Mahavatar Babaji
Hindu Yogi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mahavatar Babaji (IAST: Mahāvatāra Bābājī; lit. 'Great Avatar (Revered) Father')[a] is a legendary immortal yogi and guru, who is said to be living in the Himalayas. He is said to have taught multiple revered historic yogis, including Lahiri Mahasaya (1828–1895).[3][2] Babaji first became recognised through the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, who devoted a chapter of his Autobiography of a Yogi to Babaji and founded Self-Realization Fellowship, a modern yoga movement that Babaji is associated with.[2] The cave where Babaji met Lahiri Mahasaya, located near Ranikhet, is now a tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage in India.[4]: 170
Mahavatar Babaji | |
|---|---|
Mahavatar Babaji meditating in the lotus position – a drawing from Autobiography of a Yogi, commissioned by Paramahansa Yogananda and based on his own meeting with Babaji. | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Known for | Kriya Yoga |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| School | Yoga |
| Religious career | |
Disciples | |
There is little historical information about Babaji. According to Yogananda, Babaji has intentionally kept his birthplace and birthdate a secret.[2]
In popular culture
Mahavatar Babaji was on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.[5][1][6] He can also be seen on the cover of George Harrison's 1974 album Dark Horse. Songwriter Roger Hodgson of English rock band Supertramp composed a song called "Babaji" in reference to Mahavatar Babaji. This song was recorded and released on their 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments...[7] In Book 3 of Conversations with God (1998), by Neale Donald Walsch, it is mentioned that Babaji may at one time have resurrected himself from the dead, like Jesus.[8]
The 2002 film Baba featured a fictional encounter with Mahavatar Babaji.[4]: 235, 314 The film was produced by Rajinikanth, a devotee of Babaji.[9]
See also
- List of Hindu gurus and saints
- Haidakhan Babaji – a teacher who appeared in northern India and taught publicly from 1970 to 1984
- Yogoda Satsanga Society of India – founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917
