Haidakhan Wale Baba lived in the the foothills of the Himalayas, in the Kumaon region, the birth place of many of Indias great saints. He was acknowledged as Shiva Mahavatar Babaji, the eternal manifestation of God in human form.
Babaji appeared in 1970, as a youth of 18 or 20 years, in a holy cave at the foot of Kumaon Mount Kailash at Haidakan.
His divine power was experienced in many ways:
- in September of 1970 He ascended Mounth Kailash and sat on the summit without food or sleep for 45 days;
- several people saw Him simultaneously in different places;
- He healed the sick; He brought transformation into many people’s lives.
His followers maintain that Haidakhan Babaji is a Mahavatar – “a human manifestation of God, not born from woman.
Many people, from all over the world, have mystically been drawn to Babaji through extraordinary events, dreams and visions and are receiving His Blessings.
He urged the people to „follow the religion that is in your heart”. Babaji said that he had come to revive the eternal and ageless religion, the Sanatan Dharma, the three basic principles: Truth, Simplicity and Love.
In his living years he taught intensively the importance to live a simple life with loving principles in truth. He explained: “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.
Haidakhan Babaji 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. He said: “We are all one with each other and with God. “You should seek harmony in everything you do.”
He asked his devotees to practice japa, the repetition of God’s name, while they were doing Karma Yoga. He explained that God’s name is the most powerful sound of the Creation.
He especially recommended the use of the mantra “om namaḥ śivāy” because of its protective qualities,but also stated that one can use any God’s name “his religion teaches.”
Haidakhan Babaji was often asked who he was. He made the following assertions about himself:
As mentioned above Haidakhan Babaji maintained that he was identical with Hairakhan Baba.
It appears that Haidakhan Babaji pointed out or implied a few times that he was identical with Mahavatar Babaji described in Yogandanda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi.
On one occasion Babaji stated: “I am Bhole Baba, Simple Father. I am nobody and nothing. I am only like a mirror in which you can see yourself. I am like a fire. Don’t keep too far away or you will not get warmth. But don’t get too near or you may burn yourself. Learn the right distance.
Haidakhan Babaji was recorded saying: “I am everywhere – in your every breath. I have come to help you realize unity beyond division. I will show you a freedom you have not imagined. You must seek that unity from whence there is awareness that we are all one. Seek harmony in all that you do. I am harmony. If you are in peace, I am in peace. If you are troubled, I am troubled. If you are happy, I am happy. Be happy. Have faith – everything depends on faith.”
Babaji spent most of His 14 year incarnation at Haidakhan were he established a beautiful ashram, and near the village of Chilianuala He built a large and beautiful Temple
Babaji left his body on 14 February 1984. He had come to give a message to the world, and having done this, He left.
