In this episode, we welcome Swami Atmatattwananda Giri, a newly ordained monastic, to share her path from early devotion to Kriya initiation and the call to the monastic path. She reflects on practice, surrender, and living a steady, joyful life guided by Gurudev and Guruji.
About Our Guest
Swami Atmatattwananda Giri is one of our beloved Kriya Yoga monks located in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal in India. With her vast experience as a CEO of a management consultancy firm, advising top organizations, and training thousands of professionals, she now continues her life’s work as a monk, bringing profound wisdom and authority to the spiritual path.
Mentioned During the Podcast
Episode Transcript
Marydale Ma
Om, and welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy podcast. I’m your host, Marydale Ma, and this podcast was born from a wish to honor and uplift the voices of women walking the sacred path of Kriya Yoga.
In this episode, we’ll hear from an inspiring guest who will open her heart and share her story—her blessings, challenges, practices, and the wisdom that has guided her along the way.
Together, we’ll reflect on how the teachings of Kriya Yoga help us cultivate love, equanimity, and joy in the midst of daily life.
Whether you’re discovering this path or have been devoted to it for many years, my hope is that these conversations will nourish a spirit of love, deepen your practice, and remind you of the joy that is your birthright.
Thank you for being here in this present moment—a new beginning—where we celebrate the divine light shining through the women on the path of Kriya Yoga and awaken to what it truly means to live a joyous life.
Now, before I introduce our wonderful guest, today it’s morning for me and evening for her. I’d like to invite you to take a moment to fully arrive in this sacred space, whatever time zone you happen to be in. I know it took effort for you to be here, and now your loving attention is all that’s needed to receive the gift of the moment. Please silence your phone and allow yourself the grace of being undisturbed for the next little while.
Sit comfortably, and if you wish, close your eyes and begin to rest in the sweetness of your breath. Feel yourself softening into calmness.
Father, Mother—with reverence we bow at the feet of our beloved Masters: our Paramguru Paramahansa Yogananda, our beloved Gurudev Paramahansa Hariharananda, and our spiritual leader, our beloved Guruji Paramahansa Prajnanananda—as well as the great lineage of Kriya Masters, past, present, and beyond. To them, we offer our gratitude. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this platform, this connection, and this opportunity to honor the voices of women of Kriya Yoga near and far.
May these shared stories deepen our relationships on the path, uplift women everywhere, and bless all who listen.
Humbly bowing at your precious feet.
Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti. Amen.
This is a new day, and it is our great blessing and pleasure to welcome a very special guest who is in India as we speak—a new monastic in the Kriya Yoga tradition—Swami Atmatattwananda Giri.
Choosing the monastic path is a profound act of devotion and surrender, guided by love for God and Guru. It is both a sacred calling and a life of service, discipline, and joy.
We’re honored to hear Swamiji’s story today—her challenges and her blessings in this new chapter of her spiritual journey. Welcome, Swamiji—welcome, welcome. So happy to be with you.
And Swamiji, your monastic name—can you say it for us, please?
Atmatattwananda Giri
Jai Guru. Jai Guru.
“Atma” is the soul; “tattwa” is knowledge of the soul. So Atmatattwananda is “one who seeks the knowledge of the soul.”
Marydale Ma
Oh, how beautiful. When Guruji gave you this name, how did it impact you?
Atmatattwananda Giri
I was overwhelmed, because this is the very objective for which I chose the path—to know the Self. My name itself contained my path of worship and meditation. It came as a blessing from Sri Guruji.
Marydale Ma
Yes, yes—Jai Guru. Swamiji, can you share a little about your journey—what first drew you to Kriya Yoga and eventually to the monastic path?
Atmatattwananda Giri
As you rightly said, I am a new entrant to monastic life; it is very recent that I started my journey as a monk.
In my pre-monastic life, I already had spiritual inclination, which led me to seek initiation into Kriya Yoga. This goes back to childhood. Since childhood I was attracted to spirituality—to spiritual environments and practices, to the pujas and altar worship my mother used to do. I always felt drawn to these things, though I didn’t realize they pointed to something that lay ahead in my life.
We lived in the state of Madhya Pradesh. During summer vacations we visited our hometown in Kolkata, West Bengal. Whenever we came, my greatest attraction was to visit Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, and be there, absorbing the ambience. As a child I didn’t understand what I liked—I just liked being there.
Later, when I was grown and working in Kolkata, we lived across the road from a Ramakrishna Mission center. One day my father returned with news that initiation was going to happen in two days and asked if I was ready. I was again overwhelmed that the opportunity had come to my doorstep. I immediately said yes, took initiation, and was blessed by my Gurudev Swami Ranganathanandaji, the 13th President of the Ramakrishna Mission Order.
After that I practiced the path of devotion that my Gurudev taught me, but I wasn’t feeling fulfilled—I was searching for something else, though I didn’t know what. During meditation I kept wondering, “What am I searching for?”
I shared this with a well-known acquaintance, a sincere spiritual practitioner. He spoke to me about Kriya Yoga (though he himself was not a Kriya Yogi). From him I first heard of Lahiri Mahasaya and Autobiography of a Yogi. He lent me the book; I read it and found it very interesting, but didn’t know how to proceed.
He later told me about an ashram at Balighai, Puri—Hariharananda Gurukulam—and said initiation would be happening around Guru Purnima. This was July 2004. I didn’t think twice: I rushed to Balighai for Guru Purnima, not knowing how to approach or what to do. I eagerly waited in front of Guruji’s cottage. Those were the days Guruji and other monks stayed in the Adi Kutir. When Guruji came out, I said, “I have come to Balighai to get initiated in Kriya Yoga, but I have a question.”
Guruji asked my question. I said: “I won’t say I am dissatisfied with my initiation from Swami Ranganathanandaji, but I want to do something more. I feel Kriya Yoga would help me, but I do not want to change my Ishta mantra.” Guruji said, “That is not needed. Keeping your Ishta mantra, you can be initiated into Kriya Yoga.”
Holding Guruji’s hand, it started. I was initiated into Kriya Yoga. It was very interesting to learn the techniques—how they prepare you for meditation, and how each technique is itself a meditation. I was overwhelmed; I felt, “This is what I was searching for.” That’s how I entered Kriya Yoga.
Marydale Ma
What a wonderful story, Ma. For our listeners, can you explain what the Ishta mantra is?
Atmatattwananda Giri
When we take initiation, each of us is given a mantra related to the divine form or aspect to which our soul is most drawn. We are asked which divine form we love or relate to more, and based on that, a bija (seed) mantra is given. We chant it daily.
In Kriya Yoga, when we go to Sahasrara, we may utter the Ishta mantra—just as we may say “Om” or offer gratitude to the Divine.
Marydale Ma
Thank you. It’s important for seekers to know that Kriya dovetails beautifully with one’s current path. The mantra we share in initiation is generally Om, but your personal mantra can continue to serve you for the rest of your life—no problem. It’s a remarkable path.
And this was in 2004, yes?
Atmatattwananda Giri
Yes—2004.
Marydale Ma
Great. You were quite a young woman. According to your beautiful résumé, you’re extremely well-educated and capable. Were you an engineer by profession, or is that incorrect?
Atmatattwananda Giri
I am not an engineer; I studied mathematics and management. But I work alongside engineers, because my field is productivity and quality in industry and education.
Marydale Ma
Excellent. When you approached the monastic path, how long did it take to decide to become a monastic? Did you wrestle with giving up your career and lay life, or did the draw grow over time?
Atmatattwananda Giri
The way my life was designed by the Almighty—by destiny—this was waiting at some junction of my path. I was not entangled in family life. From childhood, whenever I was asked what I wanted to be, I said: “Financially independent and able to take care of my parents.”
I’m thankful to God it happened that way; I had the fullest opportunity to serve my parents through their old age while continuing my profession. Things changed in 2021 when my father began his journey to the next world. Then I felt: now this task is over—my task in the material world is complete—now I need to shift my role to monastic life. Internally it was already decided; I was waiting for the right opportunity.
One duty held me back: settling my father’s small apartment in Kolkata and giving my sister her share. Despite my efforts, it wasn’t getting completed.
Every year I go to Prachi Parikrama, staying through Shivaratri. This year (2025) my tickets were booked. I thought I would go and return as usual until the responsibility was done. Suddenly, on January 31, a gentleman approached to buy the property. By February 10 the registration and transfers were complete—everything settled within ten days.
My ticket was for February 15. After attending Guruji’s talk at IIT Kharagpur and a satsang at Pishundipur, I continued to Balighai for Prachi Parikrama. During that time I learned there would be monk initiation on February 26. I felt excited—“Is this the time?”—and waited for a sign.
Divyaswarupanandaji, Secretary of Prajnana Mission, mentioned the initiation. I asked if we were allowed to observe the process. He then asked, “Are you interested?” I took that as the hint I was seeking and said, “Yes.” And it happened.
Marydale Ma
The invisible hand of God working the miraculous—your whole life changed in thirty days. And you already had your tickets; little did you know where they would take you.
How has your understanding of devotion and surrender deepened since embracing the monastic path? Do you feel a shift?
Atmatattwananda Giri
Yes. After embracing this path, perseverance, patience, leaving everything to God and Gurus, and accepting what comes—these have deepened. We read and hear these in scripture and satsang, and I tried to practice them earlier, but now there is a deeper inner steadiness.
Circumstances keep coming—often in new ways because my life has changed—but inwardly there is strength. I don’t get as emotionally perturbed; anger, which was a bigger problem in my pre-monastic life, has calmed to a great extent. There is more peace.
Marydale Ma
Wonderful. To help listeners know your life a little better as a new monastic, what does a typical day look like? How do your practices sustain you?
Atmatattwananda Giri
A typical day starts early—waking, freshening up, and sadhana. The basic anchor of my day is sadhana. Along with sadhana, I read scriptures; I find them very scientific and try to go deep, though it’s difficult, so I’m applying myself rigorously.
Physical well-being is important, so I walk and do simple exercises. There is also ashram work: we have a large public program coming up in November, with much organizing—plus ongoing administrative matters since the ashram was taken up recently. I coordinate with people and Kriyavans and plan the program.
Mornings are primarily for sadhana, puja, and study. Daytime is for work. Evenings I exercise and then return to sadhana. I also listen to Sri Guruji’s talks from around the world and to Gurudev’s recorded talks—there is so much to learn from them.
Marydale Ma
Beautiful—that grounding in sadhana (practice) is the foundation of spiritual life, whether lay or monastic. You also mentioned Kriya as a science based on scripture; I find Gurudev Hariharananda’s The Science of Kriya Yoga astounding in how much it covers and clarifies.
Would you share what you encourage beginners to study?
Atmatattwananda Giri
First, the lives of the Guru Parampara. Sri Guruji has written on Lahiri Mahasaya and Swami Yukteswar Giri, and of course most Kriya Yogis have read Autobiography of a Yogi.
Specifically, Gurudev’s books on Kriya Yoga give clarity on practice—answering questions about what each technique is for. They are very educating and eye-opening for newcomers.
Marydale Ma
Thank you. Guruji is such a prolific writer—over a hundred books—and there are endless videos on our YouTube channel: modern, up-to-date, and profound. As a storyteller he weaves deep, ancient truths into anecdotes and personal stories—finding many ways to reach us.
Swamiji, what role do you feel women monastics play in carrying forward the Kriya tradition today?
Atmatattwananda Giri
Not only women monastics; monastics in general can offer direction—not to make everyone monastic, but to show how to lead a spiritual life. Spirituality is not merely going to a temple, doing puja, and then forgetting amid worldly bustle; nor does it require abandoning household or professional duties.
Spirituality is a way of living—how to remain peaceful amid activity, how to lead life, and how to regulate emotions. As monastics we can model and guide this. Coming from a corporate background, I know the material life; earlier I lived as a householder trying to live spiritually. That is needed—so that, when life nears its end, we feel fulfilled, not lost.
To feel fulfilled, live your normal life spiritually. We can help inculcate the process among women in society.
Marydale Ma
Beautiful pearls. It becomes clear that putting God first is foundational. As we are taught in Kriya—remember the breath and know that God is breathing us. That brings awakeness and attention to each moment, seeing God everywhere.
If a woman were considering monastic life, what wisdom would you share?
Atmatattwananda Giri
Entering monastic life should be a well-considered decision—not impulsive. If we leap from emotion, we may not sustain the decorum of this life.
At the same time, if from the core of the heart a woman truly feels it is time to shift from material to monastic life, it cannot be achieved by wishing alone. If the desire is sincere and prayers are true, it will be achieved. The path will be decided—which order, whether Kriya or something else—by God and the Gurus. If there is a sincere inner call, the opportunity will come; then go ahead and accept it. But let the decision be well thought out.
Marydale Ma
You are a perfect example of how God orchestrated and led you into this order from the very beginning. Astounding and beautiful.
My last question: what brings you the deepest joy in your life of service and practice right now?
Atmatattwananda Giri
Being my own Self. In every act I do, I try to be my Self—not doing it to make anyone happy, nor from personal desire or gain, nor for a specific objective. I do it as my Guru’s wish, as God’s wish—being my Self, happily.
I don’t have to deliver targets or achieve objectives. I address things as they come, in peace, accepting that whatever comes is given by my Guru. If it is tough, it is a test to become more mature and capable. If it is joyful, it is happiness given by my Guru, and I should enjoy it fully.
That is how I am living, and that is my greatest joy: to be my own Self.
Marydale Ma
Beautiful, wise words—an authentic life in integrity. You are exemplary, Swamiji. We are grateful for your time and your transparency in sharing your journey.
This was a lovely glimpse into the blessings and challenges of the monastic path. Your devotion is a true inspiration—reminding us that joy is found in surrender, love, and service to God and the Gurus. Your authentic Self came through clearly. We pray your life continues to be guided by divine grace, and that your presence today encourages all of us to walk our paths with greater faith and compassion. You’ve made a beautiful impression. We bow to you, Swamiji—thank you, thank you, thank you.
Atmatattwananda Giri
I bow to you. It’s my pleasure. I am blessed to have this opportunity to speak with you at this length.
Marydale Ma
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Jai Guru—and to our listeners, thank you for your loving support as together we open the world to the women of Kriya Yoga. May every breath confirm within you the presence of God. Jai Guru.
