Kriya Yoga Mission

There are many questions related to Kriya Yoga that the devotees and seekers ask to Gurudev Sri Swarupananda Brahmachari over e-mail or during their personal visit to Kriya Yoga Mission. Below are few of those frequently asked questions that most of the devotees and seekers ask in common. Please go through the questions listed below and corresponding answers to get clarification on the basic aspects of Kriya Yoga and initiation. Please click on each question to expand the answer.

How many kinds of Kriya Yoga are there ?

Kriya Yoga is non-dual, meaning one without a second. It has no branches or types other than the original set of techniques as imparted successively from Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj to Yogiraj Sri Lahiri Mahasaya and other Gurus in that lineage. Now-a-days many people are claiming different forms of Kriyas which have nothing to do with the original form of Kriya Yoga.

So one has to be extremely careful not to get initiated into anything which is not the original one, else the result will be entirely different and sometimes detrimental. One must check the lineage and authentication of the master before learning Kriya from Him or Her.

It is also important to mention that only Yogiraj Sri Lahiri Mahasaya received the techniques of Kriya from Babaji Maharaj and no one else, so when we say Kriya Yoga we essentially mean Kriya Yoga of Lahiri Mahasaya, no other Kriya Yoga is mentioned in the legacy. This is such a scientific method that there is no scope for modification by anyone.

Is Kriya Yoga scientific ?

Yes, Kriya Yoga techniques are 100% scientific. Here no external force is applied during Pranayama or Kumbhaka and the kriyavan is allowed to increase the duration naturally through practice and higher techniques. The first level of Kriya prepares the body for advance spiritual practice through "Mudras" and as a result cures various illness or diseases of the body.

Is Kriya Yoga a religion or sect ?

No, Kriya Yoga is a non-sectarian meditation technique that is not limited by any religious beliefs. These are scientific techniques that anyone can practice.

Is Kriya Yoga based on technique or lesson ?

Every process has two parts - theoretical and practical. Great sages like Patanjali and Valmiki have compiled the entire philosophical part of Yoga and its aspects in immortal scriptures like Yoga Sutras and Yoga Vasistha. However, Kriya is the implementation part of Yoga. It is not based on any individual doctrine or theory, it is purely practical.

Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj didn't impart any lesson to Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, instead He imparted specific techniques to teach the world. It propagated in similar way to the successive Gurus in the lineage. Hence we can say beyond any doubt that Kriya Yoga is the technical part of the Yoga which must be learnt from Guru and practiced accordingly.

One should never practice Yoga, specially the Kriya, by reading books or lessons as there are many hidden things without the knowledge of which the process becomes fruitless and painful. Also meditation or 'thoughtless stage' is only possible once the intellectual blabbering stops. The lesser the informational load on memory, the faster the realization.

Why Guru is necessary in Kriya Yoga ?

One should be initiated into Kriya Yoga by an enlightened Guru as He activates the Kundalini energy of the seeker during initiation, provides all-round protection to the seeker and destroys the seeds of past wrong deeds of the seeker. Without Guru's blessing no advancement is possible in the path of spirituality.

Why initiation is necessary in Kriya Yoga ?

During initiation, Guru purifies the body of the disciple and activates the dormant Kundalini energy by touching on his forehead. Without this no advancement is possible in spiritual practice.

Who is eligible for initiation into Kriya Yoga ?

Kriya Yoga is primarily for sincere seekers, spiritual aspirants and devotees. You don't need to be a monk to get Kriya Yoga initiation. In fact it has been specifically designed for the householders so that people can practice the techniques from the comfort of their home and while maintaining their worldly responsibilities. Initiation into Kriya Yoga is a result of good karma of many lifetimes. However it is solely the Guru's decision when to initiate the seeker.

Why Kriya Yoga is secret ?

The techniques of Kriya Yoga is kept secret as they are very sacred and must not be practiced by reading books. One must be properly initiated by the Guru, else he can harm his own energy system.

Is there any restriction to practice Kriya Yoga ?

There is no restriction in Kriya Yoga practice. Anyone irrespective of their religious belief, caste, creed, nationality, gender or food-habit can practice Kriya Yoga. However a minimum age of 12-14 years is required to understand the importance of this Sadhana and to practice the Kriyas accurately. There is no problem with a non-veg food habit, neither there is a need to go for pilgrimage, nor one needs to live in seclusion. One can attain everything right where he is with sincere practice and surrender to Guru.

Is there any specific time to practice Kriya Yoga ?

Kriya Yoga is not time bound, as long as one can hold his mind steadily in the "Kutastha", he is in meditative state all the time and no time is wasted. The kriyavan must practice it with devotion and sincerity as only the quality of meditation matters, not the duration. In general, for better and faster results, the kriyavan can practice it for minimum twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening.

What if one does not practice after Kriya Yoga initiation ?

One must never abandon or show reluctance towards the practice of Kriya after initiation. As affirmed by Yogiraj Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, one who doesn't practice Kriya after initiation as per Guru's instruction is a sinner. So determination, commitment and regularity of practice is a must.

Can one get Kriya initiation if the person is already initiated from elsewhere ?

Yes, anyone initiated from elsewhere can get further initiation into Kriya Yoga. Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahasaya recommended to include Kriya Yoga practice in addition to one's existing yogic practice to accelerate his or her spiritual upliftment.

Can Kriya Yoga initiation be taken online ?

Online initiation is never possible for Kriya Yoga. The seeker must be physically present during initiation before his or her Guru to learn all the techniques in detail. Also during initiation Guru imparts His divine energy to the seeker by touching his or her forehead to activate the dormant spiritual energy (Kundalini Shakti) within the person. Also the devotee must maintain the sacredness and secrecy of this holy process under the direct physical supervision of the Guru.

Is there any mantra associated with Kriya Yoga ?

A "beej mantra" is given by the Guru to the disciple during initiation and other mantras are there in higher Kriyas. However the process is not based upon or limited to Mantra chanting, instead the foremost emphasis is given on the techniques of pranayama and meditation.

What is Kutastha ?

Kutastha is a Sanskrit word which means the unchangeable base. It is an unfathomable cave like subtle place in-between the two eyebrows at the Third-Eye centre or Ajna chakra. One must hold their mind here as long as possible as this is the place of nectar. A kriyavan must focus steadily on Kutastha during his practice to get the true feelings of his practice, else nothing can be achieved.