Mahavatar Babaji

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Mahavatar Babaji
Babaji-transparent.png
Mahavatar Babaji meditating in the lotus position � a drawing from Autobiography of
a Yogi, commissioned by Paramahansa Yogananda and based on his own meeting with
Babaji
Personal
Religion Hinduism
Nationality Indian
Relatives Mataji (sibling)
Order Self-realization
Philosophy Kriya Yoga
Religious career
Disciples[show]
Influenced[show]
Honors Deathless guru
Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj
Maha Yogi
Trambak Baba
Shiva Baba
Baba Garib Nath Ji
Babaji
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vte
Mahavatar Babaji (literally; Great Avatar (Revered) Father or Elder or Wise) is the
name given to an Indian yogi by Yogiraj Lahiri Mahasaya, and several of his
disciples,[2] who reported meeting him between 1861, 1935 and 1980. Some of these
meetings were described by Paramahansa Yogananda in his book Autobiography of a
Yogi, including a report of Yogananda's own meeting with the yogi.[3] Another
account was given by Sri Yukteswar Giri in his book The Holy Science.[4] According
to Sri M's autobiography (Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master), Babaji was Lord
Shiva. In the second last chapter of his book, he mentions Babaji changing his form
to that of Lord Shiva. All of these accounts, along with additional reported
meetings, are described in various biographies.[5][6][7] According to Yogananda's
autobiography, Babaji has resided for at least hundreds of years in the remote
Himalayan regions of India, seen in person by only a small number of disciples and
others.[3][8]
Contents
1 Childhood
2 Quest for Self-realization
3 Reports of meetings, 1861�1980
3.1 Shyamacharan Lahiri
3.2 Disciples of Shyamacharan Lahiri
4 Traditional legends
5 Modern claims and popular references
6 See also
7 Notes
8 Further reading
9 External links
Childhood
There are very few accounts of Babaji's childhood. One source of information is the
book Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition by Marshal Govindan.[9]
According to Govindan, Babaji was named Nagarajan (king of serpents) by his
parents.[8] V.T. Neelakantan and S.A.A. Ramaiah founded on 17 October 1952, (they
claim � at the request of Babaji) a new organization, "Kriya Babaji Sangah,"
dedicated to the teaching of Babaji's Kriya Yoga. They claim that in 1953 Mahavatar
Babaji told them that he was born on 30 November 203 CE in a small coastal village
now known as Parangipettai, Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India.[10] Babaji's
Kriya Yoga Order of Acharyas Trust (Kriya Babaji Sangah) and their branch
organizations claim his place and date of birth.[10] He was a disciple of Bogar and
his birth name is Nagarajan.[9][10]

In Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, many references are made to

Mahavatar Babaji, including from Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar.[3] In his book
The Second Coming of Christ, Yogananda states that Jesus Christ went to India and
conferred with Mahavatar Babaji.[8] This would make Babaji at least 2000 years old.
[11] According to Govindan's book, Babaji Nagaraj's father was the priest of the
village's temple. Babaji revealed only those details which he believed to be
formative as well as potentially instructive to his disciples. Govindan mentioned
one incident like this: "One time Nagaraj's mother had got one rare jackfruit for a
family feast and put it aside. Babaji was only 4 years old at that time. He found
the jackfruit when his mother was not around and ate it all. When his mother came
to know about it, she flew in blind rage and stuffed a cloth inside Babaji's mouth,
nearly suffocating him, but he survived. Later on he thanked God for showing him
that she was to be loved without attachment or illusion. His love for his mother
became unconditional and detached."[9]

When Nagaraj was about 5 years old, someone kidnapped him and sold him as a slave
in Calcutta (now Kolkata). His new owner however was a kind man and he freed
Nagaraj shortly thereafter. Nagaraj then joined a small group of wandering
sannyasin due to their radiant faces and love for God. During the next few years,
he wandered from place to place, studying holy scriptures like the Vedas,
Upanishad, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita.[citation needed]

Quest for Self-realization

According to Marshall Govindan's book, at the age of eleven, he made a difficult
journey on foot and by boat with a group of ascetics to Kataragama, Sri Lanka.
Nagaraj met Siddha Bhogarnathar and became his disciple. Nagaraj performed
intensive yogic sadhana for a long time with him. Bhogarnathar inspired Nagaraj to
seek his initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayam from Siddha Maharishi Agastya.
Babaji became a disciple of Siddha Agastya. Nagaraj was initiated into the secrets
of Kriya Kundalini Pranayama or "Vasi Yogam". Babaji made a long pilgrimage to
Badrinath and spent eighteen months practising yogic kriya taught to him by Siddha
Agastya and Bhogarnathar. Babaji attained self-realization shortly thereafter.[9]
It is claimed that these revelations were made by Babaji himself to S.A.A. Ramaiah,
a young graduate student in geology at the University of Madras and V.T.
Neelakantan, a famous journalist, and close student of Annie Besant, President of
the Theosophical Society and mentor of Krishnamurti. Babaji was said to have
appeared to each of them independently and then brought them together to work for
his Mission in 1942.[12]

Reports of meetings, 1861�1980

Shyamacharan Lahiri
Main article: Lahiri Mahasaya
The first reported encounter with Mahavatar Babaji was in 1861, when Shyamacharan
Lahiri (called "Mahasaya" by disciples, devotees, and admirers) was posted to
Ranikhet in his work as an accountant for the British government. One day while
walking in the hills of Dunagiri above Ranikhet, he heard a voice calling his name.
Following the voice up the mountain, he met a "tall, divinely radiant sadhu."[7] He
was amazed to find that the sadhu knew his name.[3][7] This sadhu was Mahavatar
Babaji.

Mahavatar Babaji told Lahiri that he was his guru from the past, then initiated him
into Kriya Yoga and instructed Lahiri to initiate others. Lahiri wanted to remain
with Mahavatar Babaji, who told him instead that he must return to the world to
teach Kriya Yoga and that "Kriya Yoga sadhana would spread through the people of
the world through his (Lahiri's) presence in the world."[7]

Lahiri reported that Mahavatar Babaji did not give his name or background, so
Lahiri gave him the title "Mahavatar Babaji." Many sadhus in India are called
Babaji, and sometimes even "Babaji Maharaj", which has caused confusion between
Mahavatar Babaji and other sadhus with similar names.[7]

Lahiri had many meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, recounted in several books,
including Paramhansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi,[3] Yogiraj Shyama Charan
Lahiri Mahasaya (Lahiri's biography),[7] and Purana Purusha: Yogiraj Sri Shama
Churn Lahiri,[13] among others.

There are references to Sri Lahiri Mahasaya in Sampoorna Sripada Vallabha Charitam
as guru to Sri Shirdi Saibaba, who initiated him to kriya yoga.

Disciples of Shyamacharan Lahiri

Several disciples of Shyamacharan Lahiri also reported having met Babaji. Through
discussion with each other, and the fact that some of these encounters included two
or more witnesses, they confirmed that the person they saw was the same sadhu that
Lahiri called Mahavatar Babaji.[3][7][14]

At the 1894 Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, Yukteswar Giri, a disciple of Lahiri, met
Mahavatar Babaji. He was struck by the resemblance between Lahiri and Mahavatar
Babaji.[3][6] Others who met Babaji also commented on the resemblance.[7] It was at
this meeting that Mahavatar Babaji instructed Sri Yukteswar to write the book that
was to become Kaivalya Darshanam, or The Holy Science.[4] Yukteswar had two more
meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, including one in the presence of Lahiri Mahasaya.
[3][6][7]

Pranabananda Giri, another disciple of Lahiri, also met Mahavatar Babaji in the
presence of Lahiri, at Lahiri's home. Pranabananda asked Mahavatar Babaji his age.
Mahavatar Babaji responded that he was about 500 years old at that time.[5]

Keshabananda, a disciple of Lahiri, tells of meeting Mahavatar Babaji in the

mountains near Badrinath around 1935, after he became lost wandering in the
mountains.[3] At that meeting, Pranabananda reported that Babaji gave him a message
for Paramahansa Yogananda, that "I won't see him this time, as he is eagerly
hoping; but I shall see him on some other occasion."[3] In his book Autobiography
of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda wrote that Mahavatar Babaji visited him before his
journey to America and addressed him saying, "You are the one I have chosen to
spread the message of Kriya Yoga in the West."[3]

Other disciples of Lahiri who reported meetings with Mahavatar Babaji include
Kebalananda Giri[14] and Ram Gopal Muzumdar, who recounted meeting Mahavatar Babaji
and his sister, whom he called Mataji.[3][7] In addition, a disciple of Trailanga
Swami, Shankari Mata (also called Shankari Mai Jiew) met Mahavatar Babaji while
visiting Lahiri Mahasaya.[3][7]

Traditional legends

Altar of the meditation circle Langerringen near Augsburg in Bavaria, Germany.

Group of Self-Realization Fellowship.
Powers and age have been attributed to Mahavatar Babaji by the disciples of Lahiri.
These stories have led many to believe that Mahavatar Babaji is a legendary person,
rather than a real sadhu that was seen by numerous witnesses from 1861 to 1935.

Paramahansa Yogananda, in his Autobiography, described Mahavatar Babaji's role on

earth:[8]

The Mahavatar is in constant communion with Christ; together they send out
vibrations of redemption, and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for
this age. The work of these two fully-illumined masters�one with the body, and one
without it�is to inspire the nations to forsake suicidal wars, race hatreds,
religious sectarianism, and the boomerang-evils of materialism. Babaji is well
aware of the trend of modern times, especially of the influence and complexities of
Western civilization, and realizes the necessity of spreading the self-liberations
of yoga equally in the West and in the East.

In addition, Babaji is reputed to be ageless, according to some accounts, and about

500 years old around the late 1800s, according to Pranabananda.[5] Yogananda
reports that, according to the disciples of Lahiri, nobody knows Babaji's age,
family, place of birth, true name, or other details "dear to the annalist's
heart."[3]

According to Yogananda's autobiography, he has a sister called Mataji (meaning

"Holy Mother") who also has lived throughout the centuries.[15] Her level of
spiritual attainment is comparable to her brother's, and she lives in a state of
spiritual ecstasy in a cave. Although only three pages in the book are dedicated to
her, she is described by Ram Gopal as "young and surpassingly lovely" as well as a
"glorious woman." .......[3]

Yogananda frequently prayed out loud to "Babaji-Krishna."[16]

Modern claims and popular references

Statue of Mahavatar Babaji at Babajisannidhan, Bangalore, India

Mahavatar Babaji was on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band. He can also be seen on the cover of George Harrison's 1974 album
Dark Horse.[1][17]

In Book 3 of Conversations with God (1998), by Neale Donald Walsch, it is mentioned

that Babaji may at one time have resurrected himself from the dead, just like
Lazarus, Jesus and others.[18]

In the book Ultimate Journey (1994) by Robert Monroe, the author visits a person
through his astral projection (although no name is mentioned) who turns out to have
lived one single life for 1800 years, which would suggest that he was born around
203 CE.

The 2002 Tamil film Baba written by Rajinikanth was based on Babaji. Swami
Maheshwarananda writes in his book The hidden power in humans, that the Guru of the
legendary Babaji is Sri Alakh Puriji.[19]

In 2005 Mahavatar Babaji appeared before Dadashreeji, the founder of Maitribodh

Parivaar and revealed to him his true self and life purpose.[1]

In his autobiography Apprenticed to a Himalayan master: a yogi's autobiography

(2010), Sri M (Mumtaz Ali) narrates his meeting with Babaji near Neelkant hill.[20]
In his book, Sri M gave description of Babaji as golden complexioned, bare-bodied,
except for a shining white loin cloth that barely reached the knees, and flowing
brown hair that fell to his shoulders. He mentioned that a lovely scent emanated
from Babaji and he looked divine. In the second last chapter of his book, he
mentions that Babji himself was Lord Shiva. He describes seeing Babaji changing his
form to Lord Shiva again and again. He also mentions that Sai Baba, Jesus, Guru
Nanak and many others were disciples of Mahavatar Babaji.

Songwriter Roger Hodgson of English rock band Supertramp composed a song called
"Babaji" in reference to Mahavatar Babaji. This song was recorded and released on
their 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments...

See also
Haidakhan Babaji � a teacher who appeared in northern India and taught publicly
from 1970 to 1984
List of Hindu gurus and saints
Notes
cnn.com "How the 'Sgt. Pepper' cover might have looked today". Retrieved 31 August
2017.
Sri Yukteswar Giri, Baba Nasib Singh Ji, Ram Gopal Muzumdar, Swami Kebalananda,
and Swami Pranabananda Giri
Yogananda, Paramahansa, Autobiography of a Yogi, 2005. ISBN 978-1-56589-212-5.
Yukteswar Giri, The Holy Science. Yogoda Satsanga Society, 1949
Mukhopadyay, Jnananedranath, Srimad Swami Pranabananda Giri, Sri Jnananedranath
Mukhopadyay Property Trust, 2001.
Satyananda Giri, Swami Sri Yukteshvar Giri Maharaj, from A collection of
biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga gurus, iUniverse Inc. 2006. ISBN 978-0-595-38675-8.
'Satyananda Giri, Swami, Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasay, from A collection
of biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga gurus, iUniverse Inc. 2006. ISBN 978-0-595-38675-8.
indiatoday.intoday.in "Mahavatar Babaji: The unknown 'immortal yogi'". Retrieved
30 August 2017.
Govindan, Marshall (1 January 2001). Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga
tradition. Babaji's Kriya Yoga Publications. ISBN 978-1-895383-00-3.
Neelakantan, V. T.; Ramaiah, S. A. A.; Babaji (2006). The voice of Babaji: a
trilogy on Kriya Yoga. Babaji's Kriya Yoga Order of Acharyas. ISBN 978-1-895383-23-
2.
Yogananda, Paramahansa (2004). The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of
the Christ Within You p. Los Angeles, CA: Self-Realization Fellowship. ISBN 0-
87612-555-0.
"Babaji's Kriya Yoga".
Chatterjee, Ashoke Kumar, Purana Purusha: Yogiraj Sri Shama Churn Lahiri. Yogiraj
Publications, 2004. ISBN 81-87563-01-X.
Giri, Satyananda (2004). Yogacharya Shastri Mahasaya: a short biographical sketch
of Hamsaswami Kebalanandaji Maharaj. Yoganiketan.
Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (21 August 2012). Encyclopedia of
Hinduism / Self Realisation Fellowship / Page: 781. ISBN 978-0-7007-1267-0.
 Yogananda, Paramahansa: various articles (Praecepta Lessons, Volume 1, 1934) and
recordings (One Life Versus Reincarnation [CD]. ISBN 0-87612-439-2).
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 28
November 2011.
Walsch, Neale Donald, Conversations with God: an uncommon dialog (Book #3), page
95.
Swami Maheshwarananda, The hidden power in humans, Ibera Verlag, page 245. ISBN 3-
85052-197-4
Sri M (Mumtaz Ali), Apprenticed to a Himalayan master: a yogi's autobiography,
Magenta Press, 2010, ISBN 81-910096-0-9
Further reading
Beckman, Insiah (8 August 2001). "The Initiation: The Experiences of Dr. Donald
Schnell (Prema Baba Swamiji) with Babaji (The Deathless Indian Avatar and God
-man)". The Edge.
Phipps, Carter (Spring�Summer 2002). "In search of Babaji: WIE tracks down the
elusive Yogi-Christ of the Himalayas". What is Enlightenment?. Retrieved 28
November 2011.
Govindan, Marshall (1991). Babaji & the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition. Kriya Yoga
Publications. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-895383-00-3.
Neelakantan, V.T.; Ramaiah, S.A.A (2006). The Voice of Babaji A Trilogy on Kriya
Yoga. Kriya Yoga Publications. p. 524. ISBN 978-1-895383-23-2.
Farasiotis, Dionysios. (2011). "The Guru, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios". St.
Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. ISBN 978-1-887904-16-2
Peterson, Jean (2012). Journey To Freedom: The Bhakti Sutras of Mahavatar Kriya
Babaji. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 544. ISBN 978-1-4775-5047-
2.
Nadler, Mary (2012). Sacred Symbols from Babaji and The Ascended Masters. Master's
Way. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-615-63791-4.
Sri Yukteswar, Swami (1949). The Holy Science. Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.
Churchill, Pola (2006). Shiva Mahavatar Babaji. Trafford Publishing. p. 104. ISBN
978-1-4251-0100-8.
Prajnanananda, Paramahamsa (1997). Mahavatar Babaji-The Eternal Light of God.
Prajna Publication. p. 88. ISBN 978-3-99000-034-2.
Khilnani, Rashmi (2014). Shiva Speaks: Conversations with Maha Avatar Babaji.
Rainbow Ridge Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-937907-14-3.
Nagaraj, Kriya Babaji (2005). Beloved Babaji: A Book on the Life and Teachings of
Mahavatar Babaji. Minerva Press. p. 326. ISBN 978-81-7662-330-8.
Caddy, Reneta (1998). Encounters with Babaji: Master of the Himalayas. Findhorn
Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-3-99000-034-2.
Xaver, Gottfried (2007). Mahavatar Babaji's new gospel. Ghaleb. p. 88. ISBN 978-88-
88300-47-4.
Niketan, Yoga (2005). The Scriptural Commentaries of Yogiraj Sri Sri Shyama Charan
Lahiri Mahasaya. Yoga Niketan. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-595-35181-7.
Naushir, Guruji (2014). "Amrit" Wisdom of Mahavtar Babaji. BecomeShakespeare.com
And Mahavtar Babaji Tadekam Foundation. p. 229. ISBN 978-93-83952-36-6.
Govindan, Marshall (1995). Babaji's Kriya Hatha Yoga: 18 Postures of Relaxation &
Rejuvenation. Babaji's Kriya Yoga Order Of Acharya. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-895383-03-4.
Sturgess, Stephen (21 May 2015). The Supreme Art and Science of Raja and Kriya
Yoga: The Ultimate Path to Self-Realisation. Singing Dragon. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-
85701-209-8.
Walters, J. Donald; Kriyananda, Swami (1996). The Path: One Man's Quest. Crystal
Clarity Publishers. p. 480. ISBN 978-1-56589-733-5.
External links
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Autobiography of a yogi on Wikisource:
Autobiography of a yogi, Chapter 33: Babaji, the Yogi-Christ of modern India
Autobiography of a yogi, Chapter 34: Materializing a palace in the Himalayas
Autobiography of a yogi, Chapter 36: Babaji's interest in the West
Autobiography of a yogi, Chapter 37: I go to America
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