The origins of the present-day forms of Kriya Yoga can be traced back to Lahiri Mahasaya, who said he received initiation into the yoga techniques from an immortal Himalayan yogi called Mahavatar Babaji. Kriya Yoga is a yoga system which consists of a number of levels of pranayama, mantra, and mudra, intended to rapidly accelerate spiritual development and engender a profound state of tranquility and God-communion. Kriya is an advanced Raja Yoga technique of pranayama (life-energy control). Kriya reinforces and revitalizes subtle currents of life energy (prana) in the spine and brain. The ancient seers of India (rishis) perceived the brain and spine as the tree of life. Kriya is an advanced Raja Yoga technique of pranayama (life-energy control). Kriya reinforces and revitalizes subtle currents of life energy (prana) in the spine and brain. The ancient seers of India (rishis) perceived the brain and spine as the tree of life.
Through the techniques of pranayama (life-force control) of the Kriya Yoga path, the meditating yogi directs mind and life energy inward, thus stilling the near-constant restlessness that characterizes ordinary, outward-directed consciousness. Wait for at least 3 hours after taking heavy meals before practicing Kriya Yoga (Asanas, Pranayama etc.) Kriyas should be practiced in early mornings and evenings in a quiet surrounding with plenty of natural air.
The Steps of Kriya Yoga
First Kriya with its different sub-techniques covers the eight steps of Astanga Yoga given by Patanjali.
The correlation between First Kriya and Patanjali’s eight-step Yoga is as follows:
Guru pranam – yama, thorough inner control and self mastery.
Ista pranam – yama, through inner control and self mastery.
Hung Sa sadhana – niyama, rules and regulations regarding inner life
Mahamudra – asana, “the great posture”
Kriya proper – pranayama, based on prana-samjama (balance or control of breath)
Paravastha – pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. Withdrawal of the senses- renunciation, concentration, contemplation. Going beyond the body.
Jyoti mudra, mudra or asana for inner light.
This is the traditional teaching of Kriya as it has been practiced for thousands of years. Each individual is free to practice as he wishes (although this is not advised or suggested), but there should be no modification of any kind to the Kriya Yoga technique. Nothing should be added, eliminated or modified. This technique is passed on from master to disciple and if each master introduces a modification, then soon there will remain only modified techniques and the true tradition will be lost.
Kriya must be taught directly and in person. The first reason is to ensure accuracy and understanding. The second is to ensure that the disciple does not fall into some of the mental traps and is in fact making real progress.
This original technique is still taught all over the world, and especially in India, by a few masters who respect and sustain the tradition as taught by Sri Yukteswarjee.
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