Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri was born Priya Nath Karar in 1855 to a wealthy family. Born in Serampore, West Bengal, Sri Yukteswar was a Kriya yogi, a Jyotisha (Vedic astrologer), a scholar of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, an educator, author, and astronomer. He was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi and a member of the Giri branch of the Swami order. And He was the Guru of Paramhansa Yogananda. As a Guru, Sri Yukteshwarji had two ashrams, one in Serampore and another in Puri, Odisha, between which he alternated his residence throughout the year as he trained disciples.

As a young man, he was a brilliant student of math and science, astrology and astronomy. He joined a Christian missionary school where he studied the Bible and later spent two years in medical school.

After completing his formal education, Priya Nath married and had a daughter. But he continued his intellectual and spiritual pursuits, depending on the income from his property to support himself and his family.

After the death of his wife, he entered the monastic Swami order and became Sri Yukteswar Giri, before becoming a disciple of famed Guru Lahiri Mahasaya, known for his revitalization of Kriya Yoga.

Then in 1894, Sri Yukteswar Giri met Mahavatar Babaji, an ageless wise man who is said to have lived for untold hundreds of years. At this meeting, Mahavatar Babaji gave Sri Yukteswar the title of Swami, and asked him to write this book comparing Hindu scriptures and the Christian Bible. Swami Sri Yukteswar obeyed.

He also founded two ashrams, including one in his ancestral home. He lived simply as a swami and yogi, devoted to disciplining his body and mind, and thus to liberating his soul. Among his disciples was Paramhansa Yogananda, credited with bringing yoga and meditation to millions of Westerners.