Mahavatar Babaji (IAST: Mahāvatāra Bābājī; lit. 'Great Avatar (Revered) Father') is the Himalayan yogi and guru who taught Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahasaya (1828–1895).[2][3] Babaji first became recognized 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.[3] The cave near Ranikhet where Babaji met Lahiri Mahasaya 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 | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Nationality | Indian |
| School | Yoga |
| Known for | Kriya Yoga |
| Religious career | |
Disciples | |
In popular culture
Mahavatar Babaji was on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He can also be seen on the cover of George Harrison's 1974 album Dark Horse.[1][5] 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...[6] 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.[7]
The 2002 film Baba featured a fictional encounter with Mahavatar Babaji.[4]: 235, 314 The film was produced by Rajinikanth, a devotee of Babaji.[8]
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
Notes
External links
