Rajarsi Janakananda
Encyclopedia
Rajarsi Janakananda, born James Jesse Lynn (May 5, 1892 – February 20, 1955) was the leading disciple of the yogi Paramhansa Yogananda and a prominent businessman in the Kansas City, Missouri area. A self-made millionaire when he met Yogananda in 1932, he later left a total endowment of approximately six million dollars to Yogananda's organization, Self-Realization Fellowship, helping ensure its long-term success. Yogananda also chose Janakananda to succeed him as president of Self-Realization Fellowship
. Janakananda was president of Self-Realization Fellowship from 1952 until 1955.
Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he began working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad
, sweeping floors for $2 a month. He continued with various railroad jobs for a few years, quickly moving up to the position of chief clerk to the division manager in Kansas City, Missouri
. In Kansas City, he took night classes to finish his high school education, at the same time that he took law and accounting classes.
At 21 he began working at the Bell Telephone accounting division and, before even graduating from law school, he was admitted to the Missouri bar. In 1913, he was married to Freda Josephine Prill of Kansas City. At age 24, Lynn took and passed the Missouri certified public accountant exam, earning the highest score on that exam ever made. Soon after, he began working for the largest underwriting insurance company in the country, U.S. Epperson, and quickly worked his way up in the company. By the age of 30, Lynn had taken out a significant and risky loan to buy the U.S. Epperson Underwriting Company. That step launched a successful business career that included insurance underwriting, oil well and orchard ownership, and large investments in the railroad business. He would become a prominent businessman in the Kansas City area.
In Kansas City in 1932, following one of his lectures, Yogananda met Lynn privately. Shortly after that meeting, Lynn was initiated by Yogananda as his disciple. Because of bad publicity in the Kansas City area from his friendship with a previous Hindu teacher, Lynn and Yogananda agreed to avoid publicity regarding their association.
During the following twenty years, Lynn paid frequent visits to Yogananda at his main residence in Los Angeles, eventually moving to an apartment at Yogananda’s retreat in Encinitas, California. The two spent long hours together over the years, meditating and discussing spiritual matters. Lynn said of his relationship with Yogananda:
On August, 22, 1951, Yogananda gave Lynn the spiritual title Rajarsi Janakananda. Rajarsi
combines the Sanskrit words raja
, which means royal, and rishi
, which means sage; thus the title Royal Sage. The second part of his name refers to King Janaka
, famous in ancient India as a wealthy ruler who was also considered a great rishi. Later, Yogananda changed the spelling of James Lynn's sanyassi name, "Rajarsi," to "Rajasi." On Christmas, 1951, Yogananda explained to disciples that the name spelled without the 'r' means "King of the Saints," which is what he felt James Lynn really was. Yogananda said that Janakananda was his most spiritually advanced disciple. Yogananda was also frequently heard to say that he passed his spiritual mantle, or power, to Janakananda.
After Yogananda’s death in March, 1952, Janakananda became president of Self-Realization Fellowship. Janakananda died on February 20, 1955 in Borrego Springs, California.
Self-Realization Fellowship
Self-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is a worldwide spiritual organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920 and based in Mount Washington in Los Angeles, California....
. Janakananda was president of Self-Realization Fellowship from 1952 until 1955.
Early life and career
James Jesse Lynn was born into relative poverty to Jesse William Lynn, an itinerant farmer, and Salethia Archibald Lynn near Archibald, Louisiana, in the southern part of the United States. His early childhood was spent helping the family pick cotton, milk cows, churn butter, and doing other family chores. His simple education began in a small log schoolhouse.Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he began working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
, sweeping floors for $2 a month. He continued with various railroad jobs for a few years, quickly moving up to the position of chief clerk to the division manager in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. In Kansas City, he took night classes to finish his high school education, at the same time that he took law and accounting classes.
At 21 he began working at the Bell Telephone accounting division and, before even graduating from law school, he was admitted to the Missouri bar. In 1913, he was married to Freda Josephine Prill of Kansas City. At age 24, Lynn took and passed the Missouri certified public accountant exam, earning the highest score on that exam ever made. Soon after, he began working for the largest underwriting insurance company in the country, U.S. Epperson, and quickly worked his way up in the company. By the age of 30, Lynn had taken out a significant and risky loan to buy the U.S. Epperson Underwriting Company. That step launched a successful business career that included insurance underwriting, oil well and orchard ownership, and large investments in the railroad business. He would become a prominent businessman in the Kansas City area.
Disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda
In spite of his material success Lynn was unhappy, and acknowledged that he had a short temper and nervous problems. In January, 1932, his life changed when he attended a series of classes given by Paramahansa Yogananda. Lynn felt instantly transformed in Yogananda’s presence:On the second night of the class, I became aware that I was sitting upright, my spine straight and I was absolutely motionless. I looked down at my hands, which were so restlessly moving before and which were now perfectly still… I knew I had found the path that gave me inner peace and satisfaction and that I had found that something tangible I was seeking, a guru.
In Kansas City in 1932, following one of his lectures, Yogananda met Lynn privately. Shortly after that meeting, Lynn was initiated by Yogananda as his disciple. Because of bad publicity in the Kansas City area from his friendship with a previous Hindu teacher, Lynn and Yogananda agreed to avoid publicity regarding their association.
During the following twenty years, Lynn paid frequent visits to Yogananda at his main residence in Los Angeles, eventually moving to an apartment at Yogananda’s retreat in Encinitas, California. The two spent long hours together over the years, meditating and discussing spiritual matters. Lynn said of his relationship with Yogananda:
One of the blessings I have received in my friendship with Paramahansa Yogananda has been permanent relief from a state of nervousness, a state of strain, an inward state of uncertainty. I have gained calmness, peace, joy, and a sense of security that cannot come to anyone until he has found the true security of the soul.
On August, 22, 1951, Yogananda gave Lynn the spiritual title Rajarsi Janakananda. Rajarsi
Rajarshi
Rajarshi or Rajarishi is, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, a royal saint and rishi.-Order:A Rajarshi is a king who turned into a royal sage, or Rajarshi...
combines the Sanskrit words raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
, which means royal, and rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
, which means sage; thus the title Royal Sage. The second part of his name refers to King Janaka
Janaka
Janaka or Raja Janaka were the kings of Videha Kingdom. Their capital was Mithila, which is believed to be present day Janakpur, Nepal...
, famous in ancient India as a wealthy ruler who was also considered a great rishi. Later, Yogananda changed the spelling of James Lynn's sanyassi name, "Rajarsi," to "Rajasi." On Christmas, 1951, Yogananda explained to disciples that the name spelled without the 'r' means "King of the Saints," which is what he felt James Lynn really was. Yogananda said that Janakananda was his most spiritually advanced disciple. Yogananda was also frequently heard to say that he passed his spiritual mantle, or power, to Janakananda.
After Yogananda’s death in March, 1952, Janakananda became president of Self-Realization Fellowship. Janakananda died on February 20, 1955 in Borrego Springs, California.
See also
- Autobiography of a YogiAutobiography of a YogiIn 1946, Paramahansa Yogananda , published his life story, Autobiography of a Yogi, which introduced many westerners to meditation and yoga...
- Kriya YogaKriya YogaKriya Yoga finds mention in the ancient spiritual texts of Patanjali Yogasutras "Tapah svadhyayeshvara pranidhani kriyayogah" . It was later revived by Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri in the 19th century. Subsequently Paramhansa Yogananda in his Autobiography of a Yogi reported the same for his...
- Paramahansa YoganandaParamahansa YoganandaParamahansa Yogananda , born Mukunda Lal Ghosh , was an Indian yogi and guru who introduced many westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book, Autobiography of a...
- RajarshiRajarshiRajarshi or Rajarishi is, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, a royal saint and rishi.-Order:A Rajarshi is a king who turned into a royal sage, or Rajarshi...
- Self-Realization FellowshipSelf-Realization FellowshipSelf-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is a worldwide spiritual organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920 and based in Mount Washington in Los Angeles, California....
- Sri Daya MataSri Daya MataSri Daya Mata , born Faye Wright, was the president and sanghamata of the Self-Realization Fellowship of Los Angeles, California, and the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India for over 55 years.Wright was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to a prominent family of The Church of...