Mejda: The Family and the Early Life of Paramahansa Yogananda – Book Review

“Mejda: The Family and the Early Life of Paramahansa Yogananda” is an official biography published by the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in the United States and by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) in India. This work is officially described as “a delightful and absorbing life portrait written from the author’s unique perspective as Paramahansa Yogananda’s younger brother.”

About the Author: Sananda Lal Ghosh – Official Information

Sananda Lal Ghosh was Paramahansa Yogananda’s younger brother who affectionately called him “Mejda” – Bengali term for the second older brother. As a member of the Ghosh family, Sananda Lal had privileged access to family memories and the early years of life of the future spiritual master.

Paramahansa Yogananda was born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh on January 5, 1893, and founded Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India to disseminate his teachings. His brother’s book offers a unique family perspective on these formative years.

Official Information About the Content

According to official descriptions, “Mejda” is “a delightful and absorbing life portrait of this beloved world teacher” that “offers an intimate account of the early years” of Paramahansa Yogananda.

The work “offers an intimate account of the early years of one of the world’s greatest spiritual masters,” providing unique insights that only a family member could share.

Unique Family Perspective

The differential of this biography lies in the author’s perspective. Written “from the author’s unique perspective as Paramahansa Yogananda’s younger brother, whom he affectionately called Mejda,” the work offers a completely different angle from the famous “Autobiography of a Yogi.”

Official Publication and Authenticity

The book is published by the two official organizations founded by Paramahansa Yogananda:

  1. Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) – worldwide religious organization founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda
  2. Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) – founded in 1917 by Paramahansa Yogananda to make Kriya Yoga teachings available

Confirmed Publication Data

  • Complete Title: Mejda: The Family and the Early Life of Paramahansa Yogananda
  • Author: Sananda Lal Ghosh
  • SRF Publisher: ISBN 9780876122655
  • YSS Publisher: ISBN 9788189535261
  • First Publication: 1980 by Self-Realization Fellowship

For Whom This Book Is Officially Recommended

As an official publication of the organizations founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, “Mejda” is considered essential reading for:

  • Devotees and students of Self-Realization Fellowship
  • Members of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
  • Kriya Yoga practitioners
  • Readers of “Autobiography of a Yogi”

Researchers and Biographers

The work serves as an official primary source for:

  • Academic researchers of Yogananda’s life
  • Students of Eastern spirituality
  • Biographers and religious historians
  • Documentarians and journalists

Meaning of the Word “Mejda”

“Mejda” is the Bengali term for “second older brother,” demonstrating the intimacy and family affection that permeates the entire narrative. This simple yet affection-laden title immediately establishes the personal and intimate tone of the biography.

Official Historical Context

Self-Realization Fellowship was founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda, while Yogoda Satsanga Society was established in 1917 in India to make Kriya Yoga teachings available.

YSS oversees more than 180 Kendras, Mandalis, Retreats, and Ashrams throughout India and Nepal, demonstrating the continuity and expansion of the work begun by Yogananda.

This book represents one of the few official primary sources about Paramahansa Yogananda’s early years, written by someone who shared his childhood and youth. As such, it is considered a valuable historical document by the very organizations that preserve and disseminate Yogananda’s teachings.

Educational and Spiritual Value

Complement to the Autobiography

“Mejda” functions as an official complement to “Autobiography of a Yogi,” offering the family perspective on events that Yogananda described from his own point of view. This duality of perspectives enriches the complete understanding of the master’s life and formation.

Preservation of Family Memories

The work represents an official effort to preserve the historical family memories of one of the most influential spiritual masters of the 20th century. Sananda Lal Ghosh documented accounts that otherwise could have been lost over time.

Availability and Access

Official Purchase Sources

The book is available through:

Importance for Yogananda Scholars

Authorized Primary Source

“Mejda” is considered an authorized primary source by scholars of Paramahansa Yogananda’s life and work. Its publication by the official organizations gives it a seal of authenticity that few other biographies possess.

Unique Family Perspective

No other work offers the intimate perspective of a family member on Yogananda’s formative years. This uniqueness makes the book an irreplaceable resource for anyone interested in a complete understanding of the master’s life.

With more than 180 active YSS centers in India and Nepal alone, plus SRF’s worldwide presence, Yogananda’s teachings continue to be alive and relevant. “Mejda” offers insights into the family and cultural roots that shaped these teachings.

As an account of a traditional Bengali family that produced one of the first Indian gurus to establish himself permanently in the West, the book serves as a valuable bridge between Eastern traditions and Western understanding.

Technical and Editorial Aspects

As an official publication of SRF and YSS, the book maintains the high editorial standards characteristic of these organizations. The edition includes careful textual revision and presentation worthy of the subject’s importance.

The work represents a meticulous effort at historical preservation, documenting not only Sananda Lal Ghosh’s memories but also family materials and photographs that visually contextualize the narratives.

Impact on Spiritual Biographical Literature

“Mejda” established an important precedent in spiritual biographical literature, demonstrating how family perspectives can enrich our understanding of great spiritual figures without compromising their reverence.

The book manages to humanize Paramahansa Yogananda by presenting him through the eyes of his younger brother, without diminishing his spiritual stature or compromising the reverence due to a realized master.

An Indispensable Official Work

“Mejda: The Family and the Early Life of Paramahansa Yogananda” is an indispensable official work for anyone interested in a complete understanding of Paramahansa Yogananda’s life. As a “delightful and absorbing life portrait” that offers “an intimate account of the early years” of the master, written by his own brother, it represents a unique and authorized source.

Publication by the official organizations – Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India – gives the work a seal of authenticity and historical accuracy that makes it an obligatory reference for scholars, devotees, and anyone interested in the life and teachings of one of the most influential spiritual masters of the 20th century.

The use of the affectionate term “Mejda” – Bengali word for second older brother – immediately establishes the intimacy and authenticity of this unique family perspective that no other biographer could offer.

For those involved in serious projects about Paramahansa Yogananda, “Mejda” is not just recommended reading – it is an essential primary source that offers unique insights into the formation of one of humanity’s great spiritual masters.

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