The Guru Lineage
It is becoming more well known in the yoga world – that throughout it’s 5000 year history, women were less written about in the practice of yoga. This is due to the habits of the cultures of previous history. The true spiritual path transcends all distinctions which have been made by individuals who have excluded women. Today the majority of yoga practitioners in the Western world are women.
Yoga is acknowledged to be derived from the Hatha tradition. But yoga can be documented to reach further back to the ancient practices of Tantra Yoga. It was a yoga practice by women that preceded the Hindi yogis by thousands of years. It was Shiva’s Shakti in the form of Paravati who suggested that He deliver the yoga teaching to the sages.
The magical potency of Tantra was transmitted by a female line (power-holders). They were a mysterious sect of women called the Vratyas and they were not an isolated case. Taoist yoginis from China and dakinis from Tibet were also powerful spiritual teachers who gave empowerments and initiations.
The concept of raising the Kundalini energy, which is fundamental to yoga philosophy and practice, originated with these yogic priestesses. They were the first to pull the serpentine energy up the spine to achieve wings of illuminated consciousness.
The rising of the Shakti Kundalini energy occurs more easily in women than in men. This is due to the fact that Kundalini originated in the Shakti (female) Siddhis (yogic powers) of menstruation, female sexuality, natural birth, and menopause. These ancient yogic rites encouraged the free, spontaneous flow of Shakti Kundalini energy through the female group, and by extension, throughout the entire community.
With the advance of patriarchy, the ecstatic techniques of women were gradually swallowed up by the more ascetic practices of men who considered themselves to be above women. In seated meditation, the transcendent experience was sought through the practices of only the mind focused, without the including the intuitive or spiritual, emotional, and physical bodies.
Women and their biological functions came to be negatively equated with the life of the body and soon female rites were outlawed altogether. Yogini’s, dakini’s and shaman priestesses became witches, demonesses, or temple harlots.
The ancient Tantra Yoga was a different kind of yoga. One in which the inherent energies of the female body were celebrated and guarded for illumination, freedom and compassion.
Images of female Buddha’s and high shaman priestesses are pervasive in the artifacts and figurines of Old Europe (6000 BCE). The varied poses shown in these early sculptures, as well as frescoes, murals, and rock art through the ages, are expressions of an ancient shamanistic yoga eventually codified into the formal schools we know today.
The Vedic Teachings
About 5,000 years ago the Vedas were written down. The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in ancient India. The Vedas, regarded as śruti (“that which is heard”), form part of an oral tradition in the form of an ancient teacher-disciple tradition. As per Hindu tradition the Vedas were ‘revealed’ to the Rishis referred to in the texts, not composed or written by them. Even though many historians have tried to affix dates to the Vedas there is as yet no common consensus as there is for the scriptures of other religions. The Vedas are arguably the oldest surviving texts in the world.
The Vedanta and Mimamsa schools of Hindu philosophy assert that the Vedas are apaurusheya (“unauthored”), that is, they have neither human nor divine origin, and are eternal in nature. As per Hindu tradition, the sage Vedavyasa divided the Vedas into Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvavedaat; the beginning of the Kali Yuga.
In the Vedic teachings from the One came the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and their counterparts Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Paravati. Yoga teachings originated with Lord Shiva and Goddess Paravati. It was Paravati’s persuavion which led Shiva to come to Earth to give the yogic teachings, which then branched out through the world. Shiva as Divine Lord is called Maheshwara.
Shiva represents the three concentrated energies: Understanding and Wisdom (Gyana), the Will and Power (Ichha), and Action and Love (Kriya). This forms the highest manifestion of the One. The Mantra of Lord Shiva is “Om Namah Shivaaya” and is a “Five Syllable Mantra” also called “Panchakshara Mantra”.
Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Krishna, and later He came as Mahavatar Babaji who initiated Lahiri Mahasaya, Lahiri Mahasaya then initiated Swami Sri Yukteswar, Swami Sri Yukteswar then initiated Paramahansa Yogananda, and Gurudevi, Shri Mahashaktiananda was initiated by Paramahansa Yogananda of the Himalayan Masters.
~Gurudevi Ma
Satguru, Shri Swami Mahashaktiananda
“The lineage of gurus which I am from includes masters from the Himalayas. They are referred to as the unascended and ascended masters of the Great Brotherhood of Light. The enlightened masters, both male and female, are great examples for the true seeker to learn from and benefit from their sponsorship. There is a sacred relationship that our soul has with God and Goddess; and also with our spiritual teachers. As we progress on the spiritual path, we meet our personal guru and also many spiritual masters who are all assisting us. It is part of the yogic teachings to practice Bhakti Yoga; which is the devotional experience of loving our personal guru, many gurus, and the Creator in all life.” ~Gurudevi Ma
Gurudevi Ma; affectionately called Gurudeviji: is a direct disciple of Swami Vishnu-devananda and Premavatar Paramahansa Yogananda. She is the founder/director of the Self-Realization Shala Order; founded in 1970 in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Gurudevi Ma developed the Shaktiananda Yoga technique in 1968 in the tradition of Ashtanga brought forth by Maharishi Patanjali of the Himalaya yogis. She served as personal assistant to her mother in developing the first Self-Realization Fellowship temple and ashram in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Self-Realization Fellowship Organization was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in the United States. In 1977 she served as a Montessori teacher and staff member of the Summit Lighthouse and was initiated into the Order of Melchizedek of Ascended Master Saint Germain. She is a representative/messenger for the teachings of the Ascended Masters.
Gurudevi Ma brings together the teachings of the unascended and ascended masters/gurus. She provides to her students initiation of Shaktipat and Shakti Kriya; the same Kriya Yoga of Lord Babaji of the Himalayas. The Shiva-Shakti Ashram is located in Idaho US.
~Premavatar Paramahansa Yogananda
“Meditation is the highest form of activity a man can perform.” ~Paramhansa Yogananda
Premavatar Paramahansa Yogananda is the author of the spiritual classic, “Autobiography of a Yogi”.
Free Online Book: Read the “Autobiography of a Yogi”
This spiritual classic has been read by millions. Followers of many religious traditions have come to recognize “Autobiography of a Yogi“ as a masterpiece of spiritual literature. Yet, for all its depth, it is full of gentle humor, lively stories, and practical common sense.
The teachings of yoga has been passed down through the lineage of the Himalayan yoga masters to their disciples. Yogic teachings have traveled throughout the world for thousands of years. The Bhagavad-Gita is universally renowned as the jewel of India’s spiritual wisdom. Spoken by Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to His intimate devotee Arjuna, the Gita is the main literary support for the great civilization of India. The Bhagavad-Gita’s 700 concise verses provide a definite guide to the science of Self-realization.
In the teachings of Patanjali’s sutras there is all of the various yogic principles and instruction for soul progress on the path. The sage Patanjali, in his ‘Yoga Aphorisms’, defines yoga as the suspension of the modification of the thinking principle, which is not practicable without controlling the Prana (vital force in the breath); which is intimately connected with the mind.
~Swami Jnaneshvara
Traditional Yoga and Meditation of the Himalayan Masters
The Himalayan master Mahavatar Babaji preserved the yogic technique; known as Kriya Yoga; and initiates his personal disciples. This technique was brought to the western continent by ~Premavatar Paramahansa Yogananda; by Babaji’s own request.
~Mohandas K. Gandhi brought the teachings of non-violence; adhimsa; to the whole world. It was ~Premavatar Paramahansa Yogananda who initiated Gandhi into the ancient yogic technique of Kriya Yoga.
“When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day.”
~ Mohandas K. Gandhi
Swami Kriyananda is a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. Swami Kriyananda is the founder of Ananda. http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/books/ay/
~Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj
About Swami Sivananda and many free books written by him – (ebooks)
http://www.dlshq.org/saints/siva.htm
Swami Sivananda founded Sivananda Ashram and the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh on the banks of the holy Ganga river.
http://vishnuyoga.org/?itemID=2303
Swami Sivananda is recognized as one of the great Masters of modern times. Born in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu in 1887, he became a medical doctor to serve humanity. After serving the sick and poor in Malaysia with all of his heart and soul for over a decade, he discovered that healing physical ailments can only go so far, for true peace and happiness comes from the spirit.
He then renounced his successful career and went empty handed to the Himalayas to start his spiritual quest. For more than a decade Swami Sivananda performed austerities and spiritual practices that are beyond human imagination. During that time he would nurse and serve other pilgrims, monks and mendicants, seeing them as manifestations of the Divine. At the end of his penance period, he achieved enlightenment.
Swami Sivananda wrote many articles about his spiritual experiences and practices. These drew many aspirants who wanted guidance on their paths. In order to serve them as well as humanity at large, he founded Sivananda Ashram and the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh on the banks of the holy Ganga river. For the next thirty years he tirelessly trained many disciples, many who became great masters, and wrote nearly three hundred books on all aspects of spiritual life, yoga practice, and Vedanta philosophy. His writings are simple, practical, and speak directly to the heart of the reader.
Swami Sivananda taught the Yoga of Synthesis, in which all four paths of yoga – Bhakti (devotion), Karma (selfless service), Raja Yoga (mind control), and Jnana (introspection) are combined for balanced spiritual progress. One of his main mottos is Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize. He entered Maha-Samadhi (the departure of a realized master from the physical world) on July 14th, 1963.
~Swami Vishnu-devananda
http://vishnuyoga.org/?itemID=2303
Swami Vishnu-devananda, born in November 1927, is one of Swami Sivananda’s major disciples. At a young age, while serving in the Indian army, he came across one of Swami Sivananda’s many articles in the trash bin, a pamphlet titled Sadhana Tattva – 20 Spiritual Instructions by Swami Sivananda, which gave simple and practical instructions for aspirants. Inspired by these instructions, he desired to meet their author. Soon after his discharge from the army he joined the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh and became a disciple of Swami Sivananda.
Swami Sivananda saw the great potential of this young aspirant and soon made him the Professor of Hatha and Raja Yoga in his institution. After ten years of intensive training, Swami Sivananda sent Swami Vishnu-devananda to the West to spread the teachings of yoga and Vedanta for the good of mankind. Swami Vishnu-devananda became one of the pioneers who brought yoga to the West.
Swami Vishnu-devananda is considered one of the most dynamic yogis of the twentieth century. He began the first Yoga Teachers Training Courses to spread the teachings of yoga and thereby help create inner – and outer peace in the world. He traveled and taught tirelessly throughout the world to help establish these ancient teachings in North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Swami Vishnu was also a daring peace activist, who used to fly his plane over conflict hot spots around the globe, showering people with flowers and peace pamphlets. Amongst his peace missions, he flew from Tel Aviv to Cairo in the early seventies and from East to West Berlin in an ultra-light aircraft in the early eighties. He held that the international borders we create are mental barriers that need to be transcended, as we are all one.
Swami Vishnu-devananda entered Maha-Samadhi on November 9th, 1993.
- Continuing on. . . Disciples representing Yoga Teachings
~Gajananam
http://vishnuyoga.org/?itemID=2303
Gajananam is a direct disciple of Swami Vishnu-devananda and the founder/director of the Vishnu-devananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Berkeley. He began his training in the late 80’s at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Tel Aviv, and became a Sivananda yoga instructor in 1989. In the 90’s he served as a staff member and director of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in New York and has taught at many Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses and retreats.
~Swami Satyananda Saraswati
http://www.satyananda.net/inspirers/swami-satyananda-saraswati/
Swami Satyananda Saraswati (1923-2009) was born in Almora (North India). In 1943, he travelled to Rishikesh, where he met Swami Sivananda.
“You may practise raja, hatha, kundalini, mantra and bhakti yoga, but if you underestimate karma yoga, then all these yogas can lead you to a dissipated and dispersed state of mind. Everyone who is practising yoga should transform their daily activities through the philosophy of karma yoga.” ~Swami Satyananda
~Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati
http://www.satyananda.net/inspirers/swami-niranjanananda-saraswati/
Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati was born in 1960 in Rajnandgaon (central India) to devout parents who were closely aligned with Swami Satyananda and his work. Recognized as a balyogi (yogi from birth) Swami Niranjan began his training in the ashram at the tender age of four and was initiated by his guru, Swami Satyananda, into the Dashnami sannyasa tradition in 1970.
Swami Niranjan has guided the activities of Bihar School of Yoga and the International Yoga Research Foundation since 1983. In 1990, he was initiated into paramahamsa sannyasa. In 1993, he was chosen as Swami Satyananda’s spiritual successor, inheriting the role of guiding the activities of Satyananda Yoga worldwide. In 1994, he founded Bihar Yoga Bharati, an Institute for Advanced Studies in Yogic Sciences. In 1995, he founded the Bal Yoga Mitra Mandal movement to introduce yoga into the lives of children.
Swami Niranjan has travelled the world for the past forty years, teaching and inspiring people from all walks of life. He has also authored over twenty books on yoga, tantra and the upanishads. Now retired from ashram administration as well as national and international travel, he has entered a new phase of service and sadhana. The directorship of Bihar School of Yoga and its affiliated activities has been passed on to his successor, Swami Suryaprakash, who has been trained for many years by Swami Niranjan to take on this role.
~Swami Suryaprakash Saraswati
http://delfeios.blogspot.gr/2012/08/swami-suryaprakash-message-from-ganga.html
Swami Suryaprakash Saraswati assumed the office of Presidency of Bihar School of Yoga on Basant Panchami, the 11th of Febuary 2008, after Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, just as Swami Niranjanananda became the President of Bihar School of Yoga in 1983 after Swami Satyananda.
The coming of Swami Suryaprakash to the Presidency of Bihar School of Yoga was foreseen by Swami Satyananda and Swami Niranjan when Swami Suryaprakash was of a tender age. Swami Suryaprakash was born on 1st of August 1982 in San Francisco (USA) to Indian parents and raised in an environment that encouraged a deep sense of spiritual commitment. Born in the United States, educated in Europe, now in India.
~Swami Abhayananda
http://themysticsvision.weebly.com/downloads.html – Books including free downloads
http://themysticsvision.weebly.com/about-swami-abhayanada.html
“I was born Stan Trout on August 14, 1938 in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1966, at the age of twenty-eight, I was graced by God’s vision. A few years later, I met a holy man called Swami Muktananda, and I journeyed to India to live with him and to learn from him. After some time, he invited me to join the spiritual Order of sannyasa, and gave me the name “Swami Abhayananda”, which means ‘the bliss of fearlessness.’ I have kept that spiritual name ever since, though I eventually parted with Swami Muktananda and his organization.
My focus has always been on God and His revelation, and my writings are simply a means of sharing that revelation. I am not hindered by organizational ties or religious affiliation, and so my vision and my philosophy is my own, and not restricted to the mystical tradition of either the East or the West. Today, I live a simple, solitary life, devoted to meditation on God and the sharing of His truth in the sincere wish that God may bless you as He has blessed me.
Though we are truly the divine and unborn Self of all, I will assume that the readers of my website exist in the phenomenal realm, and understand what it means to be associated with a particular named body/mind with a particular history that begins in a specific place, and that refers to itself as “I”.”
http://themysticsvision.weebly.com/spiritual-knowledge.html
“Spiritual vision is not obtained by means of the physical eyes, or any of the other senses, nor through the imaginative or psychic faculty referred to as “the mind’s eye”; but rather through a yet subtler faculty arising only in the higher reaches of contemplative concentration, which is usually referred to as “the spiritual eye” or “the eye of contemplation”. The spiritual eye “sees”, but without the physical sense of eyesight or the deliberate projection of mindsight.”
~Swami Muktananda
http://www.siddhayoga.org/baba-muktananda
Swami Muktananda ( 1908 – 1982 ) began the life of a sadhu, a wandering mendicant in search of spiritual fulfillment, at an unusually early age. Though as a young man Muktananda gained recognition for his yogic attainments, Swami Muktananda often said that his spiritual journey didn’t truly begin until e received shaktipat, spiritual initiation, from the holy man Bhagavan Nityananda, was awakened, and he was drawn into profound states of meditation. Nine years later Muktananda attained the state of God-realization.
In the 1970’s, on his Guru’s behalf, Swami Muktananda brought the venerable tradition of his master’s lineage to the West, giving the previously little-known shaktipat initiation to untold thousands of spiritual seekers. Muktananda established Gurudev Siddha Peeth and founded the SYDA Foundation in the United States. Swami Muktananda took Mahasamadhi in 1982. He had appointed two successors, Swami Chidvilasananda and her brother, Swami Nityananda. He resigned three years later from the Guru’s role, in November 1985. Swami Chidvilasananda became the sole head of the Siddha Yoga lineage and sole Guru of Siddha Yoga students. Swami Chidvilasananda continues to share Swami Muktananda’s spiritual legacy with the world through her travels and teachings.
~Swami Chidvilasananda
http://www.siddhayoga.org/gurumayi-chidvilasananda
A Siddha Guru is a spiritual teacher, a master, whose identification with the supreme Self is uninterrupted. The unique and rare quality of a Siddha Guru is his or her capacity to awaken the spiritual energy, kundalini, in seekers through shaktipat. Her teachings are made available through the SYDA Foundation.
Gurumayi describes the essence of her vision for all human beings:
“In truth, the gift of life must always be recognized and never be taken for granted. Why is life so precious? In Siddha philosophy, we recognize that in this human life we have a rare opportunity. We can transform an ordinary perception of this universe from the divine perspective is a sign of an illumined heart. To put this vision to best use in the best way possible is a human being’s highest duty.” ~Swami Chidvilasananda
“May God bless you, and may you be forever free in the light of love and forgiveness.”
~Gurudevi, Satguru Shri Mahashaktiananda