Mahavatar Babaji 630081 224888954 2008-07-10T21:23:37Z 123.201.71.235 /* Meetings with ratab, 1861-1935 */ [[Image:Babaji.JPG|thumb|right|Mahavatar Babaji - a drawing from ''Autobiography of a Yogi'', commissioned by Yogananda and based on his own meeting with Babaji]] '''Mahavatar Babaji''' is the name given to an [[India]]n [[saint]] by [[Lahiri Mahasaya]] and several of his disciples<ref>Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Ram Gopal Muzumdar, Swami Kebalananda, Swami Pranabananda Giri</ref> who met Mahavatar Babaji between 1861 and 1935. Some of these meetings were described by [[Paramahansa Yogananda]] in his book [[Autobiography of a Yogi]], including a first hand telling of Yogananda’s own meeting with Mahavatar Babaji.<ref name=yogananda>Yogananda, Paramahansa, ''Autobiography of a Yogi'', 2005. ISBN 978-1565892125.</ref> Another first hand account was given by [[Sri Yukteswar Giri]] in his book [[The Holy Science]].<ref name=yukteswar>Yukteswar Giri, Sri, ''The Holy Science''. Yogoda Satsanga Society, 1949</ref> All of these accounts, along with additional meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, are described in various biographies<ref name=pranabananda>Mukhopadyay, Sri Jnananedranath, ''Srimad Swami Pranabananda Giri'', Sri Jnananedranath Mukhopadyay Property Trust, 2001.</ref><ref name=yukteswarbio>[[Swami Satyananda Giri|Satyananda Giri, Swami]], ''Swami Sri Yukteshvar Giri Maharaj'', from ''A Collection of Biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga Gurus'', iUniverse Inc. 2006. ISBN 978-0595386758.</ref><ref name=lahiribio>Satyananda Giri, Swami, Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasay'', from ''A Collection of Biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga Gurus'', iUniverse Inc. 2006. ISBN 978-0595386758.</ref> of those mentioned by Yogananda. Mahavatar Babaji’s real name and date of birth are not known, so those who met him during that period all called him by the title first given to him by Lahiri Mahasaya.<ref name=yogananda/><ref name=lahiribio/> ‘Mahavatar’ means ‘great avatar’, and ‘Babaji’ simply means ‘revered father’. Some of the encounters included two or more witnesses &mdash; discussions between those who met Mahavatar Babaji indicate that they all met the same person.<ref name=yogananda/><ref name=yukteswarbio/><ref name=pranabananda/> ==Meetings with Mahavatar Babaji , 1861-1935== ===Lahiri Mahasaya=== The first reported encounter with Mahavatar Babaji was in 1861, when Lahiri Mahasaya was posted to Ranikhet in his work as an accountant for the British government. One day while walking in the hills above Ranikhet, he heard a voice calling his name. Following the voice up the mountain, he met a “tall, divinely radiant sadhu.”<ref name=lahiribio/> He was amazed to find that the sadhu knew his name.<ref name=lahiribio/><ref name=yogananda/> This sadhu was Mahavatar Babaji. Mahavatar Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya 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.”<ref name=lahiribio/> Lahiri Mahasaya 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.<ref name=lahiribio/> Lahiri Mahasaya had many meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, recounted in several books, including Paramahansa Yogananda’s ''Autobiography of a Yogi'',<ref name=yogananda/> ''Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya'' (Lahiri’s biography)<ref name=lahiribio/>, and ''Purana Purusha: ,<ref name=purana>Chatterjee, Ashoke Kumar, ''Purana Purusha: Yogiraj Sri Shama Churn Lahiri''. Yogiraj Publications, 2004. ISBN 81-87563-01-X.</ref> among others. ===Disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya=== Several disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya also said they 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.<ref name=lahiribio/><ref name=yogananda/><ref name=kebalanandabio>Satyananda, Swami, ''Yogacharya Shastri Mahasaya: A Short Biographical Sketch of Hamsaswami Kebalanandaji Maharaj''.Yoganiketan, 2004.</ref> In 1894, at the [[Kumbha Mela]] in Allahabad, Sri Yukteswar Giri, a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, met Mahavatar Babaji. He was surprised by the striking resemblance between Lahiri Mahasaya and Mahavatar Babaji.<ref name=yukteswarbio/><ref name=yogananda/> Others who met Babaji also commented on the resemblance.<ref name=lahiribio/> 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.<ref name=yukteswar/> Sri Yukteswar had two more meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, including one in the presence of Lahiri Mahasaya.<ref name=lahiribio/><ref name=yogananda/><ref name=yukteswarbio/> Swami Pranabananda Giri, another disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, also met Mahavatar Babaji in the presence of Lahiri Mahasaya, at Lahiri’s home. Pranabananda asked Mahavatar Babaji his age. Mahavatar Babaji responded that he was about 500 years old at that time.<ref name=pranabananda/> Swami Keshabananda Giri, a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, tells of meeting Mahavatar Babaji in the mountains near Badrinath around 1935, after he became lost wandering in the mountains.<ref name=yogananda/> At that meeting, Pranabananda reported that Babaji gave him a message for Yogananda, that “I won’t see him this time, as he is eagerly hoping; but I shall see him on some other occasion.”<ref name=yogananda/> Other disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya who reported meetings with Mahavatar Babaji include Swami Kebalananda Giri<ref>Satyananda, Swami, ''Yogacharya Shastri Mahasaya: A Short Biographical Sketch of Hamsaswami Kebalanandaji Maharaj''.Yoganiketan, 2004</ref> and Ram Gopal Muzumdar, who recounted meeting Mahavatar Babaji and his sister, whom he called Mataji.<ref name=yogananda/><ref name=lahiribio/> In addition, a woman disciple of Trailanga Swami, Shankari Mata (also called Shankari Mai Jiew) met Mahavatar Babaji while visiting Lahiri Mahasaya.<ref name=lahiribio/><ref name=yogananda/> ==Legends about Mahavatar Babaji== Legendary powers and age have been attributed to Mahavatar Babaji&mdash;by the disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya, and by additional unconfirmed stories told in modern times. 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 1861-1935. Paramahansa Yogananda, in his Autobiography, described Mahavatar Babaji’s role on earth: <blockquote>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.</blockquote/> In addition, Babaji is reputed to be ageless, according to some accounts, and about 500 years old around the late 1800’s, according to Swami Pranabananda.<ref name=pranabananda/> Yogananda reports that, according to the disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya, nobody knows Babaji’s age, family, place of birth, true name, or other details “dear to the annalist’s heart.”<ref name=yogananda/> ===Mahavatar Babaji as Krishna=== Lahiri Mahasaya wrote in his diary that Mahavatar Babaji was Lord Krishna.<ref name=purana/> Two disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda report that he also stated Mahavatar Babaji was [[Krishna]] in a former lifetime.<ref>Kriyananda, Swami: ''Conversations with Yogananda'', page 347. Crystal Clarity Publishers, 2003. ISBN 156589202X</ref><ref>Sri Durga Mata: A Paramhansa Yogananda Trilogy of Divine Love, page 50, copyright Joan Wight, 1992. ISBN 0963583808</ref> Yogananda also frequently prayed out loud to "Babaji-Krishna."<ref>Yogananda, Paramahansa: various articles (''Praecepta Lessons'', Volume 1, by Swami Yogananda, 1934) and recordings (''One Life Versus Reincarnation'' [CD]. ISBN 0876124392).</ref> ==Modern references and claims== Since the publication of ''Autobiography of a Yogi'' in 1946, many people have claimed that they had visions of Mahavatar Babaji. Some of these people offered more background about Babaji. ''Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition'' by M. Govindan, claims to build upon the story of Mahavatar Babaji by giving new details, such as Mahavatar Babaji's birthdate (30th of November [[203]] A.D.), birthplace ([[Parangipettai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]), youth, and attainment of the highest goal of physical [[immortality]] under the guidance of two great [[Siddha]] Masters of South India - [[Agastyar]] and [[Bogar]]. The book ''The Voice of Babaji: A Trilogy on Kriya Yoga'' narrates the meetings that brought this new information about the life of Babaji. This book is a modern reprint of three different books that were published in India along the 50's. Also Swami Satyeswarananda said that he had several meetings with Babaji. Satyeswarananda is still alive. He published the book "Babaji: The Divine Himalayan Yogi" recording his experiences, and also "Babaji: Lahiri Mahasay : The Polestar of Kriya". His narration of the meeting of Babaji with Pranabananda contradicts other versions of it <ref name=pranabananda/>. So Babaji could be much older than 500 years old. Satyeswarananda has also published several books of Lahiri Mahasaya. Another saint who is identified with Mahavatar Babaji is [[Hariakhan Baba]], a teacher who lived and taught from [[1861]] through [[1924]]. This Babaji is discussed in the book ''Hariakhan Baba: Known and Unknown'' by Baba Hari Dasa. Several accounts were also written by an Indian holy man named Mahendra Baba, who identified him as being the same person as Mahavatar Babaji. [[Roy Eugene Davis]], a direct personal disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and former minister of the [[Self-Realization Fellowship]] Phoenix Temple, expressed a similar conclusion in his book ''Life Surrendered in God: The Philosophy and Practices of Kriya Yoga''. Another teacher who is identified with Mahavatar Babaji has a similar name, [[Haidakhan Babaji]]. He lived in northern India and taught publicly from [[1970]] until his death in [[1984]]. The spiritual teacher [[Leonard Orr]] wrote about his encounters with Haidakhan Babaji, and together with [[Sondra Ray]], promoted him as being Mahavatar Babaji.<ref name=radhebook>Shyam, Radhe, ''I Am Harmony''.</ref><ref>Reichel, Gertraud, ''Babaji - Gateway to the Light''.</ref><ref>Reichel, Gertraud, ''Message from the Himalayas''.</ref><ref>Goodman, Shdema, ''Babaji: meeting with Truth''.</ref><ref>Chaghatai, Ikram, ''BabaJi''.</ref><ref>Minett, Gunnel, ''Babaji: Shri Haidakhan Wale Baba''.</ref><ref>Churchill, Pola, ''Shiva Mahavatar Babaji''.</ref><ref>Several authors, ''Babaji the unfathomable''.</ref> ==See also== *''[[Wikisource:Autobiography of a Yogi|Autobiography of a Yogi]]'' on [[Wikisource]]: **[[Wikisource:Autobiography of a Yogi/Chapter 33|''Autobiography of a Yogi'', Chapter 33: Babaji, the Yogi-Christ of Modern India]] **[[Wikisource:Autobiography of a Yogi/Chapter 34|''Autobiography of a Yogi'', Chapter 34: Materializing a Palace in the Himalayas]] **[[Wikisource:Autobiography of a Yogi/Chapter 36|''Autobiography of a Yogi'', Chapter 36: Babaji's Interest in the West]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://web.archive.org/web/20060306032133/http://www.wie.org/j21/babaji.asp "In search of Babaji." from ''What is Enlightenment?''] * [http://www.babajiskriyayoga.net/english/home.htm Babaji's Kriya Yoga] {{DEFAULTSORT:Babaji, Mahavatar}} [[Category:Year of birth unknown]] [[Category:Year of death unknown]] [[Category:Hindu religious figures]] [[Category:Longevity myths]] [[Category:Yogis]] [[de:Mahavatar Babaji]] [[es:Mahavatar Babaji]] [[id:Mahavatar Babaji]] [[nl:Mahavatar Babaji]] [[ja:マハー・アヴァター・ババジ]] [[pl:Mahawatar Babadźi]] [[pt:Mahavatar Babaji]] [[sv:Mahavatar Babaji]] [[vi:Mahavatar Babaji]]