The Kriya Lineage
An unbroken stream of realised teachers, each receiving the living science of Self-realisation from the one before and passing it on.
Kriya Yoga is not a modern invention but an unbroken stream of realised teachers, each receiving the living science of Self-realisation from the one before and passing it on. This timeline traces that lineage — from the deathless Mahavatar Babaji to the masters teaching today.
The Unbroken Stream
Mahavatar Babaji
The deathless Himalayan master who revived Kriya Yoga for the modern age and set the lineage in motion.
Lahiri Mahasaya
The householder saint whom Babaji initiated in 1861, charged with offering Kriya freely to sincere householders. Among his foremost disciples were Sri Yukteswar and Bhupendranath Sanyal.
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri
The “incarnation of wisdom,” Lahiri’s great disciple and author of The Holy Science. He initiated Yogananda, Hariharananda and Swami Satyananda Giri.
Bhupendranath Sanyal Mahashaya
A direct disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, a revered householder-saint of Bengal who carried the teaching with deep devotion and humility.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Who carried Kriya to the West in 1920 and, through his Autobiography of a Yogi, introduced millions to the path.
Swami Satyananda Giri
Disciple of Sri Yukteswar and lifelong brother-disciple and friend of Yogananda.
Paramahamsa Hariharananda
A fully realised master who spread Kriya Yoga across Europe and the Americas.
Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath
A living master of the Babaji lineage, founder of Hamsa Yoga Sangh and the mission of Earth Peace through Self Peace.
Paramahamsa Prajnanananda
Successor of Paramahamsa Hariharananda, carrying the worldwide Kriya Yoga mission forward today.
Into Our Own Age
This unbroken current reaches our own age through living masters. In our lineage it continues as the Kundalini Kriya Yoga of Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath, who was blessed directly by Shiv-Goraksha Babaji to carry it onward.
Meet the Masters
Explore each master in depth through our Great Saints page, or learn more about the two arms of the Kriya tradition.
Great Saints →