1282) 125th Birth Anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952): A Quaternary Silver Commemorative Coin of Rs.125/- (Rs. One Hundred and Twenty Five) issued by the India Government Mint, Kolkata: Year of Coin issueinscribed on the Coin - 2018, received from the Mint on 20.03.2020:

1282) 125th Birth Anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952): A Quaternary Silver Commemorative Coin of Rs.125/- (Rs. One Hundred and Twenty Five) issued by the India Government Mint, Kolkata: Year of Coin issueinscribed on the Coin - 2018, received from the Mint on 20.03.2020:

For my comprehensive post on Indian Postage stamps issued in 2017 on the Yogada Satsang Society founded by Paramahansa Yogananda      in  1917, which celebrated its Centenary in 2017, please visit the following link: 

Yogada Satsang Society of India: Centennial celebrations celebrated with a Commemorative 500 Paise (or Rs.5/-) stampissued by India Post on 07.03.2017

I have received a Rs.125/- Commemorative Quaternary Alloy Collector Coin (50% Silver, 40% Copper, 5% Nickel, 5% Zinc) from the India Government Mint, Kolkata on the 125th Birth Anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952).

The Cover of the Coin Album shows an image of Paramahansa Yogananda. It is titled "PARAMHANS YOGANAND KI 125Vin Jayanti" (in Hindi) and "125th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA" (in English).

On the lower section is mentioned - "Smarak Sikka" (in Hindi) and "COMMEMORATIVE COIN" (in English).

At the right hand lower corner is mentioned - PROOF SET". (Interestingly, although only a single coin has been issued, the Mint has been previously issuing a Rs.5/- or Rs.10/- coin together-with the Quaternary Silver Commemorative Coins and marking the coins as a "set". This seems to be an aberration on the part of the Kolkata Mint, seeing that only a single coin has been issued here).

The Back Cover of the Coin Album shows the India Government Mint/SPMCIL symbol at left and mentions the India Government Mint, Alipore, Kolkata.

Page two gives a brief description of Paramhansa Yogananda's life and accomplishments in Hindi.

Page three gives a brief description of the specifications of the Quaternary Silver Coin in Hindi, together with the Obverse of the Rs.125/- Coin.

The Obverse of the Rs.125/- Quaternary Silver Commemorative Coin shows the Emblem of the Government of India in the centre, derived from the Lion Capitol of the legendary Samrat Ashok (Emperor) of Ancient India. The words "Satyamev Jayate" (meaning "Truth Will Always Prevail") are inscribed below the Lion Capitol emblem.

On the left periphery is the country name "BHARAT" (in Hindi) and on the right periphery is the country name "INDIA" (in English).

The denomination of the Coin - "(Rupee symbol) 125" is mentioned at the lower periphery.

Page four of the Coin Album gives the specifications of this Commemorative Coin in English -

Denomination: Rs.125/-; Metal Composition: Quaternary Silver -  Silver 50%, Copper 40%, Nickel 5%, Zinc 5%; Shape: Circular; Outside Diameter/Size: 44.0 mm; Weight: 35.0 grams; No. of Serrations: 200.

The Reverse of the Rs.125/- Quaternary Silver Commemorative Coin shows a portrait of Parmahansa Yogananda in the centre. 

On the upper periphery is inscribed "Parmahans Yoganand Ki 125Vin Jayanti" (in Hindi) and on the lower periphery is inscribed - "125th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA".

Below his portrait are the years of commemoration - "1893-2018".

Page five of the Coin Album gives a brief description of the life of Paramhansa Yogananda :

"Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic 'Autobiography of a Yogi' is widely revered as one of the preeminent spiritual figures of our time. He was born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh on January 5 1893, in Gorakhpur. In 1910, at the age of 17, he met his guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. In 1915, he became a monk of the ancient Swami Order, at which time he received the name Yogananda..

Paramhansa Yogananda founded Yogada Satsanga Society of India (YSS) in 1917, and in 1920, he carried India's sacred, soul-liberating science of Raja Yoga to the West where he established Self-Realisation Fellowship (SRF).

The non-sectarian and scientific yoga teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda have a universal appeal to people of all "Autobiography of a Yogi", Yoganandaji's life story, was published in 1946. It remains one of the most important, and most readable works on Yoga meditation.

On March 7, 1952, the great guru entered Mahasamadhi."

A faux pas has been made by the India Government Mint, Kolkata. While the Coin issue and the description on this page is about the life and spiritual works of Paramahansa Yogananda, the heading has been mentioned as "SRI GURU NANAK DEVJI (1460-1539)". This is indeed an unpardonable blot on the Proof reading department of the Kolkata Mint.

About the Yogada Satsang Society of India (YSS):

The year 2017 marked the Centennial of the establishment of the Yogada Satsang Society of India, which is one of India's foremost distinguished spiritual institutions founded by the great Guru Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda, who was a world-renowned pioneer in spreading India's ancient science and philosophy of yogic meditation all over the world.

Dissemination of scientific techniques for attaining direct personal enlightenment, serving mankind and promotion of cultural and spiritual understanding  between the East and West are among the objectives of Yogada Satsang Society of India.

"Yogada", a word coined by Paramhansa Yogananda, is derived from Yoga ("Yog" meaning "union" and "da" meaning "that which imparts"); the mission of this "How-to-Live" School was to combine the spiritual ideals of the ancient "rishis" (sages) with modern educational methods.

In 1918, Yogananda transferred his fast-growing group of students to Ranchi. Thus, the Ranchi Ashram became the nucleus of Yogada Satsang Society.

Expanding Internationally:

The dissemination of the yoga meditation science (in particular, the ancient techniques of Kriya Yog) began by Yogananda was expanded internationally when he founded Self Realisation Fellowship (SRF) in 1920  upon his arrival in the USA as India's delegate to an International Congress of religious Liberals held in Boston, USA. He became renowned as an ideal "Spiritual Ambassador" of India and established the international headquarters of YSS/SRF in Los Angeles. From there, he spread his teachings on India's time-honoured science of meditation and spirituality to all continents.

Present Day:

From its humble beginnings, YSS has grown to include four "ashrams" at Ranchi (Jharkhand, India), Dakshineswar (West Bengal), Dwarahat (Uttarakhand) and NOIDA (in the National Cpital Region - NCR). The Society has spiritual retreats in Chennai, Coimbatore, Dihika, Igatpuri, Pune, Puri, Serampore, Shimla and Telary, which are open to all those interested in yoga meditation. YSS has more than 200 meditation centres throughout India. More than 500 temples, ashrams, retreats and meditation centres have been established by its sister organisation - Self Realisation Fellowship, in all other parts of the world).

The charitable activities of YSS include the operation of 23 educational institutions - from primary schools to post-graduate colleges.

YSS operates charitable hospitals, clinics and medical camps. Help is provided to orphanages and leprosy colonies and relief to those afflicted by natural disasters.

By faithfully carrying on the legacy that was created over 100 years ago by Paramahansa Yogananda and nation-wide service to all sectors of the population, YSS/SRF continue to bring much needed peace and light into the lives of millions of people struggling with the challenges of modern day world/life.