The Guru-Disciple Relationship

Sri Sri Mrinalini Mata, one of those personally trained and chosen by Paramahansa Yogananda to carry on the mission of his society after his passing, was the fourth president and Sanghamata of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India/Self-Realization Fellowship from 2011 to 2017. Born in Kansas in 1931, she met the Guru in 1945, at the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple in San Diego. Just a few months later, with her parents’ permission, she entered Sri Yogananda’s ashram in Encinitas, California, as a sannyasini of the Self-Realization Order. Through daily association during the years that followed (up until the time of the Guru’s passing in 1952), Paramahansaji personally trained her to prepare his writings and talks for publication after his passing. She had made six extended trips to India to serve the Guru’s work. She was also the vice-president of SRF from 1966 until 2011. She was also the editor-in-chief of all the YSS/SRF Publications until her passing in 2017.