Haidakhan Babaji
Om Namah Shivaya!
Truth. Love. Simplicity.
"I am you." -Babaji
Babaji's Appearance
"In the Kumaon foothills of the Indian Himalayas, the birthplace or home of many of India's great saints of the past and present, there lived Shri Haidakhan Wale Baba. To those who asked, Haidakhan Baba sometimes acknowledged that he is the Shiva Mahavatar Babaji, known to hundreds of thousands in the world through Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. A mahavatar is a human manifestation of God, not born of woman.
Shri Babaji (' Shri' is a title of respect; 'Baba' is a term used for a renunciate, or saint or a holy Father) appeared in June 1970 in a cave that has been holy for thousands of years at the foot of the Kumaon Mount Kailash, across the sacred river Gautama Ganga from a remote village called Haidakhan, in the Nainital District of Uttar Pradesh. He had no known parents or family, he appeared as a youth of 18 or so, yet he displayed great wisdom and power—divine powers from the start.
Some Haidakhan villagers saw him as an old man with a long, white beard; others as a young man with a long beard; others as a beautiful young man with no beard. Two men spoke to him at the same time—one saw an old man with a beard, the other saw a young man with no beard. He was seen in different places at the same time. He knew the scriptures and could quote them in Sanskrit as well as in Hindi, yet there is no evidence of his having been 'educated'. He ate almost nothing for months on end—two or three years—yet his energy was boundless.
Late in September 1970, he walked to the top of Mount Kailash with a small group of men, seated himself yogi-fashion at the small, old temple there and sat for forty-five days without leaving his seat, meditating much of the time, talking occasionally, preparing and blessing fruits and vegetables to give to others and starting to teach the message he brought to the world. Hundreds of people came in October to celebrate the nine-day religious festival of Navaratri with him at the top of Mount Kailash." (Haidakhandi Samaj 4)
Prediction of Babaji's Appearance
"His coming has been foretold—both by ancient scriptures and the preaching and prophesying of a 20th century Indian saint called Mahendra Baba, or Mahendra Maharaj. As a child, Mahendra Baba was healed by a vision of Babaji and the Divine Mother; he saw Babaji again on an early birthday when Babaji gave him sweets. As a boy just out of high school, Mahendra Baba met Babaji, in one of his previous human forms, and was taught yogic knowledge by Babaji for six days and nights. When Babaji left him, Mahendra. Baba did not know who he was or where to find him again. After completing his Master of Arts degree in philosophy, Mahendra Baba renounced the world and went searching for this guru—walking through the Himalayas in India, Nepal, Tibet and China. He then spent years at temples in the Indian states of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and developed a reputation as a saint. Only after twenty years or more of searching and waiting was he led back to the Kumaon Hills where Babaji appeared to him again, in a locked room in a remote mountain ashram.
After this appearance of Babaji, in the flesh, Mahendra Baba, at Babaji's instructions, began a mission of preparing for Shri Babaji's return to the world in human form. For many years he went around India, preaching that Babaji would return to transform the world by changing the hearts and minds of men. He described what Babaji would look like, including the scars on his right leg and left arm; he said that Babaji would come in 1970. Mahendra Baba restored old ashrams and temples, built new ones and prepared the worship service now used by Shri Babaji's devotees.
Mahendra Maharaj told his followers that Shri Babaji has been a human manifestation of God since man first learned about religion. Babaji has taught gurus and other religious teachers throughout history, always trying to turn man towards God and spiritual values. Through the ages he has appeared to teach people, manifesting a body for each appearance, rather than coming by human birth. Yogananda wrote of his and other people's experiences with this immortal Babaji in the 19th and early 20th centuries." (Haidakhandi Samaj 4-5)
Babaji's Previous Appearances
"There are books in Hindi written about the previous manifestation of Haidakhan Baba, which lasted from about 1800 to 1922. Around the year 1800, he appeared to villagers not far from Haidakhan, out of a ball of light, and, in 1922, before a handful of followers, he disappeared into a ball of light. There are many recorded miracles—healing people, restoring the dead to life, feeding multitudes from a small portion of food, changing his form, being in two or more places at one time, feeding a sacred fire with water when ghee (clarified butter) was not available. But mostly, people flocked to him because they experienced him as a divine, wise, loving being far above the human level. Mountain villagers (educated and uneducated) Westerners, English bureaucrats and soldiers, Indian intelligentsia, rich and poor, people of all religions came to him. There are still people in Haidakhan and elsewhere in India, who remember the 'Old Haidakhan Baba' and experienced this manifestation as the same Being.
There is also evidence of yet earlier manifestations. Tibetan monks came to Shri Babaji in 1972 and hailed him as 'Lama Baba' who had lived in Tibet about 500 years ago. There are stories of his appearance in Nepal as well as in India and Tibet. On two or three occasions, Babaji said he was one of the teachers of Jesus Christ." (Haidakhandi Samaj 5)
Babaji's Message
"Most of Shri Babaji's followers experience and worship him as a true, ageless manifestation of God. The big and little miracles he performed daily in the lives of his followers, his reading and responding to their thoughts before they were uttered, his healing, his guidance, his teachings are at a level beyond even advanced human ability. The dramatic, external miracles were infrequent; most of his miracles occurred in the minds, hearts and lives of his followers—miracles of understanding, guidance, teaching and support when, where and as needed.
Shri Babaji said that mankind is in great danger during the period of Kali Yuga—the Age of the rise of materialism and the decline of spiritual life. He foretold of widespread physical destruction and change and death in this decade. He said that those who truly worship God (in any of the ways man knows Him) and repeat His name and live in harmony with the Universe will be saved and that a new, humanitarian society of people who are focused on God will be formed.
"To follow and demonstrate the path of Truth, Simplicity and Love is man's supreme duty and the highest Yoga. Diligent work is a quality of this Path, for laziness is death on earth. Only by work can one claim victory over karma. All must strive to do their duty in the best way possible and not wander from that duty. Service to humanity is the first duty. During these times, inhumanity and laziness have increased, so it is important that you work hard and not lose heart. Be brave, be industrious: work hard and have courage."
The main purpose of Shri Babaji's coming in a human manifestation at this time was to reform the hearts and minds of men. He came to remove confusion and evil from mankind. Babaji once said: "The mind can be purified only by japa. This is the only medicine for the disease of the mind. While your mind and heart are impure, how can God live in your heart ? The water to clean your heart is the Name of God. So teach everyone to repeat the name of God everywhere."
The mind that is generally focused on God's Name responds, when the need arises, spontaneously to perform its required functions quickly, easily and well. Babaji emphasized Om Namaha Shivaya but also gave other mantras on occasion: the essence of his instruction is 'Repeat God's name'. Shri Babaji said that when the great destruction comes to the world, those who believe in and worship God sincerely and especially those who repeat His Name(s), will be saved by the power of the mantra. "God's Names are more powerful than a thousand atomic and hydrogen bombs".
Although Shri Babaji lived in a Hindu culture and was worshiped through Hindu rituals daily, he was not attached to any particular religion. He stated that all religions can lead the sincere devotee to God. At Haidakhan, Shri Babaji was worshiped by Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs, Moslems—even atheists found themselves bowing to him. He often reminded his followers that all mankind is one family—the Family of God. For those who asked about religion, he answered, "Follow the religion that is in your heart". He however, said at many times that: He had come to re-establish the principles of the Sanatana Dharma—the Eternal Religion, which was ageless and from which all other religions have taken their roots." (Haidakhandi Samaj 5-6)
Babaji's Samadhi*
"Shri Babaji left his mortal body on St. Valentine's Day—February 14, 1984. Early in his mission, he had told two or three devotees that he would leave his body in 1984. Before he came, he told Mahendra Maharaj that he would come to give a message to mankind. He came and he lived his message; he spoke his message; his message was published; and having completed this mission, he left. As the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, the Honourable C.P.N. Singh remarked, "There is no difference between His speech and His action."" (Haidakhandi Samaj 7)
*Samadhi is the perfect union of the individualized soul with infinite spirit.
Information sourced from:
Haidakhandi Samaj, The Teachings of Babaji, Haidakhandi Samaj, Haidakhan Vishwamahadam, 2015
Want to learn more about Babaji?
Check out the books below!
FREE Copy of 'The Teachings of Babaji' E-Book
I Am Harmony * –by Radhe Shyam
A comprehensive and informative book about the two most recent manifestations of Babaji. It includes chapters on His message, the yoga forms which He considered most appropriate for this age, and stories from devotees of their divine experiences with Babaji. Sixteen pages of inspiring color photos.
Fire of Transformation – by Gaura Devi
One of the first Westerners to meet Babaji, Gaura remained almost continually with Him in India from 1972-1984. Her diary of those years, is a unique, challenging and remarkable story. It is an amazing insight into life with Babaji and His teachings. A must read for all.
Gateway to the Light – by Gertraud Reichel Verlag
This book is about the marvelous, multifaceted everyday life in the presence of Babaji both in Haidakhan and on tour, as experienced by visitors, devotees and by the author. The stories are full of light and great inspiration for all.
Babaji Mahavatar – Descent of Eternity into Time
A magnificent collection of color and black and white photographs of Shri Babaji. Accompanying the photos are quotations from the scriptures of various faiths and from Babaji’s own words. Through these photographs one can experience Babaji’s divinity.
Haidakhan Bhajans * – by Haidakhan Samaj
Words to devotional songs, sung by Babaji devotees around the world. Each of the bhajans (songs) is also translated into English. These read like beautiful love poetry to Babaji, Divine Mother, and other manifestations of the Divine.
Babaji – Message from the Himalayas – by Maria Gabriele Wosien
One of the first books written about Shri Babaji. Contains many explanations of the philosophy, traditions, and rituals of India. Also contains many accounts of devotees’ and author’s experiences with Babaji.
Shiva Mahavatar Babaji – by Pola Churchill
This book records Babaji’s teachings and the extraordinary accounts of people’s dreams, visions, and encounters that bear witness to Shri Babaji’s omnipresence. The book also contains many wonderful pictures of Babaji as well as a list of addresses of ashrams and centers throughout the world.