2013 Reprint of 1949 Edition. Full facsimile of the original
edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Yukteshwar
was an educator, astronomer, a Jyotisha (Vedic astrologer), a yogi, and a
believer in the Bhagavad Gita and the Bible. He was a disciple of
Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi and a member of the Giri branch of the swami
order. Yogananda considered Yukteswar as Jnanavatar, or "Incarnation of
Wisdom". Yukteswar wrote "The Holy Science" in 1894. In the
introduction, he wrote: "The purpose of this book is to show as clearly
as possible that there is an essential unity in all religions; that
there is no difference in the truths inculcated by the various faiths;
that there is but one method by which the world, both external and
internal, has evolved; and that there is but one Goal admitted by all
scriptures." The work introduced many ideas that were revolutionary for
the time - for instance Yukteswar broke from Hindu tradition in stating
that the earth is not in the age of Kali Yuga, but has advanced to
Dwapara Yuga. His proof was based on a new perspective of the precession
of the equinoxes. He also introduced the idea that the sun takes a
'star for its dual', and revolves around it in a period of 24,000 years,
which accounts for the precession of the equinox.