Master Paramahamsa Prajnanananda Biography

Master Paramahamsa Prajnanananda BiographyParamahamsa Prajnanananda is the lineage leader of Kriya Yoga, an ancient spiritual tradition with rootsin India, emphasizing meditation and Self-realization. The lineage of Kriya Yoga began again in moderntimes in 1861 with Mahavatar Babaji. The lineage leaders that followed include Paramahamsa Yogananda,well known in the West for his book Autobiography of a Yogi and Paramahamsa Hariharananda, whopassed away in 2002 at the age of 95. Following Hariharananda’s death his disciple ParamahamsaPrajnanananda became the lineage successor.Before becoming a monk he earned a masters degree in Economics and was a professor of Economics atRavenshaw College in Cuttack, Orissa. He was later initiated into the path of monkhood by his master,becoming Swami Prajnanananda Giri.On August 10, 1998, the highest title, Paramahamsa, a designation reserved for monks and saints whohave attained the summit of realization was conferred upon him by his Master ParamahamsaHariharananda.In 1999, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda became the third Indian monk, following Swami Vivekananda andSri Sri Ravi Shankar, to address the Parliament of World Religions. Recently he has established the KriyaVedanta Gurukulam Temple of Harmony in Chicago, which is a place of non-sectarian worship dedicatedto all the religions of the world.Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is based in Puri, India, and travels up to 300 days per year, holding seminarsand retreats all over the world. He also runs the main Kriya Yoga ashrams in Balighai, Cuttack, Vienna,Miami, and the centers world-wide. He is known for his modesty, simplicity of possessions, andpunctuality. He does not drive, and when in Balighai, he can be seen riding his red bicycle around town.He is proficient in six languages: Oriya, Sanskrit, Bengali, Hindi, English, and German.Like his teacher, Hariharananda, Prajnanananda is deeply committed to service. Prajnanananda runs theHariharananda Charitable Health Centers, founded by his teacher, through which over 50,000 peoplereceive medical care and supplies each year. As a part of the Charitable Health Centers a variety ofoutreach and educational programs have been implemented including mobile medical and dental services,livestock vaccinations, the building of library’s and schools, and AIDS education/awareness programs.Prajnanananda also runs the Prajnana Mission, founded by his teacher Hariharananda. The PrajnanaMission provides free medical assistance units and centers, residential schools for unserved areas, andmany other charitable and educational activities. Some of the projects implemented by Prajnana Missioninclude: Flood relief work in the state of Orissa (3,000 meals per day) from 2001-2003; Construction highschool and college libraries and the donation of thousands of books to the youth in Orissa, India;Construction of twenty houses in the isolated villages of Manipatna and Tanpur, both deeply affected bythe cyclone disaster of 1999; Implementation of a Mobile Health Unit which provides ongoing medicaland dental care for the villagers and school children on the East coast of Orissa; Funding and building theHariharananda Balashram, a nonsectarian home and school for orphaned and destitute children.Page 1 of 2

At Hariharananda Balashram, children receive quality care and education completely free of charge. Theschool is a Nursery – X Standard, co-educational, residential home and school that blends academicexcellence with values-based education. The school prepares students for higher studies and offersvocational and life skills training so that students are well-equipped to assume a meaningful role insociety. Forty children are admitted each year, ages 3 ½ to 4 ½, and in 2012 the school will reach itscapacity of 480 students.Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is known as a powerful and loving teacher, author and speaker on worldreligion. Well versed in the scriptures and literature of the East and West, he combines a compassion forhumanity with his love for God and his mastery of complex philosophical thoughts.His metaphorical interpretations of the scriptures are unique. Using Kriya Yoga as a reference point andan interpretative tool, Prajnanananda highlights universal truths contained in the passages of sacred textsin ways, which make the meanings relevant and helpful in our daily lives.With thought-provoking statements and quotations from varied texts and world literature including theBible, Tolstoy, George Bernard Shaw, Bhagavad Gita and practical examples from the lives of Saints andworld religious leaders, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda distills the ancient teachings from a variety ofdisciplines into clear, relevant instructions on leading a spiritual life in the world today.A prolific author, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda has written, compiled, translated and edited many books.Some of his works include The Torah, The Bible and Kriya Yoga; Babaji: The Eternal Light of God;Discourses on the Bhagavad-Gita Parts 1 and 2; Lahiri Mahasaya: Fountainhead of Kriya Yoga; SwamiShriyukteshwar: Incarnation of Wisdom; Paramahamsa Hariharananda: River of Compassion; Yoga:Pathway to the Divine; Divine Blossoms; The Universe Within; Path of Love; Changing Nature ofRelationships; Life and Values, and more..His loving guidance and deep compassion have earned him the devotion and faith of countless studentsaround the world.Page 2 of 2