“Those who join us on this path of Self-realization are not connected to some printing press, but to a line of God-realized masters. God Himself, through them, overshadows this work. All who follow it sincerely, with devotion, will be brought to Him.”
—Paramhansa Yogananda
Ananda was founded in 1968 by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. Paramhansa Yogananda was the last in a line of self-realized guru’s starting with Jesus Christ.
Paramhansa Yogananda1893-1952 Yogananda was the first great master of yoga to make his home in the West, coming to the U.S. from India in 1920 and living there until his passing.
Swami Kriyananda1926-2013 Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) was the founder of Ananda. In 1948, at the age of 22, he became a disciple of the Indian yoga master, Paramhansa Yogananda.
Swami Sri Yukteswar1855-1936 Swami Sri Yukteswar of Serampore, India, was the guru of Paramhansa Yogananda. He trained Yogananda for his mission in the West.
Lahiri Mahasaya1828-1895 Lahiri Mahasaya was the one who made the ancient science of Kriya Yoga available not just to those who had renounced the world, but to all sincere souls.
Mahavatar Babaji It was Babaji, whose name means “revered father”, who re-introduced the ancient science of Kriya Yoga, which had been lost through the dark ages “due to priestly secrecy and man’s indifference” as Yogananda put it.
Jesus Christ Why is there a picture of Jesus on Ananda’s altars? What connection is there between the Ananda line of Gurus and Christ? Who was he really?
