SATGURUDEVA
PARAMAHAMSA

As a precocious child, he memorized, at the age of four, all the puja mantras he heard from his father, Sri Haripada Bhattacharya, who was highly religious and well-versed in all the Hindu scriptures.

At the age of eleven, he took upanayana and the vow of brahmacharya.

At the age of twelve, he was initiated into jnana yoga by a renowned householder and realized sadhaka, Sri Bijaykrishna Chattopadhyaya of Kali Kundu Lane, Howrah, who inspired him to meet Sri Yukteswarji.

In 1932, he met Sri Yukteswarji at his Serampore Ashram an was initiated into kriya yoga by him. He studied astrology, astronomy, palmistry and completed first kriya under his guidance. He promised to follow an ascetic life and to stay at Karar Ashram aproposed.

In 1935, he met Paramahamsa Yoganandaji and was initiated into the second kriya by him.

In 1938, he joined the Karar Ashram, Puri and started the ascetic life as Brahmachari Ravinarayan.

In 1940, he attained khecari, bhramari and sambhavi stages of realization and experienced super-divine light emanating from his body.

In 1941, he took the third kriya from Srimat Swami Satyananda Giri Maharaj, the acarya of Ranchi
Brahmacarya Ashram and President of the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.

In 1943, he took the fourth kriya
from Srimat Bhupendranath Sannyal, the renowned yogi and disciple of Lahiri Baba.

In 1944, he received the secret technique of Samadhi from an unknown, young and mysterious yogi.

In 1945, he received the fifth and sixth kriyas from Srimat Bhupendranath Sannyal.

He attained six stages of samadhi during the period from 1944-1947.

In 1948, he attained nirvikalpa samadhi and the Paramahamsa stage.

In 1949, he met Mahavatar Kalpayogi Babaji Maharaj twice in the Karar Ashram and received his blessings. He visited Ranikhet and went to the cave where Babaji Maharaj initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into kriya yoga and heard the divine voice of Babaji inspiring him to proceed on his mission.

In 1950, he became acarya of the Puri Ashram at the request of Paramahamsa Yoganandaji, following in the line of Giri Masters Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswarji and Paramahamsa Yoganandaji.

In 1951, he was empowered by Paramahamsa Yoganandaji to initiate people into kriya yoga.

On the 27th of September, 1958, Goddess Kali, the Divine Mother and the presiding deity of Swamiji, appeared before him with Her divine effulgence and blessed him and directed him to proceed with his divine mission for the spiritual upliftment of the world.

On the 27th of May,1959, he took sannyas form Jagadguru Sankaracarya Maharaj of Govardhan Pitha, Puri, with due religious rites and was known as Swami Haraharananda Giri Maharaj.

He succeded Srimat Swami Satyananda Giri Maharaj as Sadhu Sabhapati after his maha-samadhi on the 4th August 1971 and received the recognition of Sri Sankaracarya and other sadhus in the abhisekotsava held in the karar ashram.

By the advice and instructions of his masters Babaji and Sri Yukteswar he came to Switzerland in 1974. Even before that thousands of Western seekers were initiated and guided by him, from Karar Ashram, Puri. Subsequently he visited Belgium, U.K. and Germany.

In 1975, he arrived in USA to spread the message of Authentic Kriya Yoga as taught by Babaji, Lahairi Baba and Sri Yukteswarji.

Later on he visited South America, different corners of USA, France, Holland and other countries extensively and worked tirelessly.

In 1977, the First Edition of Kriya Yoga book was published, it was accepted and appreciated by the spiritual seekers of the world.

He is author of many books, with yogic and metaphorical interpretation in a scientific way, his works have been translated into many Indian and Western languages.

He established several Ashrams in different parts of India and abroad.

Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji, lovingly addressed as Baba, the Divine Father, the unique world teacher, free from religious dogma and sectarian belief, is a Godlike personality. He may be discribed as having the love of Jesus, head of Sankara, devotion of Sri Caitannya and heart of Buddha. Come to him and realize his spiritual stature and love. Sit face to face with this God-intoxicated and God-realized master, listen to his lilting and sweet voice declaring in a nutshell, the key of the authentic Kriya Yoga: