Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri

Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, born Priya Nath Karar on May 10, 1855, in Serampore, West Bengal, was a revered Indian monk and yogi. He is best known as the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Satyananda Giri. A Kriya yogi and a Jyotishi, or Vedic astrologer, Sri Yukteswar was also a scholar of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, an educator, author, and astronomer. His spiritual journey was deeply influenced by his guru, Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi, and he became a prominent figure in the Giri branch of the Swami order.

Throughout his life, Sri Yukteswar established two ashrams, one in Serampore and another in Puri, Odisha, where he alternated his residence to train disciples. He was known for his gentle demeanor and high character, as described by Tibetologist W.Y. Evans-Wentz. A progressive thinker in the 19th-century Serampore society, he organized religious festivals, created a spiritual study organization called the 'Satsanga Sabha,' and developed educational syllabi while re-evaluating Vedic astrological yugas.

His sharp intellect and profound knowledge earned him respect among Kriya yoga students in the greater Kolkata area. Sri Yukteswar welcomed individuals from diverse backgrounds to his ashrams, fostering discussions on various topics. Despite his approachable nature, he was known for his candid insights and strict disciplinary methods, which prepared his disciples for significant social work in India and America.

Paramahansa Yogananda regarded Sri Yukteswar as a Jnanavatar, or 'Incarnation of Wisdom,' reflecting the high ideals and penetrating insight with which he lived. Evans-Wentz noted that he was deserving of the veneration his followers bestowed upon him, as he dedicated himself to an ideal life, far from the multitude, which Yogananda later immortalized in his writings.