Mahavatar Babaji

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Hindu leader Mahavatar Babaji (Template:IAST3; Template:Literal translation) is the Himalayan yogi and guru who taught Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahasaya (1828–1895).<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Efn 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.<ref name=":0" /> The cave where Babaji met Lahiri Mahasaya, located near Ranikhet, is now a tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage in India.<ref name=":2" />Template:Rp

In popular cultureEdit

Mahavatar Babaji was on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="beatles">cnn.com Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He can also be seen on the cover of George Harrison's 1974 album Dark Horse. 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...<ref name="supertramp">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Walsch, Neale Donald, Conversations with God: an uncommon dialog (Book #3), page 95.</ref>

The 2002 film Baba featured a fictional encounter with Mahavatar Babaji.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp The film was produced by Rajinikanth, a devotee of Babaji.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>