From Form to Formless
Excerpt from “River of C
Excerpt from “River of Compassion” by Paramahamsa Prajnananandompassion” by Paramahamsa Prajnananandaa
Like clouds in the sky that fall to earth as raindrops, then become the Like clouds in the sky that fall to earth as raindrops, then become the river, merging in the ocean before they again become the
river, merging in the ocean before they again become the clouds, lifeclouds, life is a play of form and formlessness. The formless soul residing in the is a play of form and formlessness. The formless soul residing in the form of the body plays its role and then leaves the body – a process form of the body plays its role and then leaves the body – a process people
people call call birth birth and and death. death. For For a a realized realized person, person, birth birth and and deathdeath have no meaning; both are just the play of consciousness. A realized have no meaning; both are just the play of consciousness. A realized person, through spiritual pow
person, through spiritual power, tries to er, tries to help humanity as a help humanity as a whole towhole to evolve and grow. Such a person’s life is the life of love and sacrifice.
evolve and grow. Such a person’s life is the life of love and sacrifice.
Many people have experienced the presence of the great master, Many people have experienced the presence of the great master, Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji, after his physical disappearance. His Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji, after his physical disappearance. His divine teaching continues.
divine teaching continues.
Paramahamsaji’s physical health began to deteriorate in the fall Paramahamsaji’s physical health began to deteriorate in the fall 2002, and he was hospitalized for one week before his physical showing a strong sense of forbearance. He continued to be humorous showing a strong sense of forbearance. He continued to be humorous and loving with the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff, often and loving with the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff, often showing more concern for their well being than for his own health.
showing more concern for their well being than for his own health.
People came from all over to show their love and gratitude, and to People came from all over to show their love and gratitude, and to enjoy his company, love, and compassion. one present could believe that he would depart so soon. One day he one present could believe that he would depart so soon. One day he was immersed in
was immersed in bhava samadhibhava samadhi and the ecstatic state, and he spokeand the ecstatic state, and he spoke about other planes and the five streams of five vital energies merging about other planes and the five streams of five vital energies merging in the cosmic energy. He also spoke about merging with Brahman, in the cosmic energy. He also spoke about merging with Brahman, and about some of his other spiritual experiences visiting holy and about some of his other spiritual experiences visiting holy places. In
places. Instructions structions about mabout monastic life weonastic life were given to re given to the author.the author.
The morning of his departure, he uttered his last words: “Peace, The morning of his departure, he uttered his last words: “Peace, bliss, love, joy
bliss, love, joy, divinity.” Slowly he bec, divinity.” Slowly he became more peaame more peaceful, now and ceful, now and then opening his eyes to look at those present with a divine heavenly then opening his eyes to look at those present with a divine heavenly smile. Pure love and calmness emanated from his face as he
smile. Pure love and calmness emanated from his face as he drew hisdrew his
At 6:48 p.m. EST, on December 3, 2002. Paramahamsa At 6:48 p.m. EST, on December 3, 2002. Paramahamsa Hariharananda peacefully left his mortal body. He exited the body to Hariharananda peacefully left his mortal body. He exited the body to immerse himself once more in the supreme almighty Lord.
immerse himself once more in the supreme almighty Lord.
Traditional Vedic last rites were performed the next morning.
Traditional Vedic last rites were performed the next morning.
Paramahamsaji’s mortal body remained in his ashram in Homestead, Paramahamsaji’s mortal body remained in his ashram in Homestead, Florida, USA for one week to allow his disciples a final
Florida, USA for one week to allow his disciples a final darshandarshan with the
with the breathlesbreathless master.s master.
The monks, yogacharyas, ashram residents, and others present met The monks, yogacharyas, ashram residents, and others present met to discuss what final preparations needed to be made with to discuss what final preparations needed to be made with Paramahamsaji’s body. There had been some confusion about what Paramahamsaji’s body. There had been some confusion about what to do with his body, and although Paramahamsaji’s will left this to do with his body, and although Paramahamsaji’s will left this decision to his disciple, the author, everyone’s opinion was honored.
decision to his disciple, the author, everyone’s opinion was honored.
On the 10th of December, 2002, the mortal body Paramahamsa On the 10th of December, 2002, the mortal body Paramahamsa Hariharananda left the Florida Ashram, homeward bound for the Hariharananda left the Florida Ashram, homeward bound for the distant shores of Mother India to
distant shores of Mother India to be laid to be laid to rest with his forefathers.rest with his forefathers.
On December 13, 2002, his body arrived in Mumbai and was flown On December 13, 2002, his body arrived in Mumbai and was flown to Bhubaneswar on Saturday, December 14. The Government of to Bhubaneswar on Saturday, December 14. The Government of Orissa had decided to accord state honors to Paramahamsa Orissa had decided to accord state honors to Paramahamsa Hariharananda upon the arrival of his remains. Never before has Hariharananda upon the arrival of his remains. Never before has such an honor been bestowed upon a monk. His body arrived in such an honor been bestowed upon a monk. His body arrived in Bhubaneswar, where the guard of honor, senior government Bhubaneswar, where the guard of honor, senior government ministers and officials from the state of Orissa, and more than one ministers and officials from the state of Orissa, and more than one thousand people eagerly waited at the airport to pay tribute to him.
thousand people eagerly waited at the airport to pay tribute to him.
His body was escorted from the airport by the police, followed by a His body was escorted from the airport by the police, followed by a convoy of many hundreds of cars to Hariharananda Gurukulam, convoy of many hundreds of cars to Hariharananda Gurukulam, Balighai, Puri, Orissa, his final resting place.
Balighai, Puri, Orissa, his final resting place.
Paramahamsa Hariharananda’s
Paramahamsa Hariharananda’s samadhi samadhi temple, the Gurus’ Temple,temple, the Gurus’ Temple, was inaugurated during his birth centenary year. It is a majestic was inaugurated during his birth centenary year. It is a majestic temple that is not only the final resting place of Paramahamsa temple that is not only the final resting place of Paramahamsa Hariharananda, but has beautiful statues of the Kriya Yoga masters Hariharananda, but has beautiful statues of the Kriya Yoga masters that imbue this pilgrimage site with spiritual vibration.
that imbue this pilgrimage site with spiritual vibration.
Timeless Soul in Time Frame Timeless Soul in Time Frame
Eventful Years in the Life of Paramahamsa Hariharananda Eventful Years in the Life of Paramahamsa Hariharananda 1907
1907 May May 2727thth : Monday, Buddha Purnima, Full moon of Vishakha,: Monday, Buddha Purnima, Full moon of Vishakha, Birthday of Buddha, birth of Rabindranath in Habibpur, Nadia Birthday of Buddha, birth of Rabindranath in Habibpur, Nadia 1918
1918 Sacred Sacred thread thread ceremony, ceremony, vow vow of of brahmacharyabrahmacharya and mantraand mantra initiation from his father
initiation from his father 1919
1919 Initiation Initiation into into Jnana Jnana Yoga Yoga by by Shrimat Shrimat Bijoy Bijoy KrishnaKrishna Chattopadhyay
Chattopadhyay 1932
1932 Meeting Meeting with with Shriyukteswarji Shriyukteswarji at at Serampore Serampore and and initiation initiation intointo Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga 1935
1935 Met Met Paramahamsa Paramahamsa Yogananda Yogananda during during his his short short trip trip to to India India and and was initiated into Second Kriya
was initiated into Second Kriya 1936
1936 March March 99thth :: mahasamadhimahasamadhi of Shriyukteshwarjiof Shriyukteshwarji 1938
1938 Joins Joins Karar Karar Ashram, Ashram, Puri Puri and and started started monastic monastic life life as as BrahmachariBrahmachari Rabinarayan
Rabinarayan 1940 Attained
1940 Attained khecharikhechari,, bhramaribhramari, and , and shambavi shambavi stages of realizationstages of realization 1941
1941 Third Third Kriya Kriya initiation initiation from from Swami Swami Satyananda Satyananda GiriGiri 1942
1942 Returns Returns to to visit visit family family at at parental parental home home for for a a short short time time as as aa brahmachari
brahmachari 1943-1945
1943-1945 Training Training under under Sanyal Sanyal MahasayaMahasaya 1944
1944 Meeting Meeting a a mysterious mysterious monk monk 1946-1948
1946-1948 Attainment Attainment of of different different stages stages of of samadhi samadhi 1949
1949 Darshan Darshan of of Mahavatar Mahavatar BabajiBabaji 1950
1950 Becomes Becomes Acharya Acharya of of Puri Puri Karar Karar AshramAshram 1951
1951 Paramahamsa Paramahamsa Yogananda Yogananda empowers empowers him him to to initiate initiate people people intointo Kriya Yoga
1959 Initiation Initiation intointo sannyas sannyas 1960-1972
1960-1972 Preaching Preaching Kriya Kriya Yoga Yoga in in different different parts parts of of IndiaIndia 1964
1964 Death Death of of his his mother mother 1971
1971 August August 44thth: Becomes President of Karar Ashram: Becomes President of Karar Ashram 1974
1974 Founded Founded the the Ashram Ashram at at Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar 1974
1974 First First visit visit to to West, West, European European countriescountries 1975
1975 Founded Founded the the ashram ashram at at BalighaiBalighai 1975
1975 First First visit visit to to the the USAUSA 1977
1977 Publication Publication of of Kriya Kriya Yoga Yoga books books in in EnglishEnglish 1977-1998
1977-1998 Kriya Kriya Yoga Yoga centers centers established established in in India, India, Europe, Europe, North North and and South America, and Australia to teach and spread
South America, and Australia to teach and spread the message of the message of Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga
1992
1992 Established Established ashram ashram at at BhawanipatnaBhawanipatna 1992-1993
1992-1993 Established Established the the ashram ashram at at Sambalpur Sambalpur 1993
1993 Ashram Ashram at at Cuttack Cuttack opened opened with with his his blessingsblessings 1993
1993 Ashram Ashram at at Sterksel, Sterksel, Holland Holland was was dedicated dedicated to to spiritual spiritual seekersseekers 1994
1994 Brought Brought Swami Swami Prajnanananda Prajnanananda Giri Giri to to the the West West to to carry carry out out hishis divine work
divine work 1996
1996 His His last last visit visit to to IndiaIndia 1996-1998
1996-1998 The The interpretation interpretation of of the the Gita Gita in in the the light light of of Kriya Kriya YogaYoga finished
finished 1996
1996 Appointed Appointed Swami Swami Prajnanananda Prajnanananda Giri Giri as as his his spiritual spiritual successor successor 1997
1997 Ashram Ashram at at Miami Miami was was inaugurated inaugurated 1998
1998 New New ashram ashram near near Vienna Vienna was was opened, opened, his his last last visit visit to to EuropeEurope 1999
1999 Sent Sent Swami Swami Prajnanananda Prajnanananda Giri Giri to to participate participate in in the the Parliament Parliament of of World Religions held at Cape To
World Religions held at Cape Townwn 1998-2002
1998-2002 Lived Lived permanently permanently at at his his ashram ashram in in Homestead, Homestead, Florida Florida and and guided people spiritually from there
guided people spiritually from there 2002
2002 Nov. Nov. 2525thth : Hospitalized in Baptist Hospital, Miami, Florida: Hospitalized in Baptist Hospital, Miami, Florida 2002
2002 Dec. Dec. 33rd rd : Attained mahasamadhi (the final conscious exit of : Attained mahasamadhi (the final conscious exit of a yogia yogi from his mortal body) at 6:48
from his mortal body) at 6:48 p.m. EST, Miami, Floridap.m. EST, Miami, Florida Dec. 4
Dec. 4thth : Vedic ceremony,: Vedic ceremony, abhishekaabhisheka, anointment, etc. at Miami, anointment, etc. at Miami ashram
ashram Dec. 10
Dec. 10thth : Body left the Miami ashram: Body left the Miami ashram Dec. 11
Dec. 11thth : Body sent to India by flight from : Body sent to India by flight from Miami-Zurich- Miami-Zurich-Mumbai
Mumbai Dec. 13
Dec. 13thth : 11:30 p.m. Body received in Mumbai: 11:30 p.m. Body received in Mumbai Dec. 14
Dec. 14thth : : 2.00 2.00 p.m. p.m. State State Guard Guard of of Honor at Honor at BhubaneswaBhubaneswar r airport
airport
4:00 p.m. Body reached Balighai Ashram premises 4:00 p.m. Body reached Balighai Ashram premises and placed in a decorative bed and
and placed in a decorative bed and available for available for darshan
darshan Dec. 15
Dec. 15thth: 12 p.m., samadhi ceremony (burial according to the: 12 p.m., samadhi ceremony (burial according to the monastic tradition) with State Honor
monastic tradition) with State Honor Dec. 19
Dec. 19 thth: Evening: Evening sadhu bhandara sadhu bhandara, congregation of monks to, congregation of monks to pay homage to the great
pay homage to the great guru.guru.
During Brahmachari Training December 2007, in Balighai, Puri During Brahmachari Training December 2007, in Balighai, Puri