Haidakhan Babaji

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Haidakhan Babaji
Haidakhan Babaji
Died14 February 1984 (1984-02-15)
NationalityIndian
Years active1970–1984
Websitehttps://www.haidakhandisamaj.in

Haidakhan Babaji, simply called Babaji by his students and devotees, was a religious teacher who appeared near the village of Haidakhan[a] in northern India (Uttarakhand) and taught publicly from 1970 until his death in 1984. He has a following in the Western world, and two ashrams in India.

Life

According to "The Teachings of Babaji", Haidakhan Babaji "appeared" in June 1970 in a cave at the foot of the Kumaon Mount Kailash, across the

Mahavatar – "a human manifestation of God, not born from woman."[B 1]

It is reported that starting in late September 1970 Haidakhan Babaji spent forty-five days meditating in a small temple on the top of the Kumaon Mount Kailash "without leaving his seat."

yagna, and attracting more devotees. This included celebrities, such as Shammi Kapoor,[B 3] and gradually more Westerners.[B 4]

Though some of his followers[B 5] believed he was immortal, Haidakhan Babaji died on 14 February 1984; local sources said it appeared to be of heart failure. He was buried in Haidakhan Ashram. This is how Babaji foretold and explained his death:

My body is meant to dry up one day. This body is nothing; it is here only to serve people. […] Even my own body has come only to perform a duty to serve all human and all living things.[B 6]

Teachings

Haidakhan Babaji maintained that: "All religions are incorporated in the principle of Truth, Simplicity and Love".

Sanatana Dharma. Sanatan Dharma can be understood as a primordial religion reflecting natural laws established at the beginning of the Creation.[B 8] He explained further: "I have come to guide humanity to a higher path. I do not belong to any particular religion, but respect all religions. I seek the elevation of all mankind. "[B 9]

He stressed the unity of all religions as expressed in the following words: "In any town there is always a central place; all the roads in the town or from out of town lead to that central place. Similarly, all religions lead to one point, and that is God Himself; and therefore following any religion you will ultimately reach God."[B 10] He said: "We are all one with each other and with God."[B 11] Haidakhan Babaji said: "You should seek harmony in everything you do. I am harmony. Thank you for your love."[B 12][B 13] Haidakhan Babaji proclaimed: "One can follow any religion, one can follow any practice or path, but one must be humane."[B 14] He said: "The world now is in a state of turmoil. It is suffering from three kinds of pain – physical, mental, spiritual – and there is only one way of being cured from these. We have to root out inhumanity and replace it with humanity. (…)"[B 15] He also made the following statement: "The only true man is one who practices 'humanism.' (…) this is the only way to success in life."[B 16]

Babaji talked about the importance of hard work and proper performance of one's duty so often that Karma Yoga should be considered the central element of his teachings. Babaji used to say that: "Work is worship"

Kriya Yoga.[B 19]

Nama Japa, the repetition of God's name, was a fundamental part of Haidakhan Babaji's teachings. He explained that God's name is the most powerful sound of the Creation – "more powerful than a thousand atomic and hydrogen bombs."[B 20] – and that this is the only real thing. Haidakhan Babaji especially recommended the use of the mantra "Oṃ namaḥ śivāy" (Sanskrit: ॐ नमः शिवाय् )[B 21] – because of its protective qualities,[B 22] but also stated that one can use any God's name "his religion teaches".[B 23] The mantra is always written internationally simplified as "Om Namah Shivay" in books about Babaji written in English or other languages.[B 24]

Haidakhan Babaji warned his followers about the forthcoming Great Revolution or Maha Kranti. He described Maha Kranti as involving "earthquakes, floods, accidents, collisions and wars [...]."[B 25] In the context of these upcoming calamities, he called for courage: "Walk on with courage and bravery. Go on working to improve humankind and establish the Path of Truth. […] Fight for truth! To face life you must have great courage every day".[B 26] Haidakhan Babaji urged his followers to be "inspired". He stated: "Everything in this world is 'PHURO' – transient. It has no reality. True reality is to proceed on the path of truth, to keep the company of saintly people, and to render service to men."[B 27]

Babaji advocated on behalf of the less-fortunate. He stated: "you should look to the areas of your countries where people are poverty-stricken and helpless and then do all you can to raise their standard of living, teaching them cleanliness and high morals. To serve the needy truly and from the heart is true service to God. [...]"[B 28]

Spiritual routine

Babaji would typically start his day around 3:00 am, with a bath, often in the cold

darshan. Then there would be another bath, followed by the evening Aarti. After the evening Aarti, Babaji gave short speeches that were recorded in "The Teachings of Babaji".[B 30]

Identity

Babaji maintained that he was identical with the Hairakhan Baba (also spelled as Hariakhan or Heriakhan) who lived around Hairakhan in the years 1860–1922.[B 31] He suggested a few times that he was identical with Mahavatar Babaji described in Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi.[B 32] This claim is apparently disputed by the Self-Realization Fellowship, the society founded by Yogananda.[B 33] Gaura Devi recorded Babaji as saying: "I am no one's Guru, but I am the Guru of gurus."[B 34]

Guru for Westerners

Image of the deity Haidakhandeshwari in the temple of the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram near Crestone, Colorado

Babaji was introduced to many Westerners by

heart attack in 1984.[1] His cult is widespread in the Western world, with followings in countries including Austria,[2] Germany,[3] Italy,[4] Sweden,[5] Switzerland,[6] the United Kingdom,[7] and the United States, where the "Yogananda/Babaji Lineage" was established in multiple centres[b] by the time of the first American Hindu census in 2011.[8]
An ashram dedicated to Babaji, the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram, with a temple to the goddess Lakshmi, was founded in Crestone, Colorado in 1989.[9] The musician Gopal Hari and his wife Ambika formed a group named Goma, performing Haidakhandi chants on their albums River of Grace and Sacred Source, and a third album of the Haidakhandi
Aarati (service of worship).[10]

Haidakhandi Samaj

In India, the Haidakhandi Samaj, with ashrams at Haidakhan village and at Chilliyanaula (Chilianola), provides both communal living and to spread Babaji's message. The Haidakhan ashram, called "Haidakhan Vishwa Mahadham", offers medical and dental services. The Chilliyanaula ashram, called "Anandpuri Ashram", offers free

ear, nose, and throat clinic, and dental services.[11]

  • Navdurga temples and ashram near Haidakhan
    Navdurga temples and ashram near Haidakhan
  • Main Ashram of Haidakhan Vishwa Mahadham, Haidakhan
    Main Ashram of Haidakhan Vishwa Mahadham, Haidakhan
  • Shiva's sacred bull, Nandi, at Haidakhan Babaji ashram, Chilianola
    Nandi
    , at Haidakhan Babaji ashram, Chilianola

Notes

  1. ^ Haidakhan is also spelt at times as Hairakhan because the central sound, ḍ, in the name does not exist in English and is something between the R and D sound.
  2. Yogananda's Babaji is assumed.[8]

References

Primary and devotional

  1. ^ a b Antonov 2008, foreword
  2. ^ Shyam 1990, pp. 125–135
  3. ^ Shyam 1990, p. 158
  4. ^ See e.g. Devi 2001 and "Guru for Westerners" below.
  5. ^ See for instance: Orr, Leonard, 1988, 1995.
  6. ^ Antonov 2008, 2 February 1983
  7. ^ Antonov 2008, 25 December 1981
  8. ^ Antonov 2008, 25 March 1983
  9. ^ Antonov 2008, 29 July 1983
  10. ^ Antonov 2008, 24 December 1981
  11. ^ Antonov 2008, 2 April 1980
  12. ^ Antonov 2008, 12 April 1980
  13. ^ For further details, see Shyam 1990
  14. ^ Antonov 2008, 22 January 1983
  15. ^ Antonov 2008, 23 September 1983
  16. ^ Antonov 2008, 29 October 1983
  17. ^ Antonov 2008, 23 October 1981
  18. ^ Antonov 2008, 17 November 1983
  19. ^ Antonov 2008, 10 November 1983
  20. ^ Antonov 2008, 26 December 1982
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ E.g. "Chant OM NAMAH SHIVAY and you can defy death." Antonov 2008, 28 July 1979
  23. ^ Devi 1990, p. 6 Babaji's Teachings
  24. ISBN 3-926388-23-4
  25. ^ Antonov 2008, 26 July 1979
  26. ^ Antonov 2008, 16 January 1983
  27. ^ Antonov 2008, 31 August 1983
  28. ^ Antonov 2008, 20 April 1983
  29. ^ "The Fire Ritual: Havan/Homa". 2 March 2014.
  30. ^ For more description of daily routines around Babaji see also Devi 1990, pp. 63–67, 73
  31. ^ Antonov 2008, Foreword See also Shyam 1990, pp. 50–65
  32. ^ Antonov 2008, Foreword
  33. ^ Shyam 1990, p. xvi
  34. ^ Devi 1990, p. 9 Babaji's Teachings

Independent

  1. ISSN 2057-5831
    .
  2. S2CID 242543421
    .
  3. ISBN 978-3-931479-76-3
    .
  4. S2CID 242737099
    .
  5. S2CID 225594509
    .
  6. ISBN 978-2-8251-0412-5
    .
  7. ISBN 978-1-78179-940-6
    .
  8. ^ a b Melton, J. Gordon; Jones, Constance A. (7 April 2011). "Reflections on Hindu Demographics in America: An Initial Report on the First American Hindu Census" (PDF). Association for the Study of Religion, Economics & Culture. p. 16. Retrieved 7 April 2021. Yogananda/Babaji Lineage: Self Realization Fellowship, Amrita Foundation, Ananda Church of Self Realization, CSA (Roy Eugene Davis), Cross and the Lotus, Haidakhan Samaj, Hariharananda Mission West, Hamsa Yoga Sangh, International Babaji Kriya Yoga Sangam (S. A. A. Ramaiah), Kriya Yoga Ashram (Swami Shankarananda Giri), Kriya Yoga International, Kriyayoga of Babaji (Guru Gyan swami), Self Enquiry Life fellowship, Temple of Kriya Yoga
  9. ^ "About Us". Babaji Ashram. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ Hari, Gopal; Ambika. "Goma: Music". Goma. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  11. ^ "About Haidakhandi Samaj". Retrieved 7 April 2021.

Sources

Further reading

External links

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