80 / 100

Who is Mahavatar Babaji ?

Mahavatar Babaji, which translates to “Great Avatar (Revered) Father,” is the name given to him by the Indian yogi Yogiraj Lahiri Mahasaya (1828-1895) and a few of his followers, who allegedly appeared to them between 1861 and 1935, as documented in several books and biographies.

Birth of Mahavatar Babaji

The birth and life of Mahavatar Babaji are not documented in history. In his book, Autobiography of a Yogi, written by Paramahansa Yogananda said that the deathless avatar had lived for countless years in India’s remote Himalayan areas, only sometimes manifesting himself to the fortunate few.

The lost scientific meditation practice of Kriya Yoga was brought back to life in this day and age by Mahavatar Babaji. 

“The Kriya Yoga that I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century is a revival of the same science that Krishna gave to Arjuna millennia ago; and that was later known to Patanjali and Christ, as well as to St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples,” Babaji said while giving the Kriya initiation to his disciple, Lahiri Mahasaya.

Many questions arise in the mind of many kriya yogis and devotees who firmly believe in Babaji  how can many people be fortunate to be blessed with his Darshan in the divine and physical form because this great saint of India is still residing in spiritual realms and does not want his name and appearance to come in the public domain.

Although many blogs, magazines, youtube videos and claim that they have been blessed by Mahavatar Babaji darshana which does not have any proof it seems that they want publicity and attention from innocent devotees hence except Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of A Yogi, all other claims are not true.

Real Appearances of Shri Shri Mahavatar Babaji

When Shymacharan Lahiri, also known as “Mahasaya” by his followers, devotees, and fans, was assigned to Ranikhet as part of his duties as an accountant for the British government in 1861, that is when the first encounter with Mahavatar Babaji is said to have taken place. 

He once heard a voice calling his name when he was strolling in the Dunagiri highlands above Ranikhet (Uttarakhand). The tall, wonderfully bright sadhu encountered it while following the sound up the mountain.

Sampoorna Sripada Vallabha Charitam mentions Lahiri Mahasaya as Sri Shirdi Saibaba’s master and the person who introduced him to kriya yoga.

Another appearance of Mahavatar Babaji is seen with Lahiri Mahashaya’s main disciple Shri Yukestwar Giri ji in Kumbha Mela in 1894. Another meeting with the great saint was with Paramhansa Yogananda at his home in Kolkata before starting his mission of spreading the message of Kriya Yoga in the WEST.

Read Autobiography of a Yogi written by Shri Shri Paramhansa Yogananda which includes all the real- life incidents of Shri Shri Mahavatar Babaji’s meetings with other Kriya Yogis of India.

Did Rajinikanth meet Mahavatar Babaji?

It is claimed that Superstar Rajnikant got introduced to Mahavatar Babaji in 1978 and read ‘Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of A Yogi’ which mentions about real life and incidents and appearance of Mahavatar Babaji – in 1999.

Did Mahavatar Babaji meet Jesus?

Jesus told Babaji, who had previously been Lord Krishna, in an appearance, according to Yogananda, “My people have forgotten the technique of divine interior contact.”

They appear to be doing nice deeds, but they have forgotten the most crucial lesson I ever taught: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” 

In response to Jesus’ request, Babaji appointed Yogananda as a messenger to the west to return the original teachings of Jesus Christ and demonstrate their fundamental similarity to those of Lord Krishna.

Was Mahavatar Babaji a Real Person or just a fictional character?

A few people believe this Babaji is just an imaginary monk, they seem to have been created by a few missionaries as a hidden agenda which is not true.

Although the birth date of Shri Shri Mahavatar Babaji is not known to anyone.Even Paramahansa Yogananda ji did not know the exact name, date of birth, and parents of Shri Shri Mahavatar Babaji.

In his book Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda said that the deathless avatar had lived for countless years in India’s remote Himalayan areas, only sometimes manifesting himself to the fortunate few.

What is the age of Mahavatar Babaji?

Paramhansa Yogananda writes in his book, The Second Coming of Christ and Autobiography of a Yogi that Jesus visited India and met with Mahavatar Babaji. So according to that mention, Babaji would be at least 2000 years old.

Who invented Kriya Yoga?

As mentioned above, Shri Shri Babaji appointed Yogananda as a messenger to the West to return the original teachings of Jesus Christ and demonstrate their fundamental similarity to those of Lord Krishna in the form of ‘Kriya Yoga’ which is the ancient and scientific techniques of self-realization taught by Lord Krishna in this Krishna Avatara to his favorite disciple Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita.

Krishna serves as the divine example of yoga in the East, while Christ represents God-union in the West, according to God. 

Shri Bhagvat Gita chapters IV:29 and V:27–28 both mention Krishna teaching Arjuna the Kriya Yoga method, which is the ultimate spiritual science of yoga meditation.

Many yogis claim to be direct disciples of Yogananda and Mahavatar Babaji and claim their work in their websites. But I believe only SRF – Self Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsang Society of India known as YSS established by Paramhansa Yogananda ji itself, is the authentic source for Kriya Yoga.

Check out the link to their website, link given on their names.

Love & Light,

Nirav Hiingu