Muktananda

(1908–1982) Modern Hindu teacher,
proponent of a religious path named
siddha yoga (“discipline of the adepts”),
and founder of the organization named
SYDA (Siddha Yoga Dham America).
Muktananda left his family at age fifteen
to search for spiritual enlightenment.
His spiritual master (guru) was an
ascetic named Nityananda, who was
widely believed to be an avadhuta (a
person who has shaken off all attachments). Siddha Yoga’s metaphysics are a
modified form of Kashmir Shaivism.
The organization’s signature teaching is
that the guru’s spiritual power can
immediately awaken the disciple’s latent
kundalini, hastening the process of
spiritual development. This doctrine
emphasizes the importance of the guru,
reinforced by Muktananda’s charismatic
presence. Although his home base was
an ashram just outside of Bombay,
Muktananda traveled throughout the
world, establishing ashrams and meditation centers in North America,
Europe, and Australia. He was succeeded by Swami Chidvilasananda. For
further information on Muktananda’s
teaching, see his autobiography, Play of
Consciousness, 2000.