Kriya  Yoga
 

The Kriya Yoga is the ancient Yoga system revived in modern times by Mahavatar Babaji through his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya, around 1861, and brought into widespread public awareness through Paramhansa Yogananda's book Autobiography of a Yogi. The system consists of a number of levels of Pranayama (breathing exercises) based techniques that are intended to rapidly accelerate spiritual development of an adept and bring a profound state of tranquility and a sense of communion with God.


Kriya Yoga Practice

Kriya Yoga is, similarly to other branches of Yoga learned via the Guru-disciple relationship. Lahiri Mahasaya recounted after his initiation into Kriya Yoga, "Babaji instructed me in the ancient rigid rules which govern the transmission of the Yogic Art from Guru to disciple." 


Kriya Quotes from Swami Satyananda states: "Kriya Sadhana may be thought of as the Sadhana of the "practice of being in Atman" 



As Yogananda describes Kriya pranayama, "The Kriya Yogi mentally directs the life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment."