When we apply for jobs, employer asks for academic qualification e.g. what degree I hold, on which subject, is it a graduate degree or PG degree or diploma. That is starting point by an employer before acceptance as a potential candidate.

When it comes to spirituality, we normally never check what is the academic qualification of Spiritual Master OR Yoga Guru i.e. whether they are acknowledged by any academic body. Mostly, Spiritual Masters are some swamis, yogis, mahayogi, sadguru, giri, xxx ananda, and neither of these titles come from academic bodies nor academic bodies accept them. These titles come from sanyasi system. But nowadays , these are mostly self made or religious institution given which are cult or ism based. One may say – is there any academic body which can evaluate these titles? Answer is simply ‘No’.

If we refer Sanatan Dharma scriptures- Gita, Vedas, Vedanta, Upanishads, Puranas etc. they are all in Sanskrit language and are part of academic curriculum of many universities. These are texts and verses of ancient Indian spirituality based on sadhana (spiritual practice) derived realizations of Spiritual Gurus (Masters). But in academic institutions or universities today there is no concept of sadhana or spiritual practice. It is only academic understanding of scriptures on the basis of intellectual excellence, are part of their curriculum. Ancient yogis scripted those scriptures based on spiritual practice and realization. So, if spiritual practice or sadhana technique is correct then it should match with all Sanskrit scriptures. So, true Spiritual Master is in a position to expatiate verses from scriptures and match that with sadhana realization. That matching has to be consistent with all verses from scriptures. At this moment academic world has own system of evaluating thesis , dissertations etc. for conferring Ph.D. (D.Lit.), D.Sc., Mahamahopadhyaya (Honoris Causa) on Sanskrit literatures and assessment procedures to confer these titles are quite rigorous. But they are more theoritical interpretation of philosophies.

Journey of Sri Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee from sadhana excellence to academic excellence is exemplery. At young age out of own inquisitiveness he studied most of sastras and he endeavoured to find answer to many of his dharma questions. Later on, he received sastra approved kriyayoga sadhana from his first Guru Sri Annada Charan Sastri and later on advance kriyas from Sri Sundarlal Lalaji and Sri Satyacharan Lahiri Mahasaya. He immersed himself in kriyayogasadhana for about two decades and had his own sadhana realization. He matched his own sadhana realization with sastras he read earlier. He reached pinnacle of kriyayogasadhana and his Guru Sri Satyacharan Lahiri made him ‘yogacharya’ and advised him to impart kriyayoga initiation to seekers. Thus he achieved sadhana excellence first.

At the behest of his Guru, he wrote first scripture ‘Purana Purusha Yogiraj Sri Shamachurn Lahiree’ and later on he authored ‘Shyamacharan Kriyayog O Advaitabad’, ‘Who is this Shyamacharan’ and many other books and articles matching sastra and sadhana realization. He delivered discourses matching sastra with own sadhana realization.
This huge body of literature created by Yogacharya Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee attracted attention of two notable Sanskrit universities of India – Tirupati Sanskrit University and Benaras Hindu University. These two universities are known for academic excellence in Sanskrit literature and sastras. But they do not have sadhana derived practical understanding of these scriptures. They became overwhelmed by crystal clear explanations of slokas and lucidity of language used to analyse sadhana realizations in entirety. They evaluated his books, papers, discourses on spiritual science and conferred him D. Litt. first and later on Mahamahopadhyaya for his inimitable contribution to Indology. He thus received academic excellence from top academic institutions in this field. Literatures he created got accredited and included in curriculam at Tirupati Sanskrit University and are avaiable in the university library.

Thus today his name – ‘Mahamahopadhyaya Yogacharya Dr. Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee’ reflects acquisition of sadhana excellence as well as academic excellence in the field. This is a rare achievement.

It is notable here that he neither favoured sanyasi titles like Swami, Guru, xxxxananda, Giri (which are not academically recognized) in his name, nor approved politically conferred titles like Padmashri , Padmabivushan etc.

He only approved titles that are accepted and achievable by householder class. Thus he endeavoured to propagate spirituality in mainstream, not moving away from mainstream householder class.

Moreover his this achievement was not his professional achievement. His profession was separate, he was employed in police and retired from Kolkata Police. Thus he encouraged kriyayoga practitioners to propagate kriyayoga by maintaining householder/profession existence in juxtaposition with sadhana/literary creations.

He broke the monk/sanyasi/cult driven impression we have today on religion/spirituality. That it is available /achievable only in chain of ashrams, temples, and missions away from mainstream household domain.

It is indeed eye opener that academically accredited spiritual excellence is available in householder domain. And kriyayoga as scripture approved sadhana has been theoritically accredited by today’s formal academic system. It is indeed significant feat achieved by Mahamahopadhyaya Yogacharya Dr. Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee. He silently brought kriyayoga practise silently in mainstream away from clout of monk monopolised institutions and followers. Lahiri Mahasaya revived kriyayoga today practised by householders mainly (more than 99%) and few handful monks. So, in future we will see more householder Gurus than monks propagating kriyayoga. Today, if anyone seeking spiritual progress and attainment, they should ponder what to seek for and what not to seek for.

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