MAHAVATAR BABAJI

Mahavatar Babaji, a Himalayan mahayogi who is said to be eons old, first gave us Kriya Yoga and then the western world first heard about him courtesy of Paramahansa Yogananda's 'Autobiography of a Yogi'. Today, many followers are, and have been, growing around His enigmatic persona.
It has always been known that some of the remote parts of the Himalayas are home to many rishis, tapasvis and siddhayogis - Eternal Masters engaged in singular methods of sadhana or disciplined practice dedicated to spiritual exploration and in guiding the destiny of humanity through the ages. Some live in rough-hewn natural caves under glacial conditions.

Some have ashrams amidst verdant greenery, located at a vibrational frequency at variance with the 'normal' three-dimensional one with which to keep intruders at bay. Their abodes have been given many names Shambala, Gyan Ganj or Siddha Loka among them.Some have ashrams amidst verdant greenery, located at a vibrational frequency at variance with the 'normal' three-dimensional one with which to keep intruders at bay. Their abodes have been given many names Shambala, Gyan Ganj or Siddha Loka among them.In this phantasmagorical world of accomplished yogis, anything is possible. A siddha sadhak (realized master) may simply choose to take the form of an ancient tree to meditate undisturbed for hundreds of years. Others, when they venture beyond the confines of their rarefied sanctuaries, may fly through the air as themselves, or change into swans, geese, eagles, or even into animals, fish and insects.There are many creative ideas for teleportation, with some just travelling on beams of light from one place to another.

Exalted as these beings are, a distinct feature common to all is their complete identification with India and her Vedic heritage. When people attain a certain level in their sadhana, they automatically lose their narrow personal bonds of family, language, caste or province. Then the old terrain of the Motherland takes over, so that it matters not whether it is Kabir, Lahiri Mahasaya, Jesus, Shirdi Sai Baba or Ramana Maharshi. And they converse with each other using an argot common to the wandering sadhus (monks).
Thus it is that the venerable heritage of Gorakhnath and Machhindranath is claimed for its own by Garhwal, Konkan, Bundelkhand, Mewar and Coorg, and many a small child in the remotest village of India is put to sleep to the refrain of "Chalo Machhinder, Gorakh Aaya...."

MASTER OF MASTERS

With his lithe and youthful figure, Mahavatar Babaji is one such eternal master. He is the man with the immortal body. He is the founder of

kriya yoga, a discipline involving purification of the body-mind organism through breath control techniques to aid longevity and spiritual evolution. 'Mahavatar' means 'great incarnation'. He is also known as Mahakaya Babaji, the word 'Mahakaya' describing His immortal body. In some circles the Hare Khan Baba being referred to sounds suspiciously similar to Mahavatar Babaji's persona.
Mahavatar Babaji, never left the shores of India and is way beyond the reach of puny intellectual property rights. He is a yogi and keeper of the ancient faith the Sanatan Dharma, whose mission for many ages has been to teach the Sanatan Dharma to us. He has often changed the course of history, guided by otherwise immortal rishis, working way above insidious parochial divisions.
Babaji's influence as a guru is said to have prevailed over the ages from Adi Shankaracharya, Jesus of Nazareth and Kabir to more recent saints like Sai Baba of Shirdi, Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon and Swami Samartha of Akkalkot. It is said that the first was a Muslim, while the other two were Hindus. They went to the Himalayas for sanctuary and were later given a spiritual initiation by Babaji. They eventually returned as illumined leaders of humanity.
Babaji mostly works in obscurity, even while serving as a spiritual mentor to scores of masters. He has guided the destiny of many people, yet he is perhaps one of the most accessible of siddhayogis to walk in our midst in recent times. Over many millennia, Babaji has continued to nurture hundreds of accomplished devotees.
Babaji's entourage of enlightened and immortal disciples includes yogi's and yogini's who have been here for many years and are (in some cases) many eons old. Babaji conveys the impression that he cherishes individuality and thoughtful dissension, rather than servile obedience.
The sage with the immortal body has walked the length and breadth of India and is inured to the ways of the seemingly berserk lone ascetics that are a law unto themselves. There is no field of knowledge that is beyond Him and the transmutation of atoms is simply an entertaining pastime.

MAN OF MIRACLES

Babaji has remarked that deep within the womb of the Himalayas is an unimaginable storehouse of ancient texts just waiting for us. Babaji has also forecast the end of all the political 'isms' of the 20th century.
Like all great yogis, Babaji can (supposedly) materialize, dematerialize and take on any form at will. He may choose to present himself as an old man, an animal or a bird. He once promised a devotee that he would attend a feast at the man's house, but seemingly did not. When the man later questioned him, Babaji replied: "I was there. I was the dog to whom you fed the leftovers."
Babaji can travel anywhere and anytime in the universe, it is also said that he sends specific instructions to his chosen disciples through birds. He's taught a chosen few how to discern birdcalls, and it may well be that the pigeon stridently cooing at your window is actually a messenger from Him.
A true wanderer, he is not to be found in any one place, whether in the Himalayas or elsewhere. Yet he is very much amongst us, whether it's in Mumbai, Delhi or London just as much as he is in Haidakhan ashram or Paris. He encourages devotees to strive for their highest destiny. Neither God nor an angel, Babaji is more like the atmik guru, or the inner light.