Kriya Yoga is an umbrella term for the most ancient set of practices in Monistic Shaiva Tantra. It famously takes a disinterested view at mundane existence and elucidates prayogas soley for liberating the individual soul. As a result, since the beginning of the last Kali Yuga, it has been practiced mostly by renunciates in the Indian subcontinent. It takes a very pragmatic view of human evolution and employs techniques to raise Individual Prana or Kundalini. It is said that the complete set of 114 Kriyas were transmitted to the Saptharishis by Lord Sadashiva. As such, there are multiple lineages in Kriya Yoga tracing their origin to one of the Saptharishis. Also, in each of these lineages, there are one or more charismatic long-living Mula Gurus tasked with guiding disciples across yugas until their own dissolution.
The Mula Guru in our Kriya Yoga lineage is the immortal yogi Maha Avathara Babaji. It is interesting to note that most of the well-known Kriya Yoga lineages trace their origins to this great disciple of Saptharishi Agasthya. Kriya Yoga is also considered a part of the Siddha tradition. The first Siddha is of course the absolute lord of the known and unknown universe – Bhagwan Sadashiva.
Para Parameshti Guru Maha Sadashiva
Sadasiva is the highest form of Shiva in the Shaiva Siddhanta doctrine. Even though the illustration provided glorifies the deity as Maha Sadashiva with innumerable faces/powers, for all practical purposes his powers can be grouped under the headings – Shrishti (Creation), Sthithi (Preservation), Samhara (Destruction), Thirodhana (Obscuration) and Anugraha (Grace). While Shrishti, Sthithi and Samhara are used to create, preserve and destroy the universe, Thirodhana sustains the jivaatma-paramatma duality and Anugraha removes said duality. All gurus are manifestations of the Anugraha shakti of Bhagwan Sadashiva.
Parameshti Guru Saptharishi Agasthya
Saptharishi Agasthya graced Bharathavarsha with his living presence for 5000 years. During this time, he played a major role in sculpting the glorious sanatan culture through his polymathic contributions in all the sanatan shastras. His influence is widespread in Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda, Shaiva Tantras, Vaishnava Tantras, Kaumara Tantras, Saura Tantras, Ganapatya Tantras, Shakta Tantras, Puranas, Martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, Silambam & Varmam, Medical Shastras such as Siddha & Ayurveda, Astrological Shastras such as Naadi & Jyothisha, Tamil Grammer, Vedic Physics, Vedic Chemistry and Vedic Mathematics. Saptharishi Agasthya received the Kriyas directly from Bhagwan Sadashiva.
Parama Guru Mahavathar Babaji
Born on 30th November 203 AD in Parangipettai, Maha Avathara Babaji started his spiritual journey under the tutelage of the famous Siddha Bhogarnatha. He was later accepted as a disciple by Saptharishi Agasthya. He is said to be a perfect master with complete siddhi and anubhava in all branches of Vedanta and Tantra. Various yogis in the last few centuries have shared vivid accounts of his leelas. As per lore, Shankara, Kabir and Christ were direct Kriya Yoga disciples of Maha Avathara Babaji. Also, Meera Bai, Shirdi Sai Baba and Ramana Maharshi received shaktipata from Maha Avathara Babaji through his astral body. Similar to Guru Dattatreya, Maha Avathara Babaji is the embodiment of karuna and anugraha. He is ever ready to protect and guide serious seekers belonging to any tradition irrespective of their caste, creed and nationality. Maha Avathara Babaji received all Kriyas directly from Saptharishi Agasthya to fulfill his role as Vishwa guru in the current and coming yugas.
Sadhguru Dr Siju
Dr Siju (BHMS, MD) is a native of Angamaly, Kerala, India born to a devout Shaivite mother. His past life and childhood samskaras propelled him towards a lifetime of spiritual seeking through some of the major yogic traditions in India. In 2012, he experienced spontaneous Shaktipata lasting several months and culminating in Kriya Yoga deeksha from Mahavathar Babaji. Mahavathar Babaji and Saptharishi Agasthya instructed Dr Siju to publish a book as a Shastra Pramana for the Kriya Yoga techniques utilized in our lineage. As per the wish of Mahavathar Babaji, Dr Siju started initiating disciples into Kriya Yoga from 2019. Guruji was blessed with Sathguru title on 24th of April 2024 by The Saptha Rishis and Mahavathar Babaji
