Monks & Acharyas
Paramahamsa Prajnanananda
Founder & President Prajnana Mission
Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is the president of Kriya organizations started by Baba Hariharananda Maharaj and the current head of a great lineage of Kriya Yoga Guru Parampara.
A disciple and the successor of Paramahamsa Hariharananda, he is an advanced yogi, teacher and proponent of Kriya Yoga, a path of self-realization and a scientific technique of concentration, meditation and breath control. He helps spread the message of Kriya Yoga around the world through public lectures, media interviews, seminars and meditation classes.
Kriya Yoga is an ancient powerful system of meditation, which promises perfect health, peace of mind and a stress-free life. It has been practiced by people of India for many centuries under the guidance of trained teachers.
Paramahamsa Prajnanananda was born in 1960 in the state of Orissa in India. He is a former professor of economics, a prolific author and speaker, and a scholar of scriptures of the East and West. The mission has provided educational grants to the blind, to handicapped and orphaned students, and toward the construction of a high school library. Paramahamsa Prajnanananda also founded Hand in Hand, a non-profit organization in Austria and USA, which provides humanitarian aid to victims of natural calamities and free medical treatment for the poor.
Swami Brahmananda Giri
A senior monk and a long time
disciple of Paramahamsa Hariharananda, Swamiji was with the
education department of the state of Orissa in his premonastic
life. Even while active in the world he lead a life of celibacy
and strict spiritual discipline. Formerly working for the
education department in the state of Orissa, India, Swamiji
was one of the oldest disciples of Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji.
A humble monk of profound wisdom, Swamiji toured many Kriya
centers in India and in Europe spreading
the message of Kriya Yoga. Swamiji left his physical body in the year 2005.
Swami Shuddhananda Giri
A native of the state of Orissa,
the young dynamic monk, a disciple of Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji,
entered the monastic order at a very young age. Formerly an
engineer by profession, he had an intense desire for spiritual
knowledge from his childhood and studied the Scriptures of
many religions. At present he is the Vice President of 'Prajnana
Mission' assisting in organizing the many activities of the
Mission at the Cuttack and Balighai ashrams. He also manages
Yuktashram, a beautiful hermitage in Bishindipur, Bengal and
frequently travels to Europe to hold programs.
Swami Samarpanananda Giri
Professor Suresh
Chandra Mishra was popular among the students of Political
Science in the state of Orissa. As a brahmachari and dedicated
person, he inspired his students in many ways. In 1982, he
met Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda and in the later part
of his life he was initiated into Kriya Yoga. His entire life
has been a life of discipline and study accompanied with prayer
and meditation. His deep desire for renunciation and serving
the society brought him to Hariharananda Gurukulam. In 2004,
he joined the monastic order and was named Swami Samarpanananda.
Officially stationed in Hariharananda Gurukulam, he looks
after the ashram activities as well as helps people in their
spiritual path and guides Kriya Yoga meditation.
Swami Arupananda Giri
Previously known
as Brahmachari Shivananda, he began serving Gurudev in 1985
at the Rourkela Meditation Center and continues his service
now at Hariharananda Gurukulam in Balighai. In 1996, he was
initiated into monkhood and was named Swami Arupananda. He
went to the West in 2001 and traveled to many countries in
Europe and cities in the USA. Swami Arupananda received Gurudev's
grace and affection in many ways. His simplicity and love
accompanied with hard work and service is an inspiration to
others. He currently resides in Hariharananda Gurukulam guiding
meditation.
Swami Samvidananda Giri
He was born
in Orissa, India. After completing his education, he worked
in the Middle East countries for some time and then returned
to India with a sincere quest for spiritual progress. He met
Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda in 1994 at Rourkela, Orissa
and was initiated into Kriya Yoga. He later joined Hariharananda
Gurukulam, Balighai in 1996. In 1999, he was initiated as
a brahmachari and was given the name, Brahmachari Saralananda.
In February, 2004, Brahmachari Saralananda was ordained into
monastic life and became known as Swami Samvidananda. As a
silent and sincere seeker he lives in Hariharananda Tapovanam,
Uttarkashi spending his time in service and meditation. He
helps people in many ways through his life of action and meditation.
Swami Mangalananda Giri
Born in Germany, Swamiji grew up near Stuttgart. In 1992 Swamiji took
initiation from Rajarshi Peterananda and met her beloved master
Paramahamsa Hariharananda for the first time in spring 1994.
From this time on she remained with Paramahamsa Hariharananda in
various ashrams, and also traveled with him throughout Europe.
After studying philosophy for some years Swamiji began studying
medicine in Germany. However she chose
to continue her medical degree at the University of Vienna
enabling her to complete her studies while simultaneously
serving and living with her master.She received her medical
degree in July 2000, thus becoming a fully qualified doctor
of medicine. Shortly after the completion of her studies,
in September 2000, she was ordained as a swami in the Giri monastic
order and reborn, by the grace of God and Gurus, under the name
Swami Mangalananda (Bliss of Auspiciousness). Swamiji is the
first female monk in the lineage of Paramahamsa Hariharananda. At her Master's
bidding, she is currently teaching the original spiritual science of
Kriya Yoga in the Tattendorf ashram in Austria.
New Monks initiation...
Swami Gurupremananda(right) and Swami Amritananda(left) at Hariharananda Gurukulam, Balghai, Puri on 29th and 30th July'07 by Baba.
Yogacharyas
in India
- Yogacharya Samir Chakravarty
- Rajarshi Raghabananda Nayak
- Yogacharya Suresh Kodolikar
- Yogacharya Lloyd Abrams
- Yogacharya Kishore Mahapatra
- Yogacharya Sibaram Rath
- Yogacharya Premananda Tripathi
- Yogacharya Devi Prasad Chatterjee
- Yogacharya M. Kameshwara Rao
- Yogacharya Anil Girdhar
- Yogacharya Jay Narayan Mishra
- Yogacharyaa Anita Devi Pattnaik
- Yogacharya Pitambar Mahanty
- Yogacharya Santosh Kumar Chaudhury
- Yogacharyaa Swapna Chatterjee
- Yogacharyaa Shakuntala Pandya
in West
- Rajarshi Peterananda (Peter Baba)
- Yogacharya Bhadrayu Pandya
- Yogacharya Christine Jacobsen
- Yogacharya Durga Chunduri
- Yogacharya Elizabeth Tackenberg
- Yogacharya John Williams
Brahmacharis initiated in 2004
