught that the epic story of the Mahabharata showed the soul’s descent into matter and its challenges in retracing its way back to spirit.
Some of his quotes:
Lahiri Mahasaya is best known for reviving Kriya Yoga, an ancient meditation technique previously known only by those of the highest spiritual advancement. Now, all sincere spiritual seekers can learn and practise this sacred art.
The divine conversation between Mahavatar Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya, as described in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramahamsa Yogananda, enabled Kriya yoga to be taught to all seekers without any discrimination, is a seminal development. This has allowed this sacred science of Kriya Yoga to become more widely distributed in the current age.
‘Angelic guru, as you have already favoured mankind by resurrecting the lost Kriya art, will you not increase that benefit by relaxing the strict requirements for discipleship?’ I gazed beseechingly at Babaji. ‘I pray that you permit me to communicate Kriya to all seekers, even though at first they cannot vow themselves to complete inner renunciation.’
‘Be it so. The divine wish has been expressed through you.’ With these simple words, the merciful guru banished the rigorous safeguards that for ages had hidden Kriya from the world. ‘Give Kriya freely to all who humbly ask for help.’
Om Lahiri Mahasaya, Om Lahiri Mahasaya, Om Lahiri Mahasaya Om
~ Swami Kebalananda, (Paramahansa Yogananda), Autobiography of a Yogi, p 43; Cosmic Chant.
Many miraculous instances of his life are detailed in Yogananda’s book, such as being initiated in a luminous palace materialised by Babaji and reviving a disciple from death. During his retirement years, he often remained in meditation in his home parlor without need for sleep and often without even leaving for other parts of the house; disciples and wandering monks would visit him both day and night.
Paramahamsa Yogananda, in his book Autobiography of a Yogi, has written as below:
‘I was blessed about the age of eight with remarkable healing through the photograph of Lahiri Mahasaya. This experience gave intensification to my love. While at our family estate in Ichapur, Bengal, I was stricken with Asiatic cholera. My life was despaired of; the doctors could do nothing. Mother frantically motioned me to look at Lahiri Mahasaya’s picture on the wall above my head at my bedside.
“Bow to him mentally!” She knew I was too feeble even to lift my hands in salutation. “If you show your devotion and inwardly kneel before him, your life will be spared!”
I gazed at his photograph and saw a blinding light enveloping my body and the entire room. My nausea and other uncontrollable symptoms disappeared; I was well. At once, I felt strong enough to bend over and touch Mother’s feet in appreciation of her immeasurable faith in her guru. Mother pressed her head repeatedly against the little picture.
“O Omnipresent Master, I thank thee that thy light hath healed, my son!” I realised that she too had witnessed the luminous blaze through which I had instantly recovered from a usually fatal disease.’
Kashi Moni: Lahiri Mahasaya’s Wife
Although aged, she was blooming like a lotus, silently emanating a spiritual fragrance. She was of medium build, with a slender neck and fair skin. Large, lustrous eyes softened her motherly face. — Paramhamsa Yogananda, describing Kashi Moni, Lahiri Mahasaya’s wife.
‘It was years before I came to realise the divine stature of my husband. But then, one night, I had a vivid dream in this very room. Glorious angels floated in unimaginable grace above me. So realistic was the sight that I awoke at once; dazzling light strangely enveloped the room.
My husband, in lotus posture, had levitated in the centre of the room, surrounded by angels who were worshiping him with the supplicating dignity of palm-folded hands. Astonished beyond measure, I was convinced that I was still dreaming.
“Woman,” Lahiri Mahasaya said, “you are not dreaming. So forsake your sleep forever and forever.” As he slowly descended to the floor, I prostrated myself at his feet.
“Master,” I cried, “again and again, I bow before you! Will you pardon me for having considered you as my husband? I die with shame to realise that I have remained asleep in ignorance by the side of one who is divinely awakened. From this night, you are no longer my husband but my Guru. Will you accept my insignificant self as your disciple?”
The Master touched me gently. “Sacred soul, arise. You are accepted.” He motioned toward the angels. “Please bow in turn to each of these holy saints.”
When I had finished my humble genuflections, the angelic voices sounded together, like a chorus from ancient scripture.
“Consort of the Divine One, thou art blessed. We salute thee.” They bowed at my feet, and lo! their refulgent forms vanished. The room darkened.
My Guru asked me to receive initiation into Kriya Yoga.
“Of course,” I responded. “I am sorry not to have had its blessing earlier in my life.”
“The time was not ripe.” Lahiri Mahasaya smiled consolingly. “Much of your karma I have silently helped you to work out. Now you are willing and ready.”
He touched my forehead. Masses of whirling light appeared; the radiance gradually formed itself into the opal-blue spiritual eye, ringed in gold and centred with a white pentagonal star.
“Penetrate your consciousness through the star into the kingdom of the Infinite.” My Guru’s voice had a new note, soft like distant music.
Vision after vision broke as oceanic surf on the shores of my soul. The panoramic spheres finally melted in a sea of bliss. I lost myself in ever-surging blessedness. When I returned hours later to awareness of this world, the master gave me the technique of Kriya Yoga.
From that night on, Lahiri Mahasaya never slept in my room again. Nor, after that, did he ever sleep. Instead, he remained in the front room downstairs, in the company of his disciples both by day and by night.
I will confess a sin that I committed against my Guru-husband. Some months after my initiation, I began to feel sad and neglected. One morning Lahiri Mahasaya entered this little room to fetch an article; I quickly followed him. Overcome by violent delusion, I addressed him scathingly.
“You spend all your time with the disciples. What about your responsibilities for your wife and children? I regret that you do not interest yourself in providing more money for the family.”
The Master glanced at me for a moment, then lo! He was gone. Awed and frightened, I heard a voice resounding from every part of the room:
“It is all nothing, don’t you see? How could a nothing like me produce riches for you?”
“Guruji,” I cried, “I seek forgiveness a million times! My sinful eyes can see you no more; please appear in your sacred form.”
“I am here.” This reply came from above me. I looked up and saw the Naster materialise in the air, his head touching the ceiling. His eyes were like blinding flames. Beside myself with fear, I lay sobbing at his feet after he had quietly descended to the floor.
“Woman,” he said, “seek divine wealth, not the paltry tinsel of earth. After acquiring inward treasure, you will find that outward supply is always forthcoming.” He added, “One of my spiritual sons will make provision for you.”
My Gru’s words naturally came true; a disciple did leave a considerable sum for our family.
Picture of Lahiri Mahasaya
It appears that the Naster had an aversion to being photographed. Over his protest, a group picture was once taken of him and a cluster of devotees. An amazed photographer discovered that the plate which had clear images of all the disciples revealed nothing more than a blank space in the centre where he had reasonably expected to find the outlines of Lahiri Mahasaya. The phenomenon was widely discussed.
Ganga Dhar Babu, a confident student, and expert photographer boasted that the fugitive figure would not escape him. As the Guru sat in lotus posture on a wooden bench with a screen behind him the following day, Ganga Dhar Babu arrived with his equipment. Taking every precaution for success, he greedily exposed twelve plates. However, he soon found the imprint of the wooden bench and screen on each one, but once again, the Master’s form was missing.
With tears and shattered pride, Ganga Dhar Babu sought out his Guru. It was many hours before Lahiri Mahasaya broke his silence with a pregnant comment:
‘I am Spirit. Can your camera reflect the omnipresent Invisible?‘
‘I see it cannot! But, Holy Sir, I lovingly desire a picture of the bodily temple where alone, to my narrow vision, that Spirit appears fully to dwell.’
‘Come, then, tomorrow morning. I will pose for you.‘
Again, the photographer focused his camera. The sacred figure, not cloaked with mysterious imperceptibility, was sharp on the plate this time. The Master never posed for another picture; at least, I have seen none.
Lahiri Mahasaya’s fair features, of a universal cast, hardly suggest what race he belonged to. His intense joy of God-communion is slightly revealed in a somewhat enigmatic smile. His eyes, half-open to denote a little direction on the outer world, are half closed also. Utterly oblivious to the poor lures of the earth, he was fully awake at all times to the spiritual problems of seekers who approached for his bounty.
Lahiri Mahasaya cures Sri Yukteswar – written by Swami Sri Yukteswar
Years ago, I, too, was anxious to put on weight. During recovery after a severe illness, I visited Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares.
‘Sir, I have been very sick and lost many pounds.’
‘I see, Yukteswar, you made yourself unwell, and now you think you are thin.‘
This reply was far from the one I had expected; my Guru, however, added encouragingly: ‘Let me see; I am sure you ought to feel better tomorrow.‘
Taking his words as a gesture of personal healing toward my receptive mind, I was not surprised at a welcome accession of strength the following day. I sought out my Master and exclaimed exultingly, ‘Sir, I feel much better today.‘
‘Indeed! Today you invigorate yourself.’
‘No, master!’ I protested. ‘It was you who helped me; this is the first time in weeks that I have had any energy.’
‘O yes! Your malady has been quite serious. Your body is frail yet; who can say how it will be tomorrow?‘
The thought of a possible return of my weakness brought me a shudder of cold fear. The following morning, I could hardly drag myself to Lahiri Mahasaya’s home.
‘Sir, I am ailing again.’
My Guru’s glance was quizzical. ‘So! Once more, you indispose yourself.’
‘Gurudeva, I realise now that day by day, you have been ridiculing me.’ My patience was exhausted. ‘I don’t understand why you disbelieve my truthful reports.’
‘In reality, it has been your thoughts that have made you feel alternately weak and strong.‘ My Master looked at me affectionately. ‘You have seen how your health has exactly followed your expectations. Thought is a force, even as electricity or gravitation. The human mind is a spark of the almighty consciousness of God. I could show you that whatever your powerful mind believes very intensely would instantly come to pass.‘
Knowing that Lahiri Mahasaya never spoke idly, I addressed him with great awe and gratitude: ‘Master, if I think I am well and have regained my former weight, shall that happen?’
‘It is so, even at this moment.’ My Guru spoke gravely; his gaze concentrated on my eyes.
Lo! I felt an increase not alone in strength but also in weight. Lahiri Mahasaya retreated into silence. After a few hours at his feet, I returned to my mother’s home, where I stayed during my visits to Benares.
‘My son! What is the matter? Are you swelling with dropsy?’ Mother could hardly believe her eyes. My body was now of the exact robust dimensions it had possessed before my illness.
I weighed myself and found that I had gained fifty pounds; they remained permanently. Friends and acquaintances who had seen my thin figure were aghast with wonderment. A number of them changed their mode of life and became disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya due to this miracle.
My Guru, awake in God, knew this world to be nothing but an objectivised dream of the Creator. But, because he was completely aware of his unity with the Divine Dreamer, Lahiri Mahasaya could materialise or dematerialise or make any change he wished in the cosmic vision.
Ramu is Cured of Blindness – By Swami Kebalananda (Paramahamsa Yogananda’s Sanskrit tutor)
A blind disciple, Ramu, aroused my active pity. Should he have no light in his eyes when he faithfully served our Master, in whom the Divine was fully blazing? I sought to speak to Ramu one morning, but he sat for patient hours fanning the Guru with a hand-made palm-leaf punkha. When the devotee finally left the room, I followed him.
‘Ramu, how long have you been blind?’
‘From my birth, sir! Never have my eyes been blessed with a glimpse of the sun.’
‘Our omnipotent Guru can help you. Please make a supplication.’
The following day Ramu diffidently approached Lahiri Mahasaya. The disciple felt almost ashamed to ask that physical wealth be added to his spiritual superabundance.
‘Master, the Illuminator of the cosmos is in you. I pray you to bring His light into my eyes, that I perceive the sun’s lesser glow.’
‘Ramu, someone has conspired to put me in a difficult position. I have no healing power.‘
‘Sir, the Infinite One within you can certainly heal.’
‘That is indeed different, Ramu. God’s limit is nowhere! He who ignites the stars and the cells of flesh with mysterious life-effulgence can surely bring the lustre of vision into your eyes.‘
The master touched Ramu’s forehead at the point between the eyebrows.
‘Keep your mind concentrated there, and frequently chant the name of the prophet Rama for seven days. Then, the splendor of the sun shall have a special dawn for you.‘
Lo! in one week, it was so. For the first time, Ramu beheld the fair face of nature. The Omniscient One had unerringly directed his disciple to repeat the name of Rama, adored by him above all other saints. Ramu’s faith was the devotionally ploughed soil in which the Guru’s potent seed of permanent healing sprouted.
It was evident in all miracles performed by Lahiri Mahasaya that he never allowed the ego-principle to consider itself a causative force. On the contrary, the master enabled the Prime Healing Power to flow freely through him by the perfection of resistless surrender.
The numerous bodies which were spectacularly healed through Lahiri Mahasaya eventually had to feed the flames of cremation. But the silent spiritual awakenings he effected, the Christlike disciples he fashioned, are his imperishable miracles.
Rama is raised from the dead – by Swami Sri Yukteswar
My friend Rama and I were inseparable. Because he was shy and reclusive, he chose to visit our Guru Lahiri Mahasaya only during the hours of midnight and dawn, when the crowd of daytime disciples was absent. As Rama’s closest friend, I served as a spiritual vent through which he let out the wealth of his spiritual perceptions. I found inspiration in his ideal companionship.
Rama was suddenly put to a severe test. He contracted the disease of Asiatic cholera. As our Master never objected to physicians’ services at times of serious illness, two specialists were summoned. Amidst the frantic rush of ministering to the stricken man, I was deeply praying to Lahiri Mahasaya for help. I hurried to his home and sobbed out the story.
‘The doctors are seeing Rama. So he will be well.‘ My Guru smiled jovially.
I returned with a light heart to my friend’s bedside, only to find him in a dying state.
‘He cannot last more than one or two hours,’ one of the physicians told me with a gesture of despair. Once more I hastened to Lahiri Mahasaya.
‘The doctors are conscientious men. I am sure Rama will be well.‘ The Naster dismissed me blithely.
At Rama’s place, I found both doctors gone. One had left me a note: ‘We have done our best, but his case is hopeless.’
My friend was indeed the picture of a dying man. I did not understand how Lahiri Mahasaya’s words could fail to come true, yet the sight of Rama’s rapidly ebbing life kept suggesting to my mind: ‘All is over now.’ Tossing thus on the seas of faith and apprehensive doubt, I ministered to my friend as best I could. Finally, he roused himself to cry out:
‘Yukteswar, run to Master and tell him I am gone. Ask him to bless my body before its last rites.’ With these words, Rama sighed heavily and gave up the ghost.
I wept for an hour by his beloved form. Always a lover of quiet, now he had attained the utter stillness of death. Another disciple came in; I asked him to remain in the house until I returned. Half-dazed, I trudged back to my Guru.
‘How is Rama now?‘ Lahiri Mahasaya’s face was wreathed in smiles.
‘Sir, you will soon see how he is,’ I blurted out emotionally. ‘In a few hours, you will see his body, before it is carried to the crematory grounds.’ I broke down and moaned openly.
‘Yukteswar, control yourself. Sit calmly and meditate.‘ My Guru retired into samadhi. The afternoon and night passed in unbroken silence; I struggled unsuccessfully to regain an inner composure.
At dawn Lahiri Mahasaya glanced at me consolingly. ‘I see you are still disturbed. Why didn’t you explain yesterday that you expected me to give Rama tangible aid in the form of some medicine?‘ The Master pointed to a cup-shaped lamp containing crude castor oil. ‘Fill a little bottle from the lamp; put seven drops into Rama’s mouth.‘
‘Sir,’ I remonstrated, ‘he has been dead since yesterday noon. Of what use is the oil now?’
‘Never mind; just do as I ask.‘ Lahiri Mahasaya’s cheerful mood was incomprehensible; I was still in the unassuaged agony of grief. Then, pouring out a small amount of oil, I departed for Rama’s house.
I found my friend’s body rigid in the death clasp. Paying no attention to his ghastly condition, I opened his lips with my right finger and managed with my left hand and the help of the cork to put the oil drop by drop over his clenched teeth. As the seventh drop touched his cold lips, Rama shivered violently. His muscles vibrated from head to foot as he sat up wonderingly.
‘I saw Lahiri Mahasaya in a blaze of light,’ he cried. ‘He shone like the sun. “Arise; forsake your sleep,” he commanded me. “Come with Yukteswar to see me.”‘
I could scarcely believe my eyes when Rama dressed and was strong enough after that fatal sickness to walk to the home of our Guru. There he prostrated himself before Lahiri Mahasaya with tears of gratitude. The Master was beside himself with delight. His eyes twinkled at me mischievously.
‘Yukteswar,‘ he said, ‘surely from now on you will not fail to carry with you a bottle of castor oil! Then, whenever you see a corpse, just administer the oil! Seven drops of lamp oil must surely foil the power of Yama!‘
‘Guruji, you are ridiculing me. I don’t understand; please point out the nature of my error.’
‘I told you twice that Rama would be well, yet you could not fully believe me,‘ Lahiri Mahasaya explained. ‘I did not mean the doctors would be able to cure him; I remarked only that they were in attendance. There was no causal connection between my two statements. I didn’t want to interfere with the physicians; they have to live, too.‘ Then, in a voice resounding with joy, my Guru added, ‘Always know that the inexhaustible Paramatman can heal anyone, doctor or no doctor.‘
‘I see my mistake,’ I acknowledged remorsefully. ‘I know now that your simple word is binding on the whole cosmos.’
Some of his notable disciples included Panchanan Bhattacharya, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Swami Pranabananda, Swami Keshavananda Brahmachari, Bhupendranath Sanyal, and the parents of Paramahansa Yogananda.
Others who received initiation into Kriya Yoga from Lahiri included Bhaskarananda Saraswati of Benares, Balananda Brahmachari of Deogarh, Maharaja Iswari Narayan Sinha Bahadur of Benares and his son.
Books based on the commentary by Lahiri Mahasaya
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