1861  

Lahiri Mahasaya learns the lost science of Kriya yoga from Mahavatar Babaji on Drongiri mountain.

1893

Birth of Paramhansa Yogananda at Gorakhpur, India. He is baptized by Lahiri Mahasaya.

1894

Swami Sri Yukteswar meets Babaji at the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad.

1915

Sri Yukteswar initiates Yogananda into the Giri order of swamis, founded by Shankara in the 8th century.

1917

Yogananda establishes his first ashram, in Calcutta, India.

1920

Yogananda travels to America to bring the science of Kriya yoga.

1925

He lectures in major American cities to standing room-only audiences. Yogananda establishes a center in Los Angeles.

1926

Yogananda leads a bhajan (chant) for 1 ½ hours at capacity-filled Carnegie hall in N.Y.C.

1935

Returns to India for a final pilgrimmage. Sri Yukteswar enters mahasamadhi (leaves his body) after their last meeting.

1936

On the way home to America he travels and teaches in Europe.

1946

Publication of “autobiography of a yogi.”

1948

The day after reading the autobiography, J. Donald Walters travels to California to take discipleship with Yogananda.

1952

Yogananda enters mahasamadhi in Los Angeles.

1955

Walters is initiated as swami “Kriyananda,” in the Giri swami order of Shankara.

1968

Kriyananda establishes Ananda village in California, based on Yogananda’s instructions to him.

2008

Kriyananda celebrates his 60th anniversary, Ananda celebrates its 40th anniversary.