Who was Babaji or Baba Haidakhan?

Article Updated May 6 , 2019

If one were to select a likely abode of Gods on our planet, it would likely be highest mountains on the planet, Himalayas- including its greener hills, valleys and caves in lower ranges fed by pristine waters of melting snows of the highest peaks and lakes. Here the air is fresh, cool and crisp and because it is relatively close to equatorial regions, not so cold as to be inhospitable even in the depths of winter. Indeed, fresh air, pure water to drink, green fields, wild flowers and groves of Oak or Pine have created areas within these vast ranges that might be most akin to what one might imagine of heaven. However, over centuries, even the Himalayas have not remained untouched by greed and lust with its associated evils. It is a process that seems to have been set in motion several thousands years ago. Just as it is in the nature of humans to begin forgetting God and goodness with prosperity so it is with civilizations made up of them. As evil increased, many an ancient spiritual order in Himalayas did not remain untouched just as Christian institutions in West suffered. Nevertheless, there remain pockets of purity in central Himalayas, especially around districts of Nainital and Almora. They are the seeds for a return to an age of love and truth.

Himalayas, home to numerous Monasteries and Ashrams (Hindu Monasteries) to the north of India has been marked by appearance of saints and divine personalities since times immemorial. In recent history, in 1970, a youthful saint of about twenty years appeared near Haidakhan in Nainital district. So full of love and beauty was his countenance that soon after he became famous as Babaji of Haidakhan despite his very young age. He attracted the pure and bold of heart not just from India but also from around the world. It included persons like Steve Jobs who came looking for Baba Neem Karoli a predecessor of Baba Haidakhan and found him instead, returning to change the way the world communicates.  

Baba or Babaji is a general term often used for saintly personalities in India as also for father. Ji is added to names from respect in Hindi. When humans find another for whom their respect and love overflows in South Asia a reflexive action is to bow to touch the feet of the revered person for all know that even if they may not get to touch the bosom of a great person, he would at least allow a charan sparsh, a touching of the feet. Those overcome with the emotion that overflows fall prostate face down on the floor, some to hide the tears that begin flowing, not of sorrow but of lifting of a stress and burden that humans carry in the world of gain and activity.

ia Much of  early life of Babaji is hidden from the world but this author is aware that the first few years of his life were spent under the loving guidance of a great Christian Mystic of Nainital - Robert Llew. who followed and upheld the tradition of Dame Julian of Norwich, the first Christian Mystic to regard God not just as father but also as a mother. It was a tradition much honored and loved by Queen Victoria too, albeit the Greatest of Queens the planet has seen in five thousand years or even since the beginning of human civilization, for under her long rule Great Britain changed form a destitute impoverished Kingdom to the most prosperous one in the world, an empire over which the sun never set, the jewel in its crown, India, including the Kumaon region that is focus of our present attention. She and her husband kept much of their mystic beliefs private although she gave a clear indication of it to those who understoodd by issuing a gold five pound Uma coin that showed her as a Goddess with the lions, perhaps a western reincarnation of Ma Durga, known as Naini Mata in Nainital and as two - Nanda Devi and Sunanda Devi in surrounding areas. This was a time when Baba Neem Karoli was the greatest of Hindu influence in the area, a devotee of the much loved Lord Hanuman through much of Asia. So deep is the belief of those who develop a familiarity with this representation of the divine that many become life long devotees of Lord Hanuman (This likely includes President Obama who proudly says and carries a locket of Lord Hanuman in his pocket at all times despite his Muslim and Christian influences. All persons are required to state their official religions as also to pay full regards and respects to it, but nothing stops them from disagreeing with some of its modern interpretations as also to accept what is good in all major religions of world. It is precisely same with this author who too has carried an image of Hanuman ji, all through his life in travels across the world and in India and dsiplays proudly symbols of others religions in his home.

Baba Neem Karoli undoubtedly had considerable influence on early spiritual learning of Babaji. It is possible that Babaji spent school vacation time in this period with a certain major Wilson in Rani Khet with a Sikh wife. This author has suspected that he played a major role in assisting Mahendra  baba in fulfilling his divine vision of a new avatar to be born in Kumaon region.  . Babaji in adult life has spent time in Tibet as well as in Sufi Iraq (this author did too at a much later stage and that exposure forms a huge part of this author's spiritual understanding). He has wandered acroos religious destinations of India alone or in the company of just one more ascetic even till as late as early eighties when he dropped in incognito tonthe author;s home in New Delhi.

A reincarnation of the Lord does not need any knew spiritual learning but the physical brain that is a part of their temporary human existence does in order to express it in a language that may be understood by the many. Only a few of the most advanced of mystics can communicate directly with the heart, and these are those who can then communicate not just with other humans but with all life, even plants, animals and birds even as King Solomon did and I too began to in 1995 as described in several posts of my blog on life and spirituality.

In general, it has been found that great spiritual personalities face a tough childhood, something that prepares and hardens them for their later role in life in the sight of man and God, and so it was with Queen Victoria too, She was nowhere near the crown when her near destitute father and mother from Germany were given a room to live in palace property out of compassion for a relative who has fallen on hard times. However, the ways of the Universe are mysterious and when it ordains that something must happens, it happens against the greatest of odds that all of human might can not change. It is His Universe and even though many a human regards them as great, they are but a speck in the vast infinite ocean that our universe is and that is only the visible part of God for everything else that is not visible is also God. -La Allah IL Allah - there is nothing but God and the entire created universe is His temporary, transient leelas of His that none but He understands fully.


Baba or Babaji is a general term often used for saintly personalities in India as also for father. Ji is added to names from respect in Hindi. When humans find another for whom their respect and love overflows in South Asia a reflexive action is to bow to touch the feet of the revered person for all know that even if they may not get to touch the bosom of a great person, he would at least allow a Charan sparsh, a touching of the feet. Those overcome with the emotion that overflows fall prostate face down on the floor, some to hide the tears that begin flowing, not of sorrow but of lifting of a stress and burden that humans carry in the world of gain and activity.



Often a Babaji will not disclose their place of birth or origin and are simply known by the name of the place they appear in. Haidakhan Babaji inspired creation of a well-known Ashram at the site. When a Babaji stays in more than one place, the same Baba ji may be called by different names by different people. The famous city of Jaipur is said to have been constructed due to the inspiration given a few centuries ago by a saintly Baba to the King of Jaipur State (Jai Singh). The Babaji was called Tadkeshwar Baba because he was found meditating under Tad trees (a variety of Palm). The same Baba probably lived at other places at different times (including the Himalayas) and would have been known by other names at such other places.

There is a reason for a  genuine Babaji not discussing human origins ( there are many not so genuine in the modern world in it for the money just as their are many politicians in it for the money while claiming to be in there for service) . It is something this author has discovered for himself during his early mystic forays into the Himalayas and presently now also in the plains - becoming a saintly personality requires a human to empty mind, often by focus on a divine center (image or word)  or by surrender to the Lord Almighty. In this latter case the Lord takes over and does it for you. It is only then that the Lord may speak through one's heart. Talking of one’s origin leads to activities of mind and the gross human state. In my case, alternating between largely professional and largely mystic states, I had to keep repeating a mantra in mind in the mystic phases or union and help from Universal consciousness was interrupted until i too surrendered to the Lord in 1995. 

Therefore, it seems, asking saintly persons of their origin is not appropriate. It may distract them. It produces a meaningless answer. Baba Haidakhan was no exception. He gave different replies to different people. The fact that he was a saintly being is of no doubt since thousands witnessed his miraculous powers. Even if we are to assess him from a purely human perspective, it is a miracle that a youth of twenty, with no money or resources, apparently little or no worldly education can inspire such a worldwide following as Babaji did during his brief lifetime. Babaji supervised construction of huge ashrams in remote Himalayan locations.  His many miraculous powers can be found in various books and publications about him. 


Many claim him to be an avatar of Lord Shiva Shankar – Hindu interpretation of divine force that supervised creation and will also supervise its dissolution as visualized in human form. Many regarded him as a reincarnation of the ancient sage Shankar or Bhole Baba (the master of simplicity), increasingly over the last decades as last days draw closer and more is revealed

Adideva Bhoothnath in ancient times meditated at mount Kailash. As a devout worshiper of the Formless Almighty many as an Avatar or human form of Siva regarded him. His is the form chosen by disciples of Siva when they wish to visualize the formless creator in human form and they call this representation Shiva-Shankar. Other worshipers of Siva visualize Shiva as the lord of dance Shiva-Nat raja, ever engaged in the dance of strings to create the universe and keep it alive, or as the Shiva-Linga(for the lord is in all things and the lord may be viewed as anything that inspires) the male force for the creation of life, at the point of evolution when sexual distinction becomes necessary for the propagation of life. The chanting Mantra of sage Shankar was 'Om Namah Shivay' the same mantra that Babaji advocated to disciples. One of the powers sage Shankar had was his command over ghosts i.e. disembodied spirits (Jesus too had this power according to the Holy Bible). Because of it he was also called the Lord of the Ghosts - Bhuth Nath. Babaji too had this mystical power in huge measures.  While Jesus Christ and Maha deva had identical powers, the focus was on healing ones in case of Jesus but in the case of Mahadeva as also Babaji it was on expelling evil spirits. On one aspect the Shiv Shankar Avatars have differed much from  Jesus and even Buddha. It is in their attachment to family values. I recall asking why it was so from Babaji, he said had he not done it the institution of family would have disappeared from the world, for the many follow example of their leaders, spiritual or political.

Note: Hindu literature describes appearances in the highest heavens with eight arms, with four at the next level and two arms at the human level. The multiple of two in central to creation as one becomes 2, 2 becomes four and so on until we end up with the huge diversity of forms in the created universe.

In 1984 and for sometime after, some regarded him as merely human because he died in their presence on the 14th of February 1984 assuming that the physical body is eternal not just the soul. He on occasions displayed human childlike tendencies but this is in keeping with simplicity. 

Babaji himself gave different answers to different people at different times saying yes to all of the above answers on one occasion or another. All of the answers can be true if one understands spirituality from the point of view of saints as explained next.

All souls are from God and dwell in God. An individual soul is a part of the universal soul but functions as separate because of individual desires, experiences, ego and for fulfillment of karma (retribution) born out of individual free will granted by the Lord. An individual soul takes birth numerous times in numerous life forms including animal or human ones until karma and desires are exhausted. The soul then looses its individual identity and merges in the Infinite from whence it arose. Beings such as humans, that are capable of reason and logical thinking, can hasten this process through practices such as meditation, chanting etc.  A human can affect the state partially for brief or long periods of time.  When submergence and destruction of individual karma, desires and ego is complete, the soul is said to achieve union with the infinite and is not reborn again. Buddha is said to have achieved this final liberation. If a human is able to suppress his or her individual desires, ego and thoughts through meditation temporarily while still alive, one may ask who is it that is acting in that body. Who is using the same human hands, eyes, legs, mouth etc if personal ego has been banished? Here the concept of surrender comes in. Through one’s individual free will one may submit ones body to divine forces for their use. Thus at different times different divine souls may use (or occupy in a manner of speaking) the same body. In this case a saintly person will give different answers at different times – all true. At times when not in divine meditation, the same person may become distinctly human displaying human weaknesses. It is the opinion of this author that most saintly personalities are in precisely this state. Thus Babaji too was many different personalities while he lived, and all his answers were absolutely truthful even though contradictory in purely human terms. 

Hindu philosophy and mythology are ancient, even confusing and complicated or has become so over the centuries. Babaji himself spoke very little but whatever he spoke was an utter return to simplicity of the highest order.  Babaji was a living example of simplicity. Babaji however did say that of all those who come to him few would understand him. Perhaps they were looking for something complicated but it was absent here. The ultimate reality of the Universe has to be extreme simplicity and any complications seem to be approximations in trying to understand it.


What a Mahavtar meant was also misunderstood at first. What it means for Babaji in my humble understanding is that it is an avatar of the Lord himself and not one of His angels, which too are numerous. Often there is an erroneous assumption that the Almighty who is infinite and formless can become a finite human. Essentially, all consciousness of everyone is a part of universal consciousness. A person who harmonizes with universal consciousness briefly and partially may be said to be charged with the Holy Spirit during that period. Sages, mystics and evolved personalities who understand this and function in harmony with the universal consciousness for a large part of their lives are avatars of a facet of the infinite universal consciousness. When one tries to assume that a transient human body that changes every second will live forever, one is perhaps expressing love for something material. The body is meaningless to a saint; merely a temporary vehicle or a piece of clothing one changes from time to time.

Virtue of truth was upheld highly by Babaji along with those of love and simplicity. Perhaps the best answer that Babaji gave about himself is following, - I am no one and nothing, this body is a temporary and transient vehicle for the soul presently here to serve humanity.

Babaji could also be a mirror or vehicle in which other divine personalities including Goddess Naina Devi and Lord Shiva as imaged by Hindus reflected from time to time. Babaji worshipped Naini Mata with the name Haidakhandeshwari (meaning the goddess of Haidakhan) because it was she who mothered him at Haidakhan.


Note the word transient in Babaji reply indicating a certain death of the physical body. It is ridiculous to think that there is a physical body in the universe that does not die. It has never happened. The physical part of the universe itself does not escape repeated and cyclic death as per Hindu philosophy, albeit after a very long time.


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Because Babaji became famous as a young man in a popular book, many of his disciples presumed that he would live forever without aging or dying. While this can be true for the spirit of saints it can never be so for the physical body that they occupy from time to time. It has been so with all saints including the most revered ones like Jesus and Buddha. Their bodies aged with time and the body died. But their spirit lives on as indeed it does for ordinary mortals too, only they do not know it.

In my other blog on life and spirituality, it is described that those who believe in reincarnation are not afraid of death and when their present duties for example taking care of children, family and aged parents is over they are not afraid of death and look forward to new lives in younger bodies that are more agile and energetic. This is especially true of saintly personalities who have the ability to recall previous lives. They stay no longer than their mission in their present bodies requires and as regards the young Babaji of Nainital this was especially true. It has been so with many other saints like Swami Vivekananda and Jesus too. Some like Gandhi and Buddha undertook much lengthier mission and stayed on until their bodies aged.


Amongst the unusual powers of Babaji was one in which he could make himself appear at more than one location simultaneously. What do disciples that witnessed this power not know is, that Babaji only created an illusion of that in the mind of disciples while his actual physical body remained at one place. Another method Babaji used was to occupy the body of a willing disciple for various multitasking works he was engaged in, that combined with the impression he could cast on the mind of observers gave the impression of Babaji being present in more than one location. The illusion is not maintained in photographs where one can clearly see different persons.  Nevertheless it served the purpose because the illusory body could communicate with the disciple and it was the eternal Babaji that was communicating.

Another power of Babaji was that through meditation he could also make his body immune to heat or cold and at times meditated in the nude in cold winter on the banks of the Gautam Ganga River that flows by the Haidakhan ashram.

Readers who are intrigued by this concept of eastern yogis wearing nothing more than the sky as their garment even in winter may wish to read the novel – Nude besides the Lake,

Thus one night of February 1984, at an age of a little over 33, he left the physical body he occupied to consequences. It coincided with his prevailing mission coming to an end at Haidakhan.  The physical body acquired pneumonia. Soon after it met its end.

Adhering to principles of Love, Truth and Simplicity, shunning idleness and the love of God were the main tenets of Babaji philosophy. Babaji did not insist on any one particular view of God, Disciples were free to choose their own, He himself, as a Hindu though viewed God in his formless aspect (as during Havan) and also in humanized view both as a male (Shiv-Shankar) or female (Mother Goddess; see a post on that here









PS: To read about my first personal encounter with Babaji in adult life - read the post - Encounter with a Himalayan Mystic in this blog - You will find a link in the side column.



Most of this post in its original version (and much more) has been included in my book - The Babaji Affair - available at amazon.com 


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The author snapped this picture in 2010  from the road to Haidakhan




 Female voice in video that of author's daughter Ketaki, charged with love, truth and simplicity as Babaji recommended all through his numerous avatars on Earth and in the heavens.

Comments

Unknown said…
haidakhan is fake please be aware of such businass
baba left his boby 25year's ago now. now everry one is doing their business on behalf of baba of the sake of their profit.
the day will come when babaji himself will come on earth to punish those who perform business in his name.
i think that the people who come from europe are all insane because baba is just a wind.the wind will follow you whereever you remember him.
now you tell me that where people sell baba's photo,his mala and many other things at ten times more price ,why would the power of baba will reside at such place. i think the true power of baba must be in our heart not in haidakhan.
all people who are residing in haidakhan are just concern with money and profit from crazy europeans.i even sometimes laugh at the people who are looted here in haidakhan in the name of baba.whenever you came here ,you would have noticed that no indians come here because they know that there is nothing like baba,its all fake for them.
the truth is that the true mahavatar baba exist today and forever.these people here in order to increase their business renowned the new haidakhandi baba as mahavatar.but mahavatar never take samadhi and never dies.
when kalayug will finish,then only the mahavatar will take new bodies.indians do believe that the new haidakhan baba was just the power of god but he was not the god.when he died the power too went away with him.p reply me please forward this message to every one who have confuse . [hairakhan baba is mahavatar baba.] p protect our mahavatar babaji devotee thank you. please be aware of such businass
Ashok said…
I had left in this comment for a long time because of not feeling any need to respond to it. The spirit of Babaji speaks for himself. However, since today I am planning a new post on the Kriya Yoga as taught by Babaji, I shall post my response. Within quotations are the qouted portions from Om's comment,

“Haidakhan is fake”

This is utterly false. Baba Haidakhan while he lived was a virtue of love, truth and simplicity and did no more than spread these things around.

“Baba left his body 25 year's ago now”

That is true Babaji left his last body in 1984. That is because THE SPIRIT of Babaji has lived in the Nainital region for innumerable years in a young body most times and he prefers to discard his CURRENT BODY AS SOON AS IT BEGINS TO AGE. In the last instance it was at the age of 34. Babaji was born on July 20th 1950,as far as my knowledge goes.

Disciples who were disappointed by his departure erroneously believed that since Babaji is eternal his body will live on forever. That never happens. The human body has been designed to age and it has been so with the greatest of spiritual masters such as Buddha and Jesus too.

“Now you tell me that where people sell baba's photo, his mala and many other things at ten times more price, why would the power of baba will reside at such place. I think the true power of baba must be in our heart not in haidakhan.
All people who are residing in haidakhan are just concern with money and profit from crazy Europeans.’

This is utterly false. I have myself gone and lived free at the Haidakhan ashram more than once and been given a free room, free meals and not a thing was sold. One is not approached for money at the haidakhan ashrams ever.

“But mahavatar never take samadhi and never dies. ”

This is utter misunderstanding. The body always dies for everyone including all avatars. None has ever survived. It is the spirit that lives on and may take several new bodies. As per my information that is not widely known Babaji may have reincarnated. He appears to have been born at the end of 1984 in the home of a poor village mason in Rajasthan by the name of Sua Lal. I came to this conclusion through a set of chance occurences that were difficult to explain otherwise. If this deduction was correct he should be around twenty-five years old now. I met him last as a boy in 2001 and do not have any information of him since.

Now to address some of the contentions of the previous comment,

“Haidakhan baba was just the power of god but he was not the god.”

This is absolutely true.

“When he died the power too went away with him”

This is absolutely false. His power lives on. The power of avatars lives on forever.

I propose to post a new post on the Kriya Yoga as taught by Baba Haidakhan today. Please if you have any new comments kindly post it under that.
Anandita said…
Thank u Mr. Ashok for ur article on Babaji. I wish i could share my expirence with him and Fakira Baba but cant express them in words . I wish babaji bless me with wornderful power of words n thought to write about him. Just wanna say the day one experince him truly you will learn the true meaning of Satya(truth) , saralta(simplicity) and Prem(love) and to forgive one who is making money on his name.Moreover even i have never seen his photos other then Hairakhan. one cant get them easily. Please if you know such shops do inform me i urgently need some.
Luv you Babaji bless us
luv you all
Ashok said…
Anandita,

Thank you for your comment.

Anandita, a way to get a photo of Babaji easily is by ordering a book on Babaji from Amazon.com

the book Babaji:Message from the Himalayas by Maria Gabriele has some lovely pictures of Babaji (on the cover and inside). I checked and Amazon has a few copies. there are some other books on Babaji at Amazon that have photos on the cover and may have more inside for example - I am harmony.

may the spirit of Babaji fill your life and the life of those around you with love.
Dr.Richard said…
I very much enjoyed reading this article and I agree that we cannot measure a spritual personality by everyday yardsticks. Sometimes people with a thought disorder will post, it is a waste of time to give them any of your energy. God Bless. Richard H. Pratt, Ph.D.
Ashok said…
The response to something is more for others, as here, so that they are not mislead. Thanks for your nice comment.
Unknown said…
Babaji said “If you come to doubt I will give you reason to doubt. If you come suspicious I’ll give you every
reason to be suspicious. But if you come seeking love I’ll show you more love than you have ever known.”
Unknown said…
Babaji also said I AM NOT HERE TO CONVINCE YOU OF ANYTHING.
I AM NOT HERE TO BE RECOGNIZED.
I AM NOT A SHOW, NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT.

I AM ONLY HERE TO SERVE.
I AM ONLY HERE TO SHARE MY MESSAGE
OF TRUTH, SIMPLICITY, LOVE AND SERVICE.

So, I feel it is just a waste of time to give any explainations to such people who think that haidakhan is a fake place. NO ONE CAN EVER REALISE HIM WITHOUT FAITH.
Ashok said…
Fully endorse what you say Ganga. Why waste time with this and that nonsense instead of focussing on the very simple and beautiful message of Babaji - a message of Love, Truth and Simplicity with service being an expression of that love.
Unknown said…
Yes Ashok ji, though babaji said to spread his message we will continue doing it but we can't take the responsibility of convincing people and more over only those people will believe him whom he will wish to come closer to him.
Ashok said…
Very well said Ganga ji. It is natural and worthy to spread the belief that one cherishes but belief is a personal and individual thing and it is best to let people believe what they will while not letting them impinge on ones own. Some differences are required in what to believe in most and what to practice between different persons just as different kinds of plants and trees require different amounts of water and types of nutrients.

But it is good to hear of each others belief because only out of that one discovers what is worthy and learns to hold on to the beliefs that one values.
Time Traveler said…
I usually stay away from replying on such threads as in my opinion pondering over who was who is a complete waste of time and energy. The goal is to practice, practice and practice :-)

In my personal experience with this topic and Babaji, I believe that on most occasions people make their own assumptions and believe them to be either true or false, and even a direct experience fails to shake them at times.

Whether the Baba who appeared in Haidakhan Village was the "Old Haidakhandi Baba" returned - is a topic that's been discussed in a countless number of forums. In my readings, the 1970 Baba never directly said "I am the Haidakhandi Baba who disappeared at the junction of Kali and Gori rivers in 1922".
I actually find it funny as to why people get into the argument of finding out whether he was the same or not or whether he was Mahavatar Baba himself (which is another discussion point amongst curious seekers). There is a clear line between a curious seeker and a sincere seeker. A curious person will only try to find out facts to satisfy his/her curiosity instead of focussing on the real teachings.

Haidakhandi Baba is considered to be a manifestation of Ashwatthama and he on many occasions stated this himself. As many know, many saints of the time, the Baba who sat in Haidakhan Village from 1970 - 1984 was not accepted as Haidakhandi Baba, yet they admitted he was a man who must have some powers else he could not have been there.

Personally, I choose to not get into all this as there is no way anyone can prove/disprove this and secondly, you will get nothing out of it. I believe in practicing what the teacher taught and forgetting the identification parade.

Peace to all.
Ashok said…
Thanks for your participation Himalayan Hermit. Do not mind my saying so that you are contradicting yourself in two parts of the same comment:

"I usually stay away from replying on such threads as in my opinion pondering over who was who is a complete waste of time and energy"

then you do that yourself by stating,

"Haidakhandi Baba is considered to be a manifestation of Ashwatthama and he on many occasions stated this himself."

Please do not mind if I say that A statement of your is not at all clear, Can you explain:

"The Baba who sat in Haidakhan Village from 1970 - 1984 was not accepted as Haidakhandi Baba"

He has to be Haidakhandi Baba if he sat at Haidakhan because that is what Haidakhandi Baba means, baba who was at Haidakhan. He cannot be London or New York baba if he sat at Haidakhan

Were there more than one Baba/evolved mystic who sat or lived or appeared at Haidakhan? Not to my knowledge. if there was please let me know who or when? If there was then there would be more than one Haidkhan/Haidakhandi baba but I am not aware of any other in recorded or known history at least. If there is please let me know.

Wishing Peace. Love and Harmony for you and one of the ways to do it is less to bother about what others are doing or criticize their interests but focus on your own evolution instead.

Om Namah Shivai

Ashok said…
There is folk lore of a divine angelic appearance on Mount Kailash that visited the village briefly in 1800. There is also folklore of a mystic disappearance 1n 1922 at the confluence of the rivers mentioned in the previous comments but that confluence is nowhere near Haidakahn but rather far away on the Nepalese border.
Time Traveler said…
@ ashok

There is no contradiction if you read what I wrote :-)

"Haidakhandi Baba is considered to be a manifestation of Ashwatthama and he on many occasions stated this himself."

This is both the belief and faith of the people of Kumaun and attested to by old timer saints still alive who were blessed by Haidakhandi Baba before 1922.

""The Baba who sat in Haidakhan Village from 1970 - 1984 was not accepted as Haidakhandi Baba"
--Again this was just an observation that most people are aware of, not my personal statement :)

--Personally I've been blessed once by the Baba of 1970s, so I bow to him regardless of who he was.



"Wishing Peace. Love and Harmony for you and one of the ways to do it is less to bother about what others are doing or criticize their interests but focus on your own evolution instead."

--Exactly!!!

~Peace
Ashok said…
Babaji did say on many occasions, "many will come to me but few will understand me"

You were mentioning about the people of Kumaon and old timers- you are talking to one - there is a lot more interesting stuff on the region in this blog if you were interested, just click on the links to the left.

May Peace be upon you.
Ashok said…
I read your reply again today and was surprised to read you saying,

""The Baba who sat in Haidakhan Village from 1970 - 1984 was not accepted as Haidakhandi Baba"


As i had said Haidkhandi baba means who lives in haidkhan so there is no question of accepting or not accepting it. Your comment is absurd or nonsense. If the baba sat at Haidakhan he is Haidakhandi baba. He not just sat but walked around too and supervised the construction of a very nice Ashram there. Do visit if you get the chance if you have not visited it before.

Bharat said…
Om Namah Shivaya,
Jai Ho Bhole Baba.
Baba ji has said that this is kalyuga. and one can say any thing and can say even more worse then this,his true follower knows the truth and can feel the presence of "Bhole Baba" there and every where.
Please Visit this enchanting place "Haidakhan Visva Maha Dham" at Nanital(UK,India) and at Chiliyanaula(UK,India) during March (Navratra's and October Navratra's) respectively.
and feel your self.
Om Namah Shivaya...
Ashok said…
Om Namah Shivai

Thank you for your kind invitation Bharat. i shall certainly visit if I can make it. Hope you have read the other posts in this blog too.

Jai ho Bhole Baba ki
Om Namah Shivai.
Jo said…
The similarities between the teachings of Babaji and Maha Sambodhi Darma Sangha are fascinating. Are they the same spiritual entities? I would be interested to hear the author's views.
Jo
Ashok said…
Jo I am not familiar with the teachings of the Sangha but may I add that genuine spiritual teachings are similar in very many places around the world, the truth being one. The differences if any arise because of differences in languages and some by the interpretations of followers, Then Babaji is an ancient soul of the ancient Hiamalayn region who in my understanding has repeatedly taken birth in the central Himalayan region since ancient times spanning from Mansarovar lake in Tibet to Nainital district of Himalayas, regions where the same water flows perhaps.
Jo said…
Thanks for the response Ashok. What I meant was, do you consider that the soul of Babaji could have been reincarnated in the body of the Maha Sambodhi Darma Sangha who is a guru meditating and teaching in the area of the Halkoriya forest near Ratanpur in Nepal. He came to public notice when he started meditating under a tree in the forest as a 15 year old. Discovery Channel did a documentary on this boy called The boy with divine powers" in 2005 which you can see on YouTube.5125
Jo said…
Ashok,
A quote from a book published several years ago about Maha Sambodhi Darma Sangha, refers to a speech he made during or after a test by fire (video on YouTube) In this speech he refers to 20 years ago which would have been 1984 or 1985. As he was born in 1990 this seems to refer to a previous existence. Babaji dies in 1984 so you see my curiosity.
I apologise if this doesn't make sense to you or you feel its irrelevant to your article.
Jo said…
Excerpt from Haber's book - the text of the translation of DS's Fire Video speech (translated by Steven McClerc). In my memories this is not the full .text he spoke. There was much more:

ds-speech-84-page.jpg

ds-speech-83-page.jpg
Sorry can't attach jpgs but the book is this one
Journey into the Forest : Seeking the Enigmatic 'Little Buddha' of Nepal / Daniel B. Haber, photos by Thomas L. Kelly. 1st ed. Varanasi, Pilgrims Publishing. (KK-79765)
Ashok said…
Jo, it is possible. But as I said I do not know enough about the Babaji Maha Sambodhi to be of greater help in that direction. If you can find out the date of birth that will help. Babaji as Baba Haidakhan left the world in mid FEB 1984, so he the birth should be after mid NOV 1984. My own guess was that Babaji was reborn to a poor mason in Rajasthan, India in mid November 1984 and I have met the boy on few occasions before 2001.However Babaji has visited as a presence too but not clarified about his present physical whereabouts, neither confirming nor denying my suspicion. As you know he does not communicate more than necessary even to those very close to him, although he does laugh, joke, dance, smile etc. (His dancing can be vigorous to the tunes favorite to the ancient mystic Bhole Nath or Shiv Shankar himself even as a presence when he can occupy the body of a willing devotee or friend for brief moments but perhaps now I am revealing more than necessary), instead in moments when when not in a serious meditative state.
Jo said…
Biography:
Maha Sambodhi Dharma Sangha (earlier Palden Dorje, born Ram Bahadur Bomjan) was born on April 9, 1990 between 2:25am and 4am in Ratanpur village, Bara district, Nepal.


Father and Mother of Ram Bahadur Bomjan Tamang Ram’s parents are farmers. His mother, Maya Devi was married at 12. She had 5 sons and 4 daughters. Ram was her third son. When she was in her pregnancy, she found she was unable to eat meat without becoming ill. The son, whom she named Ram, would not eat meat. He would leave the house for long intervals from an early age.


Birth House of Ram Bahadur Bomjan Tamang Ram was always pleased to see a lama or a holy person and fastidiously imitated them. He often seemed to be lost in thought and spoke little. Whenever someone spoke to him, he would reply with a smile and would treat people of all ages equally.

According to his family and neighbors, Ram Bomjan often acted differently from his childhood friends, frequently observing other people in worship and praying himself. He has been described as being born with a peaceful nature, and would never get into a fight or kill an animal. Beginning at the age of five he only took leftovers for food, and went hungry if there was nothing.

Check this boy out on YouTube if you have time. I'm sure there is something special about him.
Ashok said…
Thanks for the additional info Jo. I have no doubt at all that Maha Sambodhi Baba is a reincarnation of a Himalayan Mystic Saint. But which one is difficult to say. There are several in the Himalayan belt and many also have some Tibetan births. Born in 1990 does not rule out Babaji because saints often spend some time in other realms before rebirth, but one thing makes it less than certain, if he was Babaji he would head for Nainital or Almora districts soon as he turns 16, 17 or 18 to be near his beloved Chota Kailash mountain as per my limited knowledge. Asking him would not help too because mystics are most cryptic about their origins, they may give a varying answer or just smile or say - who knows where the breeze comes from and where it goes? :)
Jo said…
Thank you for your response Ashok, its good to have an independant, unbiased view - and often quite rare too.
Reneesh said…
Hi my dear Friends,

I believe in Babaji and I believe all the people who truly follow him with love.

May God bless us all. Long live earthly people.
Ashok said…
Thanks Reneesh. I second your sentiments.
Reneesh said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Reneesh said…
Hi all,
My name is Reneesh. Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master - A Yogi's Autobiography written by Sri M. I have read this book and in the book, there is a talk about Nagaraj, nagalok and their space craft. Are these real? Any one has any idea about these beings? Please share the thoughts with me.
Unknown said…
Just wanted know what's the difference between hariakhan baba and haidakhan baba please guide me
Ashok said…
Both Haidakhan and Hairakhan are used alternatively and valid but not Hariakhan

This is as in ladka/larka (boy)The original sound in word does not exist in English and is approximated as r or d
Ashok said…
This post on Babaji remains popular and visitors from.some corner or other of the globe continue to visit as I find from stats I check regularly. May Babaji's message continue to spread love in the world.
Ashok said…
When I first wrote this post, it was a relatively quick job simply out of my love for Babaji. I had not expected many would visit and read, since this blog is not advertised anywhere. However, today when I checked the stats, I found it has generated much interest and many read it daily. I looked through it again. there were several typos that are not common in my scientific publications but common in blog, not because this content is less important than scientific one but simply because the publication in a reputed journal would not be accepted unless typos are removed. Mine can be found through google scholars. This one too had many and it is a shame really. May Babaji forgive. No wonder there is suffering in world. It is consequence of human shortcomings. Humans have much need of progress and evolution yet even if they happen to be some of the most educated one's of the planet like this blogger. My understanding suggests it is because we are young on the evolutionary scale. I have corrected a few typos in a hurry today, but shall return to it again when the Lord permits more time to look through again. Other duties call now as happens when a human continues to live in society. The one today for me is to get my internet plan renewed in a hurry or even this would not be possible.
Ashok said…
HIMALAYAN HERMIT DESERVES AN APOLOGY FROM ME. HE COULD NOT BE GIVEN A FULL ANSWER BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD HAVE MEANT REVELING ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS OF LEELAS OF BABAJI. THE HOUR FOR IT WAS ORDAINED BY THE ALMIGHTY.IT WAS YESTERDAY. IT IS IN THE LINK AT THE END OF THE POST
Ashok said…
HIMALAYAN HERMIT DESERVES AN APOLOGY FROM ME. HE COULD NOT BE GIVEN A FULL ANSWER BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD HAVE MEANT REVELING ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS OF LEELAS OF BABAJI. THE HOUR FOR IT WAS ORDAINED BY THE ALMIGHTY.IT WAS YESTERDAY. IT IS IN THE LINK AT THE END OF THE POST
Ashok said…
Entered an update slowly iver 12 hours today 5pm to 5 am. Lot of intereference with W10 screen turning black etc, but what the Lord wills happens.y
Ashok said…
Entered an update slowly iver 12 hours today 5pm to 5 am. Lot of intereference with W10 screen turning black etc, but what the Lord wills happens.y
Ashok said…
Typos remain, those corrections too shall happen when the Lord wills. Praise Almighty, it is His world.

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