“Divine union is possible through self-effort, and is not dependent on theological belief or on the arbitrary will of a Cosmic Dictator.” These profound words of assurance by Yogavatar Sri Sri Lahari Mahasaya were the living testimony of a life dedicated to the above ideal, and not a mere philosophical abstraction.
Shyama Charan Lahiri was born on September 30, 1828; son of an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, venerated in the scriptures as the ‘King of Yogis’. In his boyhood Lahiri Mahasaya received lessons in Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Bengali, French and English. He also made a close study of the Vedas, and listened eagerly to scriptural discussions by learned pandits. Following tradition, the kind, gentle, courageous youth, beloved by all his companions entered holy matrimony with Srimati Kashi Moni in 1846 and observed grihathashram along the lines of Vedic discipline. Four children blessed the union. At the age of 23, in 1851, he was appointed as an accountant in the Military Engineering Department of the British government. His sincerity and dedication spilled over into all aspects of his life, making his unassuming life a masterpiece in not only God’s eyes but in his modest capacity as an office worker.
