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Mahavatar Babaji is the name given to an Indian yogi and holy man by Lahiri Mahasaya and several of his disciples who met Mahavatar Babaji between 1861 and 1935. Some of these meetings were described by Paramahansa Yogananda in his book Autobiography of a Yogi, including a first hand telling of Yogananda’s own meeting with Mahavatar Babaji. Another first hand account was given by Sri Yukteswar Giri in his book The Holy Science. All of these accounts, along with additional meetings with Mahavatar Babaji, are described in various biographies of those mentioned by Yogananda.
Mahavatar Babaji’s real name and date of birth are not known, so those who met him during that period all called him by the title first given to him by Lahiri Mahasaya. ‘Mahavatar’ means ‘great avatar’, and ‘Babaji’ simply means ‘revered father’. Some of the encounters included two or more witnesses — discussions between those who met Mahavatar Babaji indicate that they all met the same person.
Introduction by Guru Gorakh Nath:
Guru Gorakh Nath, widely revered as an immortal sage, has been associated with several enlightened masters and spiritual adepts through the centuries, including Kabir, Shankaracharya and Lahiri Mahashaya, grandmaster of Paramhansa Yogananda. Guru Gorakh Nath is acknowledged as the head of the current era Kriya Yoga tradition, an esoteric yogic science.
About the Author:
Romola Butalia completed school from Loreto House, Calcutta, graduated with honours in economics from Miranda House, Delhi University and did her post-graduation from Delhi School of Economics.
After a brief stint in the travel trade, she spent time in the experiential learning of Eastern philosophy. After several years in the print media, she expanded her work horizons through the visual medium, in the making of television programs, corporate and commercial films, before being one of the earliest entrants to explore the Internet professionally.
Her many passions in life have included travel, people, writing, communication, the Himalayas and the sharing of knowledge and joy. Currently much of her time is spent in the effort to preserve and bring to light some of the ancient sacred knowledge connected with the Eternal Truth (Sanathan Dharma). Apart from being Editor, India Travelogue, she has authored In the Presence of the Masters and teaches Vedic Sciences at the Mahayog Academy and elsewhere.
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