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Babaji or Baba Haidakhan - The Nainital Mystic who restored truths about Yoga


What Babaji of Nainital said.
The Himalayas have been a source of spiritual knowledge since ancient times. It has been the abode and/or origin of numerous saints, mystics, including the Great Buddha; and according to Hindu and Buddhist Mythology also of gods, goddesses and Bodhisattvas. Certainly if a location has to be chosen for that in the world it has to be The Himalayas as the Highest mountain chain of the world and also the most conducive to life and beauty.

In 1970, a youthful saint of around twenty, called Baba Haidakhan or Babaji lovingly by his disciples appeared in the Nainital District of Himalayas. He died in 1984, even as he had said while he lived that the body is meaningless and transient but the soul lives on.

While he lived, he lovingly and joyously demolished certain fallacies and myths about yoga that were spreading in the world. It was a time when there was a great interest in yoga in the west. Certain popular sects were propagating myths about yoga, perhaps for commercial reasons, that were dispelled by those who came close to Babaji. who was not into accumulating wealth or membership. He accepted some disciples who sought his blessings while asking others to go elsewhere since they were either not ready or needed him no more.

Some of the popular myths that Babaji dispelled were, that a certain techniques of yoga that were called Kriya yoga by some sects were not due to Babaji and also the ancient Hindu Scripture – The Bhagvat Gita (also spelt Bhagvad Gita) and none should be a secret unless it is for making money as a business.

In this respect it may be noted:

  1. Although the Bhagvat Gita describes several yogas as well as practices of yogis, no where in Bhagvat Gita is there a mention of Kriya Yoga.

  1. The first recorded mention of Kriya Yoga is in the highly regarded ancient text by Patanjali on Yoga. Chapter 2 of his text begins with description of Kriya Yoga.

  1. The Kriya Yoga as described by Patanjali is not the Kriya Yoga as described or practiced  by a modern popular sect. No part of Kriya Yoga  has anything to do with breathing techniques. Those are other yoga techniques (Pranyama), beneficial too, but not kriya yoga. According to Patanjali the Breathing techniques are a part of Ashtang Yoga.

  1. That Baba Haidakhan denies being the source of what is being taught as the modern Kriya yoga and that what is taught by Babaji is not a secret.

  1. That the Kriya Yoga as taught by Baba Haidakhan is precisely the same as that described by Patanjali in his ancient and original text on Yoga.


  1. Through his public death, Baba Haidakhan also demolished the myth that a physical body can live permanently. None has since the beginning of time. All are transient, but the soul survives and a soul dwelling in God and born may be called an Avatar and one born repeatedly as such may be called a Great Avatar or Maha Avatar.

The essential elements of the Kriya Yoga as defined by Patanjali and also taught by Baba Haidakhan first require the prerequisites of Love, Truth ( including not stealing) and Simplicity (including avoiding lust i.e. sex devoid of love and greed or much fondness of worldly attainments)  termed Yama by Patanjali. This was to be followed by selfless work and service, knowledge of self through prayer and/or recitation of holy names, loving and trusting God. That is Kriya Yoga by Babaji and also by Patanjali.

It is as simple as that and no secret as far as Babaji was concerned. There is more on Babaji and his practices in this blog ( just search through) and also in a recent book by this author -  The Babaji Affair. www.amazon.com/Babaji-Affair-Dr-Ashok-Malhotra/dp/149232955X/



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