Below are some rather strange accounts of Yogananda's impulse to harm. It's hard to believe that these acts of "necromancy" were possible, but it does make one question the guru's ability to NOT harm or control others when hurt or angry. At the very least, the fact that these stories exist means he was known for getting his way no matter what. These stories really do contradict Jesus' well known saying "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
As a boy in his parent's house:
"Only the Oriya cook of the house knew about his (Yogananda's) secret meditation sittings in the storage space. One day, the cook more or less jokingly said, “See here ‘middle sir’. I will tell ‘big sir’ about your hiding around and meditating in the storage room.” “Big sir” was Ananta Lal. It was wholly disagreeable to Mukunda Lal that his daily spiritual duty would come to an end; he became very angry upon hearing this type of threat. But controlling himself, he simply said, “Look. If I wish, your hand will be stuck to the wall.” The cook challenged him, “Let’s see how you can do that!” Mukunda Lal took the cook’s left palm and put it up against the wall, kept it extended from his body, and counted “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6” and immediately, the cook’s hand became locked to the wall. He could not pull himself off no matter how much he tried. He begged, “Sir, please release my hand!” Mukunda said, “Stand here just like this. This is your punishment.” And then he went out to play with his mates and forgot about the whole thing. Panchakoti [the cook] was in a sense “handcuffed” to the wall. Gradually, evening came. The work in the kitchen area was completely at a standstill. People in the household also started to wonder where their cook was; finally they were astounded to find him standing there in that condition."
Dasgupta, Sri Sailendra Bejoy. Paramhansa Swami Yogananda: Life-portrait and Reminiscences (Kindle Locations 504-510). Yoga Niketan, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
As a young adult in charge of a boys school:
"A brahmachari residential student named Dhiren was once looking at a picture of the Lord Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya and, for whatever reason, made some unflattering comment about the Yogiraj’s physical form. Yoganandaji was nearby. He became overcome with anger and the wrathful words “Your face will become twisted!” spewed forth from his mouth. Immediately, the boy’s face, head and neck turned to a crippled and twisted position. Because of this the boy eventually had to leave the ashram. This writer had not yet enrolled in the school. Some of the students who were present at the time are still alive today. The boy’s home was on Bechu Chatterjee Street. During 1934-35, when the Calcutta Yogoda Satsanga center and its students’ quarters – managed by the students’ committee at the time – were on 84 Bechu Chatterjee Street, this poor man came to visit this writer several times. Neck and face twisted to one side, a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth to stop the uncontrollable drooling, Dhiren could barely walk without swaying and his speech was slurred, having difficulty forming words correctly with a crooked mouth. The purpose of his visits was to find out when Swami Yogananda would return from America; Dhiren wanted to fall at his feet and beg forgiveness. When Swamiji had returned, one day at his father’s house on Ram Mohan Roy Street, Dhiren turned up. This writer was present at the house at the time. Swamiji was getting ready to leave for someplace or other. He was taken aback upon seeing Dhiren, but did not recognize him. This writer introduced the cursed fellow and refreshed Swamiji’s memory about the past incident. By this time, Dhiren had touched Swamiji’s feet. Yoganandaji looked at him with deep compassion, but there was no change in the man’s condition. Swamiji did not have the power to take back the curse which had sprung forth spontaneously from his heart."
Dasgupta, Sri Sailendra Bejoy. Paramhansa Swami Yogananda: Life-portrait and Reminiscences (Kindle Locations 1372-1383). Yoga Niketan, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
As a boy in his parent's house:
"Only the Oriya cook of the house knew about his (Yogananda's) secret meditation sittings in the storage space. One day, the cook more or less jokingly said, “See here ‘middle sir’. I will tell ‘big sir’ about your hiding around and meditating in the storage room.” “Big sir” was Ananta Lal. It was wholly disagreeable to Mukunda Lal that his daily spiritual duty would come to an end; he became very angry upon hearing this type of threat. But controlling himself, he simply said, “Look. If I wish, your hand will be stuck to the wall.” The cook challenged him, “Let’s see how you can do that!” Mukunda Lal took the cook’s left palm and put it up against the wall, kept it extended from his body, and counted “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6” and immediately, the cook’s hand became locked to the wall. He could not pull himself off no matter how much he tried. He begged, “Sir, please release my hand!” Mukunda said, “Stand here just like this. This is your punishment.” And then he went out to play with his mates and forgot about the whole thing. Panchakoti [the cook] was in a sense “handcuffed” to the wall. Gradually, evening came. The work in the kitchen area was completely at a standstill. People in the household also started to wonder where their cook was; finally they were astounded to find him standing there in that condition."
Dasgupta, Sri Sailendra Bejoy. Paramhansa Swami Yogananda: Life-portrait and Reminiscences (Kindle Locations 504-510). Yoga Niketan, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
As a young adult in charge of a boys school:
"A brahmachari residential student named Dhiren was once looking at a picture of the Lord Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya and, for whatever reason, made some unflattering comment about the Yogiraj’s physical form. Yoganandaji was nearby. He became overcome with anger and the wrathful words “Your face will become twisted!” spewed forth from his mouth. Immediately, the boy’s face, head and neck turned to a crippled and twisted position. Because of this the boy eventually had to leave the ashram. This writer had not yet enrolled in the school. Some of the students who were present at the time are still alive today. The boy’s home was on Bechu Chatterjee Street. During 1934-35, when the Calcutta Yogoda Satsanga center and its students’ quarters – managed by the students’ committee at the time – were on 84 Bechu Chatterjee Street, this poor man came to visit this writer several times. Neck and face twisted to one side, a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth to stop the uncontrollable drooling, Dhiren could barely walk without swaying and his speech was slurred, having difficulty forming words correctly with a crooked mouth. The purpose of his visits was to find out when Swami Yogananda would return from America; Dhiren wanted to fall at his feet and beg forgiveness. When Swamiji had returned, one day at his father’s house on Ram Mohan Roy Street, Dhiren turned up. This writer was present at the house at the time. Swamiji was getting ready to leave for someplace or other. He was taken aback upon seeing Dhiren, but did not recognize him. This writer introduced the cursed fellow and refreshed Swamiji’s memory about the past incident. By this time, Dhiren had touched Swamiji’s feet. Yoganandaji looked at him with deep compassion, but there was no change in the man’s condition. Swamiji did not have the power to take back the curse which had sprung forth spontaneously from his heart."
Dasgupta, Sri Sailendra Bejoy. Paramhansa Swami Yogananda: Life-portrait and Reminiscences (Kindle Locations 1372-1383). Yoga Niketan, Inc.. Kindle Edition.