Mahavatar Babaji is the immortal master of the Himalayas, the silent guardian who has watched over humanity for centuries. He is the teacher of the sacred science of Kriya Yoga — the divine art that unites breath, energy, and consciousness, guiding the seeker toward inner peace and direct realization of the Divine. It is said that Babaji appears only to those who are inwardly ready. Out of infinite compassion, he revived Kriya Yoga in the 19th century through the initiation of Lahiri Mahasaya. From there, this living current of light flowed through Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda, and many other humble souls who serve in silence. Babaji himself is beyond time, beyond form — beyond even the idea of “Master” and “disciple.” He simply is. His work unfolds quietly, in the hearts of all who truly seek Truth. When the breath becomes still, when devotion deepens, when the mind bows to the soul — Babaji is near. Kriya Yoga is not a belief or philosophy. It is a sacred fire that purifies the heart and returns the soul to its Source. May all who hear his name feel within themselves the timeless presence of Mahavatar Babaji.
Lahiri Mahasaya (1828–1895), great Indian yogi and direct disciple of Mahavatar Babaji, brought authentic Kriya Yoga to ordinary people, beyond religion or social status.Through deep spirituality and humility, he showed enlightenment is possible in daily life.
Swami Kebalananda, devoted disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, was a revered Kriya Yoga and Sanskrit teacher. Known for deep devotion and calm wisdom, he preserved the authentic Lahiri Mahasaya lineage. Emphasizing disciplined practice, inner purity, and sacred transmission.
Paramahansa Swami Sanakananda Giri, direct student of Swami Kebalananda Giri and Swami Yukteswarananda Giri, transmitted authentic Kriya Yoga from Ayodhya - India to Europe. A contemporary and younger friend of Paramahansa Yogananda, he also studied under Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
After his training with Paramahamsa Swami Sanakananda Giri in Rome and Ayodhya, Detlef Uhle (Yogi Deenbandhu) continued the tradition of Kriya Yoga in Europe. He founded a yoga school in Berlin, offering both group classes and individual instruction. His approach emphasizes personal, intensive training of students, following the model of his teacher, rather than mass public events. He was appointed Honorary President of Shri Narain Ashram in Ayodhya and serves as the chief of SMDK Europe (Sanatana Manava Dharma Kendra). In this role, he oversees the organization’s spiritual activities, teacher training and student guidance.
During his training under Paramahamsa Swami Sanakananda Giri, Yogi Deenbandhu received comprehensive instruction in the Kriya Yoga techniques of the Lahiri Mahasaya tradition. His studies emphasized both spiritual practice and service to humanity, reflecting the ideals of Karma Yoga exemplified by his teacher. His spiritual title, “Yogi Deenbandhu,” translates to “Friend of the Poor,” reflecting his philosophy of combining spiritual practice with selfless service. He continues to transmit the Kriya Yoga lineage of his teacher while maintaining the “hidden master” tradition of direct, personal guidance for committed students.
In Shri Narain Ashram in Ayodhya
Paramahansa Swami Sanakananda Giri Exemplified the ancient tradition of the "hidden master"—a fully realized yogi who served humanity through both spiritual transmission and charitable works, while remaining largely unknown to the world. Historical Documentation British colonial records provide clear evidence of his social service work. The Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Faizabad (1939) documents: "Ayodhya—The hospital was founded in 1939 by Swami Sanakananda Giri. It is situated in Naya Ghat close to the Saryu and is run by the Sri Narain Ashram's board of management." Archive sources: https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.2988 https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.08790 This hospital represented his commitment to karma yoga—selfless service to the poor and sick—alongside his spiritual teaching mission.
European Mission (1970s)
During Europe's spiritual awakening, Sanakananda Giri conducted a four-year systematic lecture tour, visiting hundreds of yoga centers while based in Rome.
The Italian magazine Radiocorriere TV (1972) documented his presence, distinguishing him as an authentic master during an era of both genuine teachers and charlatans.
Source: https://archive.org/details/radiocorriere-tv-1972-13/page/n90/mode/1up
Lineage and Training
Direct student of Swami Kebalananda Giri and Swami Yukteswar Giri in the Lahiri Mahasaya tradition, he was also a contemporary and younger friend of Paramahansa Yogananda and received teachings from Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Unlike Yogananda's public mission in America, Sanakananda Giri chose personal transmission over mass media, training select disciples through intensive guru-disciple relationships.
Living Legacy
His primary Western disciple, Detlef Uhle (Yogi Deenbandhu), received four years of training during the European tour, followed by 1.5 years of intensive study in Ayodhya.
After authorization to teach the complete Kriya path, Detlef Uhle established the lineage in Berlin and now serves as Honorary President of Shri Narain Ashram and head of SMDK Europe.
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detlef_Uhle
Website: http://www.deenbandhu.de/
Paramahansa Swami Sanakananda Giri's life demonstrates that authentic spiritual mastery often works in silence, serving through both inner transmission and outer charity, leaving a legacy measured not in fame, but in transformed lives and continued service.
As a practitioner of Kriya Yoga, I have often been struck by the subtle spiritual wisdom embedded in Rabindranath Tagore’s songs. While Tagore never explicitly wrote about yogic techniques, his poetry and music resonate deeply with the principles of Kriya Yoga — the flow of Prana, the awakening of inner energy, and the journey toward the Still Prana (Brahma).
His lyrics often describe inner practices of sadhana, the dynamics of Prana, and the subtle interplay of mind and energy, reflecting the purity of sattva-guna and the essence of yogic realization.
Some striking examples from his songs include:
“Janar majhe ajanare korechi sandhan” — the seeker searches for the hidden, still Prana within through the known, kinetic Prana.
“Maharaj, eki saje ele hridaypur majhe. Charantale koti sashi surya more laje.” — a vision of the Atmasurya, the inner Sun, guided by the guru (Maharaj), a core insight in Kriya Yoga sadhana.
These songs demonstrate that Tagore’s genius was not merely literary — he encoded Kriya Yoga philosophy in his poetry, making his art a vehicle for spiritual awakening. For those who have practiced Kriya Yoga, these lines resonate as living wisdom, connecting the mind, breath, and energy in harmony.
Though Acharya Bhupendranath Sanyal Mahasaya, a direct disciple of Yogiraj Sri Shamachurn Lahiri Mahasaya, was close to Rabindranath Tagore, this exploration does not attempt to trace the exact source of Tagore’s yogic knowledge.
But after listening or reading this exploration, one may confidently conclude: “Yes, Tagore was a Kriyayogi.”
Source:
Kriyayoga Blogs, „Was Rabindranath Tagore a Kriyayogi? An Exploration through Tagore Songs“, 2 December 2016,
https://kriyayogablogs.wordpress.com/2016/12/02/was-rabindranath-tagore-a-kriyayogi-an-exploration-through-tagore-songs/
, accessed 29 October 2025.
Michael
Shri Narain Ashram is located in Ayodhya, a sacred city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya lies on the banks of the Sarayu River, east of Lucknow, the state capital. It is one of India’s most important spiritual centers, traditionally known as the birthplace of Lord Rama