“Banat, banat, ban jai” — step by step, the goal is reached.
With these profound words, Lahiri Mahasaya inspired seekers to remain anchored in the present, giving their best to each moment, with faith that the future would unfold in divine harmony.
Born on September 30, 1828, in Ghurni, Bengal, Lahiri Mahasaya’s life took a divine turn at age thirty-three. While serving as a government accountant in the Himalayan foothills near Ranikhet, he encountered the immortal Mahavatar Babaji. In that blessed meeting — described in Autobiography of a Yogi — Babaji initiated him into the sacred science of Kriya Yoga, entrusting him with the mission of restoring this ancient practice to the world.
Back in Banaras, Lahiri Mahasaya began initiating sincere seekers — from royalty to humble villagers — into Kriya Yoga. As Paramahansa Yogananda later explained, this technique works directly with the life force, slowing physical decline and accelerating spiritual growth. Its revival in 1861 was, in Yogananda’s words, “a fortunate moment for the whole human race.”
“As the fragrance of flowers cannot be suppressed,” wrote Yogananda, “so Lahiri Mahasaya, quietly living as an ideal householder, could not conceal his divine radiance. Devotees from all corners of India were drawn like bees to his nectar of wisdom.”
The greatness of his life rests in his example: one can faithfully carry out the responsibilities of spouse, parent, and professional while remaining in unbroken communion with God. His life offered a resounding answer to an age-old question: Can God be realized while living in the world? His radiant example showed that not only is it possible, it is natural when lived with inner renunciation.
The serenity of God-communion shone through his mysterious smile. His half-open eyes suggested outward awareness, yet half-closed, they revealed his absorption in inner bliss. Even today, devotees testify to the spiritual power of his image, which offers protection, healing, and a silent call to meditation. His gaze seems to penetrate the heart, guiding sincere seekers inward to the presence of God.
His counsel was ever simple:
“Solve all your problems through meditation. Leave behind idle speculation and seek direct communion with God. Tune yourself to the active inner Guidance — the Divine Voice holds the solution to every challenge in life.”
Through his foremost disciple, Swami Sri Yukteswar, revered as the Gyanavatar (incarnation of wisdom), Lahiri Mahasaya’s mission continued with purity and strength. In 1917, Paramahansa Yogananda, a disciple of Sri Yukteswar, founded the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) to spread Kriya Yoga as taught by Lahiri Mahasaya. Today, YSS continues to serve as a living channel of his blessings, guiding seekers toward life’s highest purpose — union with God through daily meditation.
Honored as a Yogavatar — an incarnation of yoga — Lahiri Mahasaya remains a timeless guide for modern life. His message is clear: the ultimate goal of existence can be realized step by step, even while fulfilling daily duties. For all who sincerely seek the Divine, his words still ring like a promise:
“Banat, banat, ban jai.”
(“Striving, striving — one day the Divine Goal is achieved.”)
✍️ Writer: Vidhi Birla
ℹ️ More info: yssofindia.org