Durga Puja and the Mahasamadhi of Lahiri Mahasaya

By Paramahamsa Hariharananda

I am writing to all of you on this auspicious occasion of the mahasamadhi day of Lahiri Baba. This is also the navamyadi-kalpa celebration: the 9th dark moon day of the Durga puja. It is a very auspicious day. On this day people all over India are deeply absorbed in worshipping Mother Durga. Durga means "One who removes all the durgatis." "Durgatis" means troubles, worries and anxieties.

So, starting on October 10th this year (the new moon day), people all over India strive to be new and divine. They don new clothes, which symbolize a new life. They adopt new habits in an effort to go from dishonesty to honesty, from darkness to light, from death to immortality, from impurity to purity, and from bad company to good company.

October 10th is also a special day, called navaratri day, when everyone is after spirituality and worships Durga. The climate is gradually becoming cooler, which helps them to stay busy and focused. The 9th day of the celebration, called mahana-vami, October 19th this year, is also the birthday and expiration date of the great Avatar Shyama-charan Lahiri Mahasaya.

Lahiri Baba was a very special human being, a God in human form. He was a family man with a wife, children, and grandchildren. He learned Kriya Yoga from Babaji, which marked the beginning of a new era for spirituality on earth. Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj, the unknown kriya yogi, is still alive, but he can only be seen by people who are in deepest meditation. He is nowhere and he is everywhere, just like God. Babaji called his dearest disciple, Shyamacharan Lahiri Baba, to the Ranikhet Mountains. Lahiri Baba, who was then working in a British office in Calcutta, was suddenly and inexplicably transferred to Ranikhet. Afterwards, while walking in the mountains, Lahiri Baba heard a voice in the distance calling "Shyamacharan, Shyama-charan..." He proceeded toward the source of the sound and came face to face with the great Himalayan yogi.

Babaji asked him, "Do you recognize me?"

Lahiri had the feeling that he had seen him before, but could not recall when. Babaji then touched Lahiri's head, and Lahiri Baba immediately remembered everything: "You are my former guru, and we used to live together in this cave."

Babaji then revealed, "It was I who had you transferred here. I will initiate you into Kriya Yoga, the simplest, quickest, best technique for this age. After five days you will return to Calcutta and spread the message of Kriya Yoga: work is worship, kri and ya."

Lahiri Baba was highly realized and a model to all, householders and monks alike. Lahiri Baba taught Kriya Yoga to my guru Shriyukteshwarji, and I am teaching the same techniques to everyone. I have roamed all over the world to spread the message of the original kriya. Since 1974, I have traveled to many countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and South America.

Kriya Yoga is the foundation of all religions and is very simple. In John 10:37-38, Jesus said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him." This verse contains the exact same literal meaning as the words "Kriya" and "Yoga". When Jesus says, "The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works," this is the explanation of Kriya.

Jesus also says in this verse, "The Father is in me, and I in Him." So every person should understand that the meaning of yoga is simply the eternal union of body and soul, which also means the union of man and God. The spiritual practice that brings about a constant realization of one's unity with God is called Kriya Yoga. If you watch your breath throughout every activity and you hear the divine sound, you will hear the voice of God directing you in every matter. This is your liberation and constant God-realization.

Wisdom cannot be perceived by the five senses; it can only be realized by the atom. So offer your every breath to the crown of the head with love. If the Supreme Almighty does not pull the breath then you are a dead body. So, as He is giving you everything peace, bliss, and joy you should meditate to know God. And you should give Him extreme love and devotion. So meditate and be realized.