Having arrived in the United States of America, Swami Satyeswarananda Vidyaratna Babaji Maharaj mentioned to a devotee that he was supposed to publish some writings of spiritual interpretations as he was instructed to by Mahamuni Babaji in the Himalayas. So the devotee asked his literary agent to contact some publishers. As a result, he received offers from some reputed publishers (among them was Inner Tradition from New York) who were interested in publishing “The Original Kriya Discipline.”
The publishers expressed that since the writings were from an Indian gentleman they would have to edit the materials for better presentation. Maharaj-ji immediately realized that he could not publish his writings with the American publishers. He did not want to compromise at all or give them the right to edit his writings. He had this strong uncompromising attitude for a valid reason; after all, these were spiritual books that needed to be presented properly.
Publishers in general have the sole interest of making a profit from their investments. Nobody can blame them in that respect; after all, it is a business for them. In that situation, the moment the author signed the contract for royalties, the publishers would own the book and do whatever they thought fit to make it publishable and profitable by their standard, and the author would lose control.
In Maharaj-ji’s opinion even the highly reputed publishing companies’ able intellectual editors are not able to penetrate the vibrations of atoms of inner Light and atoms of inner Sound (OM) of the Letters of the Sanskrit ‘words’ and ‘mantras’emanating and resonating mystic Energy (Kundalini Energy) from them.
That was the main reason Swami Satyeswarananda Vidyaratna Babaji Maharaj had to start “The Sanskrit Classics” for self publishing in 1984. It becomes imperative to make it clear here that it is a publishing company and NOT a spiritual organization.
The Sanskrit Classics publishes writings on the essential classical scriptures of the Vedic culture, as interpreted in the light of Realization by various Masters of Yoga.
Lahiri Mahasay, fully-realized householder Yogi of Benares and the polestar, the navigator of Kriya Yoga, wrote commentaries on 26 scriptures between 1888 and 1895. The Commentaries Series includes the first English translations of all 26 scriptural commentaries by him.
Yogananda, emissary of Sriyukteswar to the West for the 1930’s Americans, modified the original Kriya in the Western style for mass education, and even introduced lessons through a correspondence course.
Since then Kriya Yoga is internationally popular now and many organizations are teaching Kriya Yoga in violation of the strict tradition of Guru-param-para, the system of teaching through Master and disciple having personal relationship and especially violating the direct injunctions of Mahamuni Babaji and Lahiri Mahasay not to develop organizations around the Kriya teachings. The Kriya Yoga teachings of various organizations are widely different from the Original Kriya Yoga taught in India.
Kriyas are procedures utilizing breath to attain perfect Consciousness in the physical body, leading to Oneness with the ultimate Self. They must be received personally from a Master.
The Sanskrit Classics makes the Original Kriya literature available for the first time to the English speaking world.
Swami Satyeswarananda Giri Maharaj, an eminent Sanskrit scholar, possesses rare credentials as a Yogi, Vedantist, philosopher, law professor, administrator, and lawyer. After twenty years of hermitage education he spent twelve years in the Himalayas, often with Mahamuni Babaji, making annual trips to Bengal to serve the practitioners of Kriya.
Babaji then commissioned Satyeswarananda to re-establish the Original Kriya and sent him to the U.S.A., advising him to publish the complete works of Lahiri Mahasay which will clarify the position of the Original Kriya.
As a result, in pursuance with Mahamuni Babaji’s instruction to re-establish “Original Kriya,” the Sanskrit Classics, a publishing Company (not a spiritual organization) was founded by Swami Satyeswarananda Giri Babaji Maharaj in 1984.
So far Swami Satyeswarananda Maharaj has presented all twenty six of Lahiri Mahasay’s books (except for three chapters of Vedanta).
Meanwhile, Swamiji Maharaj has presented several biographies of the Kriya Masters and commentaries of the scriptures including the Holy Bible: In the Light of Kriya (Breath).
These books are unique and must be read to cleanse one’s mind.