Statue - Yogananda Meditating - Almond 24"

Paramhansa Yogananda (sometimes spelled Paramahansa Yogananda), 1893 – 1952, was the first yoga master of India to take up permanent residence in the West. Yogananda's initial impact on the western culture was truly impressive. But his lasting spiritual legacy has been even greater. His Autobiography of a Yogi, first published in 1946, helped launch a spiritual revolution in the West. Translated into more than a dozen languages, it remains a best-selling spiritual classic to this day.

Yogananda arrived in America in 1920, and proceeded to travel throughout the United States on what he called his "spiritual campaigns."Hundreds of thousands filled the largest halls in major American cities to see the yoga master from India. Yogananda continued to lecture and write up to his passing in 1952.

Yogananda's message was nonsectarian and universal. Before embarking on his mission to the West, he received this admonition from his teacher, Swami Sri Yukteswar: "The West is high in material attainments, but lacking in spiritual understanding. It is God's will that you play a role in teaching mankind the value of balancing the material with an inner, spiritual life."

Yogananda brought the science of kriya yoga to the west:"One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment."

Read more about Yogananda and Kriya Yoga.

Paramhansa Yogananda was born on January 5, 1893 and left his body on March 7th, 1952. Yogananda came to America in 1920 to spiritualize the West, not to Indianize it. He loved both the deep spirituality of India and the tremendous energy of America. He felt the time has come for India and America to work together and to set new directions for our planet. Yogananda was an incarnation of divine love. When asked what would take his place when he was gone, he said: “Only love can take my place.”

This statue is cast in eco-friendly polymer resin. The “Marble Blend” statues are very unique and have a beautiful, translucent glow. They are recommended for indoor use only. All of our other statues are cast in eco-friendly polymer resin then painted with different colors. They are suitable for outdoor use, but harsh sunlight should still be avoided.

Clear, matte finish sealants are used on the outdoor statues to help protect them from most weather conditions. It’s always a good idea to bring the statues inside during extreme weather. Statues are easy to keep clean with a soft cloth and mild, non abrasive soap and water. Small, soft nylon brushes can take care of the hard to get places.

The Story of the Statues
In the spring of 2005, life-size marble statues of Jesus Christ, Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaysa, Swami Sri Yukteswar, and Paramhansa Yogananda – all seated in meditation, were discovered in an ashram in Rishikesh, India. Some residents of Ananda Village traveled with the Swami of the Ashram to Jaipur where they met with the artist who had carved the original statues. The artist was commissioned to carve a set of statues for Ananda Village, both life size and 24 inches tall.

Unique statues of the five spiritual masters in meditation were carved from marble and reside at Hansa Temple at Ananda Village. The life size marble statues weigh about 600 pounds each.