Autobiography of a Yogi is the story of the life of Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893–March 7, 1952) first published in 1946. Born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India, into a Bengali family, this book takes the reader on a journey into the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his encounters with spiritual figures of both the East and West. Beginning from his childhood, his family life, to finding his guru and becoming a monk and establishing his teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation, this book allows the reader to see the spiritual yearning of the man and how he realizes that over the years. It draws on both his personal experiences—anecdotes and meetings with eminent spiritual personalities, his association with nineteenth-century master Lahiri Mahasaya who had prophesied the writing of this book—as well as how he travels across America lecturing and establishing his teachings in Los Angeles, California.

Autobiography of a Yogi is an introduction to the methods of attaining God-realization and emphasizes the value of Kriya Yoga and a life of self-respect, calmness, determination, simple diet and regular exercise. It has been in print for the last seventy years and has been translated into over forty languages. It has been highly acclaimed as a spiritual classic and is designated as one of the ‘100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century.’

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda was born in Gorakhpur to a devout Bengali family. In 1920, Yogananda went to the United States as India’s delegate to an International Congress of Religious Liberals. That same year he founded the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) to disseminate worldwide his teachings on India’s ancient practices and philosophy of yoga and its tradition of meditation. In 1924, he embarked on a cross-continental speaking tour. During this time, he attracted numerous celebrity followers, including soprano Amelita Galli-Curci, tenor Vladimir Rosing and Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch, the daughter of Mark Twain. Yogananda was the first Hindu teacher of yoga to spend a major portion of his life in America. Paramahansa Yogananda entered mahasamadhi in March 1952. His mausoleum is in Palo Alto, California.

As I write this review, let me confess one thing – I re-read this book for the 6th time before sitting down to write this. I have read this book before, almost 7-8 years ago and remember how much it altered my changing pattern. Now when it came my way once again I took it as a sign from the universe for a lesson that I was supposed to unearth through this.

Many times it happens in life that we know a lot of things but forget their existence. This book is one such reminder. It is said that you are born twice. One on the day you are physically born and second time when you ask why were you born, that is when you are born spiritually and from then onwards there is no looking back. For me reading this book everytime has been an experience akin to being born again. It feels as if all that I believed in till now was a lie and that life is much more deeper than what I am seeing. I need to realign my goals and look more closely, for there is a Supreme Master up there looking after me.

This book is beyond any rating and review because for me this book was, is and will always be a life-changing book. One that I recommend to one and all, because it answers all the questions you ever had in your mind regarding life. Every time I read it, it reveals a new aspect for me, a new chapter and some new meanings which maybe I couldn’t understand then or as it is said spiritually perhaps I wasn’t ready for the answers.

Strongly recommended, if you have ever asked yourself why were you born on this earth. This book promises to be an answer to it, the perfect one.