Early Life and Astonishing Facts:
Nagaraj, popularly known and named as Mahavatar Babaji by Lahiri Mahasaya and his other disciples, are believed to have met Babaji between mid-1800s to around 1935. Information from different origins, over a period of time, has purported that Mahavatar Babaji had met “Maharishi Matang”. But the world came to know about him, only when Paramhansa Yogananda in his autobiography “Autobiography of a Yogi” gave details about Babaji.
It is said that he was born in Parangipettai, in Tamil Nadu. Most people believe that he was born around 203AD. In his book, “The Second Coming Of Christ”, Yogananda has mentioned that Christ visited India once, and met Mahavatar Baba; this makes his age around 2000 years believing that he is still alive.
Even today, Mahavatar Baba looks like a young person of 24-25 years, snowy white complexion, long shoulder-length hair, and sharp facial features. It is said that when he sits in “padmasana”, he is about 5 feet tall. Usually, he spends his maximum time in “Samadhi” and the rest of time giving guidance to his followers and other sadhus.
Govindan has stated in his book that Babaji’s father was the temple priest in his village. Babaji instructed his disciples with only formative and potentially important aspects, unrevealing the rest of the truth of the universe.
Once Nagaraj’s mother had brought a jackfruit for a feast for her family. It was a rare type, hence she had kept it aside. Finding his mother out of sight, Babaji ate the full jackfruit. He was just 4 years old then. On knowing about what had happened, his angry mother stuffed a piece of cloth in his mouth, almost suffocating him; but Babaji survived. Later, Babaji was gratified and thankful to God for showing him that his mother was to be loved, without any illusion or attachment. His love for her became unconditional and not personified thereafter.
Sometime later he was kidnapped, and sold as a slave. But the person who bought him was a very kindhearted man, and he set Nagaraj free.
After his freedom from slavery, Babaji at the young age of 15years joined a group of wandering sadhus (hermits). He found their faces illuminated and filled with love for God. For the next few years, he wandered at several places studying scriptures from Vedas and Upanishads; also the holy books like Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagavadgita Gita along with practicing meditation.
Meeting and learning from Agastya Muni:
Govindan mentions in his book that Nagaraj made a tough journey to Sri Lanka with a group of sadhus at the age of 11 years. There he met Siddha Bhogarnath and became his disciple and performed yogic sadhana with him for a long time. When Bhogarnath inspired him to seek Agastya for learning Krista Kundalini Pranayama, he performed many penances and strict meditation to reach Sant Agastya as there was no other route to meet with the great saint and guru. He also took an oath that he would succeed in meeting Sant Agastya or die trying. His severe penances took him nearly to his grave and he was on the verge of dying when Agastya Muni in his benevolent form appeared before him with food and granted him his wish.
Babaji became a disciple of Siddha Agastya after lots of sustained effort. He also learned the secrets of Kriya Kundalini Pranayam or Vasi Yogam as it is also called. After spending 18months in the pilgrimage at Badrinath, practicing yogic kriya taught to him by Agastya and Bhogarnathji; Babaji finally attained Self-realisation.
It is believed that these instances were revealed by Babaji himself to a young graduate student of Geology, S.A.A. Ramaiah at the University of Madras; and a famous journalist, V.T. Neelakantan, and President of the Theosophical Society and mentor of Krishnamurti, also a close student of Annie Besant. Babaji brought them together for his Mission in 1942, though he appeared before each one of them independently.
The Disciple and Staunch Follower: Lahiri Mahasaya
Lahiri Mahasaya was an Indian guru, yogi and a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. Many claim that he was the only disciple of Babaji, the rest being just the followers of Nagaraj Baba. He was selected by Babaji in 1861, to revive the Kriya Yoga science to the people.
A distinct man among the holy gurus of India, where he was a householder, taking care of his family; also working as an accountant for the government. Unlike other hermits and saints who lived in temples or monasteries, he lived with his family at his home in Varanasi.
For his exceptional way of living as a householder Yogi, he became a spiritual inspirational master of numerous followers. Because of his advanced teachings of Kriya, he made many disciples, to name a few are Panchanan Bhattacharya and Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri.
How Rajnikanth became his disciple:
Rajnikanth, a famous film actor of India, claims that he became familiar with the Babaji after reading Yoganandas ‘An Autobiography of a Yogi’. As he was reading the book a light emanated from the picture of Babaji in the book and told him to sit in a particular position. After he sat in the said position and started reading the book, the spark of light entered his body. He became an ardent follower of Babaji and began following the practice of Kriya Yoga. Rajnikant says this had a very positive effect on his life.
Babaji’s Miracles: Vijay Krishna Goswami
The famous Bengali saint, Vijay Krishan Goswami was a disciple of Nagaraj Babaji. He taught to his followers and the people in general, the rendition of Maha Mantra (Great Prayer) that is mentioned in the Kalisantara Upanishad:
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama, Rama, Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare!
There is an anecdote of Vijay being rescued from his grumbling wife by Babaji; to be mentioned as a miracle of Babaji. Vijay and his wife were staying at Brindavan (the place where Lord Krishna lived till the age of twelve).
Vijay had been spreading the message of the Maha Mantra, which Babaji had commissioned him to do; and would usually spend time with his disciples. His wife was always grumbling about these ascetic ways with which he was leading his life. Fed up with the complaints, Vijay silently prayed to his Guru for relieving him from this misery. Suddenly his wife reached the Himalayas and found herself with Babaji and his holy band. She stayed there for quite some time and returned home after six months. She was transformed into a pliant and submissive lady after that.
The Present Day Belief:
In Sri M’s autobiography, he had mentioned that Babaji was Lord Shiva. While concluding his book, he mentions Babaji changing his form to Lord Shiva. These accounts, along with additional reported instances, are described in various biographies.
Babaji has the powers of eternal life. Yogananda states in his autobiography, that Babaji is roaming for hundreds of years in the remote Himalayan regions in India through the powers of his Kriya Yoga; but can only be seen in person by a very small number of people.
He has been bestowed with the Honors such as “Deathless guru”, Maha Yogi, Shiva Baba, Baba Garib Nath Ji, and Babaji. He has influenced many prominent personalities like George Harrison, Paramahansa Yogananda, Rajinikanth, Roger Hodgson, Steve Jobs, The Beatles, and Yukteswar Giri Padmanabhan by his presence (in front of few), and due to his Yogic knowledge and teachings spread through the different sources. As Yogananda says, no history is needed about Mahavatar Babaji. He is ever-present and eternal.
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