Swami Satyeswarananda Vidyaratna Babaji

Swami Satyeswarananda Maharaj

Salient Points in the life of Vidyaratna Babaji

• Educated as a resident student for eight years in the hermitage high school run by the Kriya yogis.
• Associated twenty years (since 1951) with Swami Satyananda, the chief monastic disciple of Swami Sriyukteswar in India.
• Graduated from the University of Calcutta with a B.A. Philosophy Honors, received an M.A. in philosophy specializing in Vedanta philosophy, concurrently received a LL. B. (law) degree, and also worked for Ph.D. program.
• Served as professor of law and worked as an attorney.
• Entered the order of Swami with the blessings of Sankarachaya Swami Krishna Tirtha Bharati of Puri Gobardhan Math and Bidyananda presided the ceremony.
• Lived in a small hut and sometimes in a cave in his meditative-life twelve (12) years in Dunagiri Hill, HIMALAYAS; sometime with Mahamuni Babaji who frequently visited him.
• He observed CONTINUOUS SILENCE . . . (akhanda mouna) for three long years and was known as Silent Sage, Mouni Swami, Mouni Baba etc.
• Received "Kriya Sutras" (in 1974), the message of Mahamuni Babaji, the Divine Himalayan Yogi.
• At the instruction of Mahamuni Babaji he toured and lectured in European countries in 1975.
• Mahamuni Babaji initiated Vidyaratna Babaji into Purna Kriya in the Himalayas in 1976 and commissioned him to re-establish the Original Kriya.
• After six years of commission, Mahamuni Babaji sent Vidyaratna Babaji to America in 1982 to comply with his providences. He has lived in America ever since.
• Authored thirty (30) books including Babaji and His Legacy, The Divine Incarnation, Biography of a Yogi, The Six Systems, etc.
• As a sannyasi, he lives and stays alone; and eats meals prepared by himself swapak. Like Mahamuni Babaji and Lahiri Mahasay, he is free of asrams, centers and organizations.
• As a servant of all (sakaler das) he serves only the qualified and serious seekers of truth from San Diego.

On October 2, 1974, Swami Satyeswarananda Giri Babaji Maharaj received the message of Mahamuni Babaji at Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas.

On October 4, 1974, he was instructed by Mahamuni Babaji to write down the message. Accordingly, Baba wrote down the message in Sanskrit Sutras, or verses.

The original Sanskrit verses with literal English translation are given below. They are divided into four chapters.

The author has presented the Kriya Sutras of Babaji in a separate title.

The Kriya Sutras

The Message of Mahamuni Babaji
Received by the Author on October 2, 1974

Chapter 1
Tattvam (The Doctrine)

Chapter 2
Laksham (The Goal)

Chapter 3
Sadhanam (The Discipline)

Chapter 4
Anubhabah (The Revelation)

Literal Translation of the Sanskrit KRIYA SUTRAS

Chapter 1
The Doctrine - Tattvam

1. Ata Atma Jigyasa.
   Now, the Self inquiry.
    
2. Swarupe abasthanam Atmadarsanam.
   For one to become established in one’s true form [nature] is called self realization.
    
3. Sarbajna Nityang Purnamadyamanantam Atma.
   The Omniscient, the permanent, the complete, that without beginning and without end, is the Self.
    
4. Tasya prakasak Pranab.
   The beginning of manifestation is the Word, Pranaba, that is Om, Aum or Amen or Amin.
    
5. Pranaba sabda eba pantha.
   The path is the sound of Om, Aum or Amen.
    
6. Jagatsristi maya Iswarasya tasya heturabidya.
   The world is created by God through illusion, or darkness, the cause of which is ignorance.
    
7. Chittavritti heya hetu.
   The cause of sufferings and sorrows are the desires of the heart.
    
8. Sarbagya Purusabisesa Atma, Tasyabhasa Kutastha.
   The all-pervading seed of Omniscience is the absolute Self. Its reflection is Kutastha, the Holy Ghost.
    
9. Bisesa-abisesa lingamatralingani gunaparbani.
   The organ, the particles, the attributes and the greatness: these are the four stages of neuter quality.
    
10. Sthulasarirasyangani chaturbingasati tattvani.
    There are twenty-four elements in the gross material body.
     
11. Tibra sadhanaprabhabadnubhabasanna.
    By the determined practice of Kriya, Realization is very near.
     
12. Tada sarbani padmani bhidyante granthoyapi cha.
    When at the grace of Guru, or at the grace of the Self, the Kundalini awakens, or opens the mouth of the spinal cord, then all the padmas and granthis (lotuses and chakras) are crossed through.
     
13. Saptadha prantabhumi prajna.
    The knowledge has seven stages.
     
14. Bhurbhubasyamaharjanastapa satyeti sapta lokas.
    There are seven lokas, or spheres.
     
15. Tat sanjamat saptabhumibodha.
    When concentrated there, the Yogi understands the seven stages.
     
16. Atmapranidhanat.
    By surrendering the Self, one can realize.
     
17. Tadatmano darsanantata nijbodgarupam.
    Thereafter, seeing the Self, the yogi realizes the true Self.

Chapter 2
The Goal - Laksham

1. Athato mukti jignasa.
   Now the question of Liberation.
    
2. Mukti puruse abasthanam
   Liberation is to live in the real nature of Purusa, or Self.
    
3. Abidya amsita raga dwesa avinibesa klesa.
   Abidya (ignorance); asmita (egoism); rag (attachment); dwesa (the natural tendency one feels to avert that which creates displeasure) and avinibesa (attachment to the body). These are the sufferings.
    
4. Satye asatya asatye Satya bodhoabidya.
   Truth understood as untruth and untruth as truth is called abidya, ignorance.
    
5. Purusa prakriti ekatma bodhaganam asmita.
   When the pure Self is thought to be one with prakriti, nature, this is asmita.
    
6. Sukhe askti ragah.
   The attachment to liking things is rag.
    
7. Dukhe anasakti dwesah.
   Dwesa is the repulsion of things disliked.
    
8. Janma janmantar abadhi prakrityasakti avinibesa.
   The natural tendency of attachment to the material body because of previous tendency is avinibesa.
    
9. Klesha mulam karma tadbipako jatyayurbhoga.
   Man suffers in different ways in life because of five egoistic tendencies.
    
10. Sarba klesha avabat paramartha siddhihi.
    When all sufferings are absolutely finished, highest realization takes place.
     
11. Sarba dukhang nibrittihiatmanonityattwa upalabdhi satah.
    When all sorrows and sufferings are absent absolutely, the Self’s eternity is realized.
     
12. Aham swa upalabdhihi lakshyam.
    The Goal is to realize the Self.

Chapter 3
The Discipline - Sadhanam

1. Tapa swadhyaya Atma pranidhanani Kriyayogaha.
   Patience, self-study and self-surrender are called Kriya Yoga.
    
2. Samadhi vabanartha klesatanu karanarthascha.
   To have Realization and to remove the obstructions to Realization, a discipline is necessary.
    
3. Dhyana heyastada chittabrityaya.
   Meditation purifies the desires of the heart.
    
4. Yoganusthanad sudhikshyaye ganang prakaste.
   After purification by yoga practice, pure Knowledge of the Self is revealed.
    
5. Kriya sadhana pravabat virjalav.
   With the practice of Kriyas given by the Gurudev, the yogi gets all energy from within.
    
6. Sadguru sang atmabat karaniya visbadbarjaniya durjana.
   Prabese nirgame vayor gurulakshang bilokayet.
   Always associate with Guru as Self; keep away from association with bad elements.
   Watch the respiration as the Guru has instructed.
    
7. Ahingsa satyasteya brahmacharya aparigraha yama.
   Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and not taking help from others: these five are called yama.
    
8. Socha santoshah sadguru upadesa palanadaya niyama.
   Purity, contentment and following the instructions of Guru is niyama.
    
9. Tato asudhi kshaya.
   Then the impurities are destroyed.
    
10. Sthirasukhamasanam.
    Continuing a long time to sit easily in any posture is Asana.
     
11. Swasa praswasyorgatibichheda kebalakumvaka.
    When the continuation of breathing is naturally stopped, Kebala Kumbhaka is held.
     
12. Tata pranayam swatah.
    When Kebala Kumbhaka is held, Pranayam, also, always is held.
     
13. Indriyanam antar mukhatam pratyahara.
    Making the sense organs inward is pratyahara.
     
14. Atma prasade sati sarbavabodaya dhriti.
    At the blessing of the Self, divine qualities are revealed in the heart of the sadhaka.
     
15. Ragopahati tata chittavrittvi nirodhat dhyanam.
    Meditation is when attachment has vanished and the desires of the heart have ceased absolutely.
     
16. Tata bibhutyabirbyaba.
    Then the yogic powers come to the yogi.
     
17. Tadebarthamatra nirvasang swarup sunyemib samadhi.
    Samadhi is when all external things are dissolved during meditation revealing only meaning.
     
18. Tata sangjamat atmanuvabah.
    Concentrating there, the yogi realizes the Self.
     
19. Tatra sadguru lav dibyatvyam prakasate.
    Tada satyanuvabat mukta sannyasi.
    There the sadhaka finds the true Guru, Divinity is revealed, Truth is realized, and the yogi becomes Mukta Sanyasi, a free Yogi.
     
20. Atma darsanat swarup pratistha kaibalyam.
    The yogi realizes the Self to be established in its True Nature at the state called Kaibalyam.

Chapter 4
The Revelation - Anubhabah

1. Sadhakasya chaturbidha abastha.
   Sadhaka, or the seeker, the Kriyanwit, has four stages.
    
2. Sthula sarir sudhaye tamoguna kshayate tata mridusadhaka-bastha.
   The removal of gross material sense and purification from negative qualities marks the stage of the craving Sadhaka.
    
3. Sukshma sarir sudhaye rajoguna nasayate tata sadhakabastha.
   When the subtle body is finished and the positive quality purified, that is the realizing stage.
    
4. Tadeb vabet virjaban mantrah.
   Then Mantra becomes full of life.
    
5. Sattva gunasya sudhaye sadhakasya siddha abstha.
   By the influence of Kriya practice given by the Sadguru, the cosmic body is transcended, the divine qualities are purified and Sadhaka is at the realized state.
    
6. Dehatraya sudhistata mahakaransarir kshaye sadhakasya muktabastha.
   After the purification of three bodies, the great cosmic body is purified, and Sadhaka is established in Realization to become Free.
    
7. Tata gansariram.
   Now the Yogi receives the body of Knowledge.
    
8. Sa eba Jivanmukta Sannyasi.
   He is Jivanmukta Sanyasi.
    
9. Gunatikrame darsanat atmana kaibalyam.
   Going beyond the three qualities to see the Self is the state of Kaibalya.

 
Om Santi! Santi! Santi!

Life Sketch of Vidyaratna Babaji

The Himalayan Yogi Swami Satyeswarananda Giri Babaji Maharaj was born in Bengal, India. Satya-Iswara-Ananda: Satya means "Truth," Iswara "God," and Ananda "Bliss."

He studied for eight years in the hermitage high school run by Kriya yogis, where he met Swami Satyananda, initiated by Swami Kebalananda (disciple of Lahiri Mahasay), and chief monastic disciple of Sriyukteswar for the East. (Sriyukteswar selected Satyananda as leader for the East and Yogananda as messenger for the West.)

Young Satyeswarananda was associated with, studied Kriya under, and received his monastic training from Satyananda for the next twenty years.

He worked intimately with Satyananda, managing his affairs while living together with him in a modest lifestyle, sharing a small thatched hut.

Swami Satyananda Click to enlarge	Swami Satyananda's hut

His responsibilities were tremendous and included the organization and administration of hermitages in charge of general and technical schools, a postgraduate teachers' training college, a printing press, a library and a hospital.

Many of these institutions were government sponsored, and almost all were residential.

Satyeswarananda also helped Satyananda in all aspects of service activities while accompanying him up and down the country, holding lectures and seminars and attending thousands of Kriya followers.

In the meanwhile, Satyeswarananda received concurrently a Master of Arts (M. A.) degree in philosophy, specializing in Vedanta philosophy, and a Law degree (LL. B.) from the University of Calcutta.

He was both a practicing attorney and professor of law at the State Government College of the University of Calcutta.

He taught in English. He is an accomplished Sanskrit scholar and is also conversant in several modern languages, among them Hindi and Italian.

Satyeswarananda joined the Swami Order with the blessings of His Holiness Jagat Guru Sankaracharya Bharati Krisna Tirtha of Puri. Jagat Guru's Swami disciple, Bidyananda conducted the ceremony.

When Satyananda left his body, Satyeswarananda, or "Baba" as he is popularly called, left for Dunagiri Hill in the Himalayas, where he used to go every summer for Kriya practice.

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Sri Sri Vaisnabi Mata Bhagavati Jagadamba Temple (exterior), Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas.

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The Interior of the Temple. At this location (the shrine of Vaisnabi Mata) Mahamuni Babaji created a golden temple from the cosmic vibrations and initiated Lahiri Mahasay into Kriya Yoga in 1861. Afterwards the golden temple was dismantled.

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The hut (known as Ram Kuti), very close to the Temple, where Baba met Mahamuni Babaji for the first time. Baba lived in the left hand side room and received the message of Babaji in 1974. The message is published in the book Kriya Sutras of Babaji.

The first three years he observed continual silence and became known as "Mouni Baba," or the "Silent Sage."

Altogether Baba stayed in the Himalayas for twelve years, living in a small hut and a cave often together with Mahamuni Babaji and, at times, with Babaji and his disciples.

Baba's Holy Hut (Mouna Mandir - Temple of Silence) Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas.

Satyeswarananda was initiated into Purna (Complete) Kriya by Mahamuni Babaji, who blessed him with instructions to reestablish the original, authentic Kriya as directly taught by Babaji.

Swami Satyeswarananda Maharaj at Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas.

During the author's secluded years of meditation in the cave at Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas, on October 14, 1974, a holy man (who looked like Lord Jesus) brought a message to Baba (the author) from Mahamuni Babaji, the Divine Himalayan Yogi.

The holy man said that he had approached Mahamuni Babaji to help the Western seekers of Truth. Babaji had advised the holy man to inform Baba to follow him to the West.

As a result, Baba visited Europe in 1975, leaving his secluded meditative life in the Himalayan cave.

Baba at the Adriatic Sea beach.

Again, the holy man visited Baba at Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas with this message from Babaji, who himself later instructed Baba to comply with his Providence to serve the Western seekers of Truth. As a result, Baba arrived in the United States in 1982, and presented "The Holy Bible: In the Light of Kriya" in the service of Western devotees whose time is ripe.

Baba teaches from San Diego, a seat of Energy (Sakti Pith), very sincere seekers of Truth whose time is ripe.

Swami Satyeswarananda Vidyaratna Maharaj

PUBLISHED WORKS

English

German

Spanish

Bengali

Hindi

Chinese