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Mahavatar '''Babaji''' is the name given to an Indian saint by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahiri_Mahasaya Lahiri Mahasaya] and several of his [[disciples]] who met Mahavatar Babaji between 1861 and 1935. Some of these meetings were described by [[Paramahansa Yogananda]] in his book ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography_of_a_yogi Autobiography of a yogi]'', including a first hand telling of Yogananda’s own meeting with Mahavatar Babaji. Another first hand account was given by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukteswar_Giri Yukteswar Giri] in his book ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Science The Holy Science]''. All of these accounts, along with additional meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, are described in various biographies of those mentioned by Yogananda.

Mahavatar '''Babaji''' is the name given to an Indian saint by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahiri_Mahasaya Lahiri Mahasaya] and several of his [[disciples]] who met Mahavatar Babaji between 1861 and 1935. Some of these meetings were described by [[Paramahansa Yogananda]] in his book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography_of_a_yogi Autobiography of a yogi]'', including a first hand telling of Yogananda’s own meeting with Mahavatar Babaji. Another first hand account was given by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukteswar_Giri Yukteswar Giri] in his book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Science The Holy Science]''. All of these accounts, along with additional meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, are described in various biographies of those mentioned by Yogananda.

Mahavatar Babaji’s given name is [[unknown]], so those who met him during that period all called him by the title first given to him by Lahiri Mahasaya.  "Mahavatar" means "great [[avatar]]", and "Babaji" simply means "revered [[father]]". Some of the encounters included two or more [[witnesses]]—discussions between those who met Mahavatar Babaji indicate that they all met the same person.

Mahavatar Babaji’s given name is [[unknown]], so those who met him during that period all called him by the title first given to him by Lahiri Mahasaya.  "Mahavatar" means "great [[avatar]]", and "Babaji" simply means "revered [[father]]". Some of the encounters included two or more [[witnesses]]—discussions between those who met Mahavatar Babaji indicate that they all met the same person.

There are very few accounts of Babaji's [[childhood]], one source of [[information]] is book Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Govindan Marshall Govindan]. According to Govindan, Babaji was named Nagarajan (king of serpents) by his [[parents]]. V.T. Neelakantan and S.A.A. Ramaiah founded on October 17, 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 had been born on 30 November 203 CE in a small coastal village now known as Parangimalai, in TamilNadu Kerala border, India.[8] Babaji's Kriya Yoga Order of Acharyas Trust (Kriya Babaji Sangah) and their branch organizations claim his place and date of birth. He was a [[disciple]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogar Bogar] and his birth name is Nagarajan.

There are very few accounts of Babaji's [[childhood]], one source of [[information]] is book Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Govindan Marshall Govindan]. According to Govindan, Babaji was named Nagarajan (king of serpents) by his [[parents]]. V.T. Neelakantan and S.A.A. Ramaiah founded on October 17, 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 had been born on 30 November 203 CE in a small coastal village now known as Parangimalai, in TamilNadu Kerala border, India.[8] Babaji's Kriya Yoga Order of Acharyas Trust (Kriya Babaji Sangah) and their branch organizations claim his place and date of birth. He was a [[disciple]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogar Bogar] and his birth name is Nagarajan.

<center>For lessons on the topic of '''''Babaji''''', follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Babaji '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the topic of '''''Babaji''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Babaji '''''this link'''''].</center>

In the writings of [[Paramahansa Yogananda]] in his ''Autobiography of a yogi'', Lahiri Mahasaya and Yukteshwar, many references were made to Mahavatar Babaji.

In the writings of [[Paramahansa Yogananda]] in his ''Autobiography of a yogi'', Lahiri Mahasaya and Yukteshwar, many references were made to Mahavatar Babaji.

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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfruit 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]]."

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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfruit 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]]."

When Nagaraj was about 5 years old, someone kidnapped him and sold him as a slave at Calcutta (Now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata Kolkata]). His new owner however was a kind man and he freed Nagaraj shortly thereafter. Nagaraj then joined a small group of [[wandering]] [[sanyasin]] 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedas], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishad Upanishad], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata Mahabharata], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana Ramayana], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagvad_Gita Bhagvad Gita].

When Nagaraj was about 5 years old, someone kidnapped him and sold him as a slave at Calcutta (Now [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata Kolkata]). His new owner however was a kind man and he freed Nagaraj shortly thereafter. Nagaraj then joined a small group of [[wandering]] [[sanyasin]] 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedas], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishad Upanishad], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata Mahabharata], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana Ramayana], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagvad_Gita Bhagvad Gita].

According to Marshall Govindan's book, at the age of eleven, he made a difficult [[journey]] by foot and boat with a group of [[ascetics]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kataragama Kataragama], Sri Lanka. Nagaraj met Siddha [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhogarnathar Bhogarnathar] and became his [[disciple]]. Nagaraj performed intensive yogic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhana sadhana] for a long time with him. Bhogarnather [[inspired]] Nagaraj to seek his initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayam from Siddha [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agastya Agastya]. Babaji became a disciple of Siddha Agastya. Nagaraj got initiated into the [[secrets]] of Kriya Kundalini Pranayama or "Vasi Yogam". Babaji made a long pilgrimage to Badrinath and spent eighteen months practicing yogic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriya kriya] taught to him by Siddha Agastya and Bhogarnathar. Babaji attained [[self-realization]] shortly thereafter.

According to Marshall Govindan's book, at the age of eleven, he made a difficult [[journey]] by foot and boat with a group of [[ascetics]] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kataragama Kataragama], Sri Lanka. Nagaraj met Siddha [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhogarnathar Bhogarnathar] and became his [[disciple]]. Nagaraj performed intensive yogic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhana sadhana] for a long time with him. Bhogarnather [[inspired]] Nagaraj to seek his initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayam from Siddha [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agastya Agastya]. Babaji became a disciple of Siddha Agastya. Nagaraj got initiated into the [[secrets]] of Kriya Kundalini Pranayama or "Vasi Yogam". Babaji made a long pilgrimage to Badrinath and spent eighteen months practicing yogic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriya kriya] taught to him by Siddha Agastya and Bhogarnathar. Babaji attained [[self-realization]] shortly thereafter.

They also claim 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Besant Annie Besant], President of the Theosophical Society and mentor of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnamurti Krishnamurti]. Babaji was said to have appeared to each of them independently and then brought them together in order to work for his Mission in 1942.

They also claim 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Besant Annie Besant], President of the Theosophical Society and mentor of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnamurti Krishnamurti]. Babaji was said to have appeared to each of them independently and then brought them together in order to work for his Mission in 1942.

Legendary [[powers]] and age have been attributed to Mahavatar Babaji by the disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya. 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.

Legendary [[powers]] and age have been attributed to Mahavatar Babaji by the disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya. 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.

In addition, Babaji is reputed to be ageless, according to some accounts, and about 500 years old around the late 1800s, according to 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.”

In addition, Babaji is reputed to be ageless, according to some accounts, and about 500 years old around the late 1800s, according to 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.”

According to Yogananda's autobiography, he has a sister called Mataji (meaning "Holy Mother") who also has lived throughout the centuries. Her level of spiritual [[attainment]] is comparable to her brother's, and she lives in a state of spiritual [[ecstasy]] in an underground [[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."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavatar_Babaji]

According to Yogananda's autobiography, he has a sister called Mataji (meaning "Holy Mother") who also has lived throughout the centuries. Her level of spiritual [[attainment]] is comparable to her brother's, and she lives in a state of spiritual [[ecstasy]] in an underground [[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."[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavatar_Babaji]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]