Paramhansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda circa 1920.

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) was one of the first Indian spiritual teachers to reside permanently in the West. Moving from India to the United States in 1920, he began introducing the practice and philosophy of Yoga to Americans and eventually founded the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles.

He published his own life story in a book widely-read book called Autobiography of a Yogi, first published in 1946. In his autobiography, Paramahansa Yogananda claimed to have been given to know the time when he would die in advance.

Paramahamsa, also spelled Paramhamsa, is a Sanskrit title used for Hindu spiritual teachers who have become enlightened.