Paramhansa Yogananda (born Mukunda Lal Ghosh, January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952) was trained by his guru Swami Sri Yukteswar to bring India’s ancient yoga science to the West. In 1920, he arrived in the United States to initiate what would become a worldwide mission to highlight the unity of all religions.
In l946, he published his seminal work Autobiography of Yogi. It has been designated as one of the best spiritual books of this century and the last. Yogananda wrote several books and courses, gave lectures to tens of thousands across the country, wrote music, poetry, and established an organization to train disciples. He also initiated Mahatma Gandhi into Kriya Yoga, his most advanced scientific meditation technique, and was invited to the White House in 1927 by Calvin Coolidge.
