​

​

​WHO ARE THE GREAT MASTERS OF AUTHENTIC YOGA AND TANTRA,
​and WHAT ARE THEIR TEACHINGS?

Click to see full image and text:

Known simply as 'Babaji', he is said to be the supreme 'Guru of all gurus'. Believed to be the divine playing in human form, able to appear at will. Many lines of Yoga, Kriya and Tantra have become associated with the 'immortal Babaji'.

Lahiri Mahasaya. In 1861, he received Kriya Yoga from Babaji. It is said that through him "the ancient lost art and science of Kriya Yoga was 're-introduced to the world".

Swami Sri Yukteswar, guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda, and disciple of Lahiri Mahasay who received Kriya Yoga from Babaji in the late 1800s and began the process of bringing Kriya Yoga to the awareness of the public.

Paramahamsa Yogananda, author of 'Autobiography of a Yogi', which introduced Kriya Yoga to mainstream Western society in the 1950s.

Shibendu Lahiri ('Guruji'). Great-grandson and lineage holder of Lahiri Mahasaya's Kriya Yoga.

Shirdi Sai Baba (who Sathya Sai Baba claimed to have been in his previous life). He was honoured by both Hindus and Muslims and considered to be a great saint or even an avatar.

Sri Deep Narayan Mahaprabhuji, considered to be a great avatar - incarnation of the divine. Guru of Swami Madhavananda

Sri Ramana Maharshi, one of the most famous saints of modern times, and considered by many to be a great avatar. Although himself a great Bhakta (devotee of the Supreme), he is known as one of the greatest teachers of Advaita of modern times.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, disciple of Siddharameshwar Maharaj from the Tantric lineage of Nath yogis.

Avadhoot Nityananda. Considered to be a great saint and Siddha Yogi. Guru of Swami Muktananda.

Amma (known also as the Hugging Saint). An extraordinary example of selfless service. Regarded as a great avatar - as an incarnation of the Divine Mother.

Haidakhan Babaji, believed by some to be the 'immortal Babaji', known also as 'Babaji Nagaraj' and 'Mahavatar Babaji' who re-introduced Kriya Yoga in the late 1800s through his disciple Lahiri Mahasay, and to have faked his death in 1983, and reappeared in Nepal. Haidakhan Babaji is believed by some to be a disciple, or 'emanation' of Mahavatar Babaji.

Haidakhan Babaji. transmitting blessings.

Osho. Charismatic and controversial teacher who became the most influential figure of modern Tantra. In his last years his teaching focused mostly on Zen Buddhism, but unfortunately he is mostly known only for his teachings on sexuality, which have largely been misunderstood.

Yogi Amrit Desai, disciple of Swami Kripalvananda, who was given the task of re-introducing the ancient teachings of the Pashupati Tantric sect.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati, disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, which has played a great role in making the ancient teachings of Tantra and Yoga accessible, bridging ancient and modern scientific understanding.

Swami Niranjanananda, successor of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, head of the Bihar School of Yoga.

Sakya Trizin. Tantric Buddhist lineage-holder. "Tantra as "continuum" refers to one's own mind as non-dual Wisdom (jnana); ... there is an unbroken continuation of mind from beginningless time until the attainment of Buddhahood."