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			{{Short description\|Hindu Yogi}}
	]'''Mahavatar Babaji''' is a legendary ] ], ], and ] first described by ] in his best-selling ]. Yogananda describes ] as the ] of ]. Yogananda wrote that Mahavatar Babaji is responsible for the revival, in ], of a spiritual technique known as ], which is claimed to accelerate the ] aspirant's evolution. Yogananda also said that Babaji was Krishna in a former lifetime, and he often prayed out loud to "Babaji-Krishna".
			{{EngvarB\|date=February 2015}}
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			{{Infobox Hindu leader
			\| name = Mahavatar Babaji
			\| image = Babaji-transparent.png
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			\| caption = Mahavatar Babaji ] in the ] – a drawing from ''Autobiography of a Yogi'', commissioned by Paramahansa Yogananda and based on his own meeting with Babaji
			\| religion = ]
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			\| known_for = ]
			\| school = ]
			\| disciples = ]
			\| influenced = ], ], ], ], ], ],<ref name=beatles/> ], ]
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			'''Mahavatar Babaji''' ({{IAST3\|Mahāvatāra Bābājī}}; {{literal translation\|Great ] ]}}) is the Himalayan ] and ] who taught ] to ] (1828–1895).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book \|last=Miller \|first=Timothy \|url=http://archive.org/details/americasalternat00mill \|title=America's alternative religions \|date=1995 \|publisher=Albany : State University of New York Press \|others=Internet Archive \|isbn=978-0-7914-2397-4 \|pages=178}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book \|last=Jones \|first=Constance \|url=http://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofhi0000jone_r9k7 \|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism \|date=2008 \|publisher=New York : Checkmark Books, an imprint of Infobase Publishing \|others=Internet Archive \|isbn=978-0-8160-7336-8 \|pages=61}}</ref>{{efn\|Babaji's other names include ''Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj'' (Supreme Ecstatic Master), ''Maha Yogi'' (Great Yogi), and ''Trambak Baba'' or ''Shiva Baba'' (incarnations of ]).<ref name=":0" />}} Babaji first became recognized through the writings of ], who devoted a chapter of his '']'' to Babaji and founded ], a modern yoga movement that Babaji is associated with.<ref name=":0" /> The cave where Babaji met Lahiri Mahasaya, located near ], is now a tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage in India.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp\|page=170}}

			==In popular culture==
	From ], by ]:

			Mahavatar Babaji was on the cover of ]' 1967 album '']''.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Tillery \|first=Gary \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajhTvx3NQPYC \|title=Working Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography of George Harrison \|publisher=Quest \|year=2011 \|isbn=978-0-8356-0900-5 \|page=81 \|language=en}}</ref><ref name="beatles">cnn.com {{cite news \|title=How the 'Sgt. Pepper' cover might have looked today \|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/31/entertainment/sgt-pepper-cover-anniversary-trnd/index.html \|access-date=2017-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Who Are All Those People in SGT Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - Spacious Planet \|url=http://www.spaciousplanet.com/world/guide/who-are-all-those-people-in-sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024180614/http://www.spaciousplanet.com/world/guide/who-are-all-those-people-in-sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band \|archive-date=24 October 2011 \|access-date=2011-11-28 \|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He can also be seen on the cover of ]'s 1974 album '']''. Songwriter ] of English rock band ] composed a song called "]" in reference to Mahavatar Babaji. This song was recorded and released on their 1977 album '']''<ref name="supertramp">{{Cite book \|last=Melhuish \|first=Martin \|title=The Supertramp Book \|publisher=] \|year=1986 \|isbn=0-7119-0787-0 \|pages=124–126}}</ref> In Book 3 of '']'' (1998), by ], it is mentioned that Babaji may at one time have resurrected himself from the dead, like ].<ref>Walsch, Neale Donald, ''Conversations with God: an uncommon dialog (Book #3)'', page 95.</ref>
	:''The northern Himalayan crags near Badrinarayan are still blessed by the living presence of Babaji, guru of Lahiri Mahasaya. The secluded master has retained his physical form for centuries, perhaps for millenniums. The deathless Babaji is an avatara. This Sanskrit word means “descent”; its roots are ava, “down,” and tri, “to pass.” In the Hindu scriptures, avatara signifies the descent of Divinity into flesh.''

			The 2002 film '']'' featured a fictional encounter with Mahavatar Babaji.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book \|last=Virk \|first=Rizwan \|title=Wisdom of a Yogi \|publisher=Bayview Books \|year=2023 \|isbn=978-1-954872-10-3 \|pages=}}</ref>{{Rp\|pages=235, 314}} The film was produced by ], a devotee of Babaji.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Chaubey \|first=Santosh \|date=16 March 2018 \|title=Here's how Rajinikanth became a devotee of Mahavatar Babaji \|work=India Today \|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/what-s-hot/story/here-s-how-rajinikanth-became-a-devotee-of-mahavatar-babaji-1191001-2018-03-16}}</ref>
	:''Babaji's spiritual state is beyond human comprehension," Sri Yukteswar explained to me. "The dwarfed vision of men cannot pierce to his transcendental star. One attempts in vain even to picture the avatar's attainment. It is inconceivable.''

	More from ], on Mahavatar Babaji's life and role:

	:''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.''

	:''That there is no historical reference to Babaji need not surprise us. The great guru has never openly appeared in any century; the misinterpreting glare of publicity has no place in his millennial plans. Like the Creator, the sole but silent Power, Babaji works in a humble obscurity.''

	:''No limiting facts about Babaji’s family or birthplace, dear to the annalist’s heart, have ever been discovered. His speech is generally in Hindi, but he converses easily in any language. He has adopted the simple name of Babaji (revered father); other titles of respect given him by Lahiri Mahasaya’s disciples are Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj (supreme ecstatic saint), Maha Yogi (greatest of yogis), Trambak Baba and Shiva Baba (titles of avatars of Shiva). Does it matter that we know not the patronymic of an earth-released master?''

	==Writings About Mahavatar Babaji Since the Publication of Autobiography of a Yogi==
	Since the publication of Autobiography of a Yogi in 1946, several teachers have claimed a direct connection to Mahavatar Babaji, and offered more background stories about Babaji. Some of these stories conflict with the details in Autobiography of a Yogi, and some contradict each other. There are different opinions on whether these stories refer to the Mahavatar Babaji that Yogananda wrote about.

	In light of the claims about Mahavatar Babaji that have come about after the publication of Yogananda's landmark exposition ], the modern Himalayan Siddha and Living Master ], transformed by Babaji's presence and grace in his early life, has made it part of his work and teachings to clarify this lofty Beings origins and essence.

	Paraphrased from ''Wings to Freedom: Mystic Revelations from Babaji and the Himalayan Yogis'' by ]:

	:''In his hands he holds the evolutionary lightning of life and death. He is the head, the heart, the seed and the soul of undying knowledge. It is from him that all ancient avatars, prophets, heirophants, and divine incarnations have sprung. It is about him whom legends are rife the length and breadth of India.''

	:''People know him by many names, and yet he is called the Nameless One. He broods over the infant humanities from eternity to eternity. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but he shall be in the here now, eternally to stay. The limited vision of sages, siddhas, philosophers and yogis cannot pierce his transcendental star. His spiritual stature is inconceivable. He is the collective Elohim, the spiritual essence of the nine Nath Lords combined. He is the great sacrifice who in a countless supernovae explosion infused every atom of creation with his spirit of livingness, wisdom and truth to redeem not only humankind but all life and matter to their pristine state of consciousness. Shiv-Goraksha Babaji is regarded as a manifestation of Lord Shiva himself. He has bestowed upon humanity the practices to evolve human consciousness, in particular, the divine alchemy of Shiva Shakti (Kriya Yoga), which exercises a double action to hasten the evolution of the self soul. This expands the self consciousness and burns away past evil karma. Shiv-Goraksha Babaji is the founder of the Nath Tradition. He reveals himself to only a few he chooses and usually remains invisible, guiding humanity through his disciples. He has revived the ancient science of God realization in modern times. His mission continues to manifest through the work of his disciples. There is a great mystery and a sacrifice to the ninth level of Divine Awareness which is self born. This is the state of Brahm Nirvana from which the ineffable Shiva Goraksha Babaji descends to redeem humanity yet maintains his state. How this is possible is known only to Him. He is the collective consciousness of the seven primordial sages of the fire mist born at the beginning of Time.''

	:''Babaji is ever the same. He was never born and therefore can never die. They call him aja (the unborn). But from time to time this compassionate Lord of irradiant splendor does manifest for humanity to do what needs to be done. Pulling the veil of Maya by his own will he takes a form of Lightless light to incarnate amongst the haunts of men. He guards, guides and enlightens their consciousness as per their evolutionary blueprint. His deathless body of lightless light may take any form through which he can express and show himself to the faithful from age to age. He took the form of Adi Nath Shiva himself of Rudra of the Ancient of days. He then came 500 B.C. as Kal Agni Nath as Dakshin Murti when he initiated himself then he manifest as Gorksha Nath 70 B.C. at the time of King Shalivahan and Chowrangee Nath.Then in the same ever present immortal body he manifests as Shiv Goraksha Babaji in the ninth century A.D. during the time of Guga Nath who he empowered to have complete mastery over the Nagas and ultimately be worshipped as a Naga God.''

	''Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition'' by M. Govindan, builds upon Yogananda's description of Babaji by giving new details, such as Babaji's birthdate (30th of November ] A.D.), youth, and attainment of the highest goal of physical ] under the guidance of two great ] Masters of South ] - ] and ]. Govindan claims to have met Babaji in person.

	Several accounts were also written by an Indian Holyman named Mahendra Brahmacari, a long term desciple of Hariakhan Baba. Babaji is also discussed in the book "Hariakhan Baba, Known and Unknown" by Baba Hari Dasa.

	From ] through ], a teacher lived and taught in the North India who many claimed was the same Babaji as described above. Spiritual teacher ], wrote about his encounters in many of his books, including ''Babaji — Angel of the Lord''. Since this 'Babaji' passed away in 1984, it's unlikely to be the same Babaji from Autobiography of a Yogi, who said, "I will never leave my physical body. It will always remain visible to at least a small number of people on this earth." (from Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 33)

	==See also==		==See also==
			* ]

			* ] – a teacher who appeared in northern India and taught publicly from 1970 to 1984

			* ] – founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917
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Latest revision as of 16:41, 5 November 2024

Hindu Yogi

Mahavatar Babaji
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 life
Known for	Kriya Yoga
Religious life
Religion	Hinduism
School	Yoga
Religious career
Disciples Lahiri Mahasaya
Influenced George Harrison, Paramahansa Yogananda, Rajinikanth, Roger Hodgson, Steve Jobs, The Beatles, Yukteswar Giri, Vishwananda

Mahavatar Babaji (IAST: Mahāvatāra Bābājī; lit. 'Great Avatar (Revered) Father') is the Himalayan yogi and guru who taught Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahasaya (1828–1895). Babaji first became recognized through the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, who devoted a chapter of his Autobiography of a Yogi to Babaji and founded Self-Realization Fellowship, a modern yoga movement that Babaji is associated with. The cave where Babaji met Lahiri Mahasaya, located near Ranikhet, is now a tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage in India.

In popular culture

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. 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... 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, like Jesus.

The 2002 film Baba featured a fictional encounter with Mahavatar Babaji. The film was produced by Rajinikanth, a devotee of Babaji.

Notes

Babaji's other names include Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj (Supreme Ecstatic Master), Maha Yogi (Great Yogi), and Trambak Baba or Shiva Baba (incarnations of Shiva).

References

^ cnn.com "How the 'Sgt. Pepper' cover might have looked today". Retrieved 31 August 2017.
Miller, Timothy (1995). America's alternative religions. Internet Archive. Albany : State University of New York Press. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-7914-2397-4.
^ Jones, Constance (2008). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Internet Archive. New York : Checkmark Books, an imprint of Infobase Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-8160-7336-8.
^ Virk, Rizwan (2023). Wisdom of a Yogi. Bayview Books. ISBN 978-1-954872-10-3.
Tillery, Gary (2011). Working Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography of George Harrison. Quest. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-8356-0900-5.
"Who Are All Those People in SGT Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - Spacious Planet". Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
Melhuish, Martin (1986). The Supertramp Book. Omnibus Press. pp. 124–126. ISBN 0-7119-0787-0.
Walsch, Neale Donald, Conversations with God: an uncommon dialog (Book #3), page 95.
Chaubey, Santosh (16 March 2018). "Here's how Rajinikanth became a devotee of Mahavatar Babaji". India Today.

External links

Autobiography of a Yogi on Wikisource

v t e Hindu reform movements
Reform movements	Adi Dharm/Brahmoism Brahmo Samaj Sadharan Brahmo Samaj Advait Mat Divine Light Mission American Meditation Institute Ananda Ananda Ashrama Ananda Marga Anandamayee Sangha Art of Living Arya Samaj Ayyavazhi Brahma Kumaris Chinmaya Mission Datta Yoga Divine Life Society Hanuman Foundation Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy Hindu nationalism Hindutva Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Hindu Mahasabha Hindu Munnani Hindu Sena Hindu Yuva Vahini Sanatan Sanstha Sangh Parivar Vishva Hindu Parishad Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh International Vedanta ISKCON ISKCON Revival Isha Foundation Kriya Yoga Mahima Dharma Mata Amritanandamayi Math Matua Mahasangha Narayana Dharma Prarthana Samaj Ramakrishna Mission / Vedanta Societies Ravidassia Sahaja Yoga Sant Mat Radha Soami Sathya Sai Baba Satsang Satya Dharma Satyashodhak Samaj Science of Identity Self-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Shirdi Sai Baba Sivananda yoga Sri Aurobindo Ashram Sri Ramana Ashram Abidance in Truth Swadhyay Parivar NNDYM Transcendental Meditation
Topics	Bhakti Brahmacharya Caste Ghar Wapsi Moksha Neo-Vedanta Persecution of Hindus Shuddhi Women in Hinduism
Gurus and revivalist writers	Meher Baba Amritanandamayi Ananda Yogi Anandamayi Ma Anukulchandra Chakravarty Arumuka Navalar Athavale Aurobindo Boro Maa Chatterjee Chinmayananda Saraswati Chinmoy Dayananda Saraswati Daya Mata Ganapathi Sachchidananda Haidakhan Babaji Hariharananda Giri Jaggi Vasudev Jyotirao Phule Kalki Bhagawan Kelkar, N. C. Kriyananda Lekhraj Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Mahatma Gandhi Mirra Alfassa Narayana Guru Neem Karoli Nirmala Paramananda Prem Rawat Ram Chandra Ram Dass Ram Mohan Roy Ramakrishna Ramana Maharshi Ravi Shankar Sarkar Sathya Sai Baba Savarkar Sen, K. C. Shraddhanand Sister Nivedita Sivananda Swami Rama Tagore, D. Tilak Vaswani Vipulananda Vishnudevananda Vivekananda Yogananda more
General	Indian diaspora Indianisation Influence of Indian religions Indian-origin religions Hinduism Buddhism Jainism Sikhism Persecution of Hindus

v t e Paramahansa Yogananda
Bibliography
Books	Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita (1995) The Second Coming of Christ (2004)
Founded	Yogoda Satsanga Society of India Self-Realization Fellowship Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine World Brotherhood Colonies
Lineage	Mahavatar Babaji Lahiri Mahasaya Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri Direct disciples of Yogananda
Related	Bishnu Charan Ghosh (brother) Kriya Yoga "Dear One" (1976 song) Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014 documentary) "Unshaken" (2019 song)

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Latest revision as of 16:41, 5 November 2024

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References

External links