Paramahansa Yogananda wrote in Autobiography of a Yogi: "As the fragrance of flowers cannot be suppressed, so Lahiri Mahasaya, quietly living as an ideal householder, could not hide his innate glory. Devotee-bees from every part of India began to seek the divine nectar of the liberated master....The harmoniously balanced life of the great householder-guru became the inspiration of thousands of men and women."

As Lahiri Mahasayaji exemplified the highest ideals of Yoga, union of the little self with God, he is reverenced as a Yogavatar, or incarnation of Yoga.

The Avirbhav function of Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya was held at YSS Noida Ashram on September 30, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 12.30 pm in the Auditorium.

Swami Lalitanandaji opened the commemoration programme with a prayer and chanting followed by meditation. Then Swamiji went into the commemoration talk by quoting Sri Sri Mrinalini Mataji where she tells about how to celebrate such occasions. Swamiji explained how the vibration of the Gurus are very strong on these special days. By tuning in with the infinite consciousness of the Gurus through devotion and meditation, one can feel more tangibly their presence and blessings. He also mentioned that the best offering which we can give to our Gurus is our dedication to follow the teachings given by them in our daily lives.

After this talk, Swamiji conducted arati. Thereafter, devotees offered their love, gratitude and devotion to Yogavtar Lahiri Mahasaya through pushpanjali.

Close to 300 devotees attended this function which was followed by Guru Langar.

YSS Delhi Kendra

To commemorate the occasion, satsanga was conducted by Brahmachari Dhairyanandaji at YSS Delhi Kendra on September 30, 2017. Leading with a soulful rendition of cosmic chants, in the Kendra fragranced with jasmine, Brahmachariji ignited the incense of love for the divine, which flowed through the tears of many devotees. 

A brief meditation followed, after which Brahmachariji related the highlights from the life of Lahiri Mahasaya – his birth in West Bengal to parents Gaur Mohan Lahiri and Muktakeshi Devi.

As a child, he studied Urdu and Hindi, gradually moving on to Bengali, Sanskrit, Persian, French and English at the Government Sanskrit College, along with study of the Vedas. 

Brahmachariji also read the synopsis of the chapter from Autobiography of a Yogi where Guruji had mentioned how Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya was mysteriously called to Ranikhet on the pretext of official work and later he had the divine vision of Babaji and the initiation of Kriya Yoga. Guruji in this chapter has explicitly expressed the unceasing love of Babaji for Lahiri Mahasaya and how lovingly he had kept his paraphernalia intact for decades.

At the close of the programme, Brahmachariji performed arati. The sweet sound of the bell and aroma of the incense bathed the room with serenity and divinity. 

Brahmachariji then offered pushpanjali at the lotus feet of our Param Param Guru with fragrant rose petals seethed with love and devotion. Devotees also offered pushpanjali and received prasad from Brahmachariji. 

YSS Gurgaon Kendra

On the occasion of Avirbhav Divas of Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, Brahmachari Sheelanandaji conducted satsanga followed by pushpanjali on September 30, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at YSS Gurgaon Kendra.  Many devotees participated in this programme.

To commemorate this special occasion, YSS Gurgaon Kendra donated five almirahs to Captain Chandanlal Blind School in Gurgaon on October 9, 2017. This donation was funded both by YSS Centre department and YSS Gurgaon Kendra. 

This special school for the visually impaired comes under All India Confederation of the Blind (AICB). The school has 119 students studying in classes I to VIII, taught by 11 teachers including seven who are visually impaired. The school is fully residential and has 80 per cent children hailing from very poor families.