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Kriyananda (born James Donald Walters; May 19, 1926 – April 21, 2013) was an American Hindu religious leader, yoga guru, meditation teacher, musician, and author. He was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda [1] and founder of the spiritual movement named "Ananda".
Ananda is a global movement founded by Swami Kriyananda in 1968, based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, who showed how everyone can realize God in their daily lives as a tangible, loving reality. From his youth, Swami Kriyananda had dreamed of creating small communities based on cooperation and high ideals.
A monastic almost all of his adult life, Swami Kriyananda was a Swami of the Giri (Mountain) branch of the ancient Swami Order, as was his guru and his guru’s guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. He was the spiritual guide of Ananda Sangha Worldwide.
Swami Kriyananda (James Donald Walters) was a direct, close, and important disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. He created, in his Guru’s name, a work distinct from that of Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF): the Ananda communities. Some fellow disciples therefore accused him of being a “Judas”.
Swami Kriyananda was a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda and the founder of Ananda Sangha. His deep spiritual quest for ‘truth’ led him, in 1948 at the young age of 22, to read Paramhansa Yogananda’s spiritual classic, “ Autobiography of a Yogi .”
Swami Kriyananda is one of the last living direct disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda. He is the author of more than 80 books, and founder of eight communities.
Swami Kriyananda — Lightbearer: The Life & Legacy of a Disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. The profoundly inspiring story of Swami Kriyananda’s unswerving dedication to his great Master’s cause, as told by Nayaswami Asha. Its 680 pages are packed with insights for the spiritual seeker, offering answers to every spiritual dilemma: how to ...
Swami Kriyananda (1926-2013), a direct disciple of the renowned yoga master Paramhansa Yogananda, was the founder of Ananda Sangha Worldwide; nine spiritual communities, including Ananda Pune; and many more teaching centers and meditation groups.
A monastic nearly all of his adult life, Swam Kriyananda was a swami of the Giri (Mountain) branch of the Swami Order, as was his guru Yogananda, and his guru’s guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. He was the Dharmacharya (leading according to dharma) and spiritual guide for Ananda communities and activities worldwide.
Paramhansa Yogananda often said to Swami Kriyananda, “You have a great work to do,” and gave him specific directions—about both the future of Yogananda’s mission and the path of Swami Kriyananda’s own spiritual service.
