Hariakhan Baba

Who is Hariakhan Baba?

Hariakhan Baba, is also known as Babaji Mahraji, Mahamunindra, Sri Sadguru, Sri Sadashiva, Mahavatar, Trayambak Baba, Hariakhan Mahraji, etc. As per oral tradition of Kumaon division of lower Himalayas, Babaji Mahraji is said to come from Nepal, where he has a permanent place in the caves of unknown location. In Kurmachala area which includes the districs of Almora, Nainital and Garhwal, he is well-known by the name of Hariakhan Baba. He was a teacher of some yoga tradition who taught throughout northern India near the Himalayas between 1861 and 1924. His last known appearance is said to be in 1952-53.

Babaji Maharaji, as he is referred to, is discussed in the book Hariakhan Baba: Known and Unknown by Baba Hari Dass. He recounts his personal experience of 1952-53, when he lived in a cave in a burial place called Ghati. During a wintertime, he had a fire going inside. In meditation, "I fainted and fell down to my left side. The fire was burning, and I was very close to it. I saw Hariakhan Maharaji come into the room and bend over me.., removing my left arm from the fire pit... I stood up and came out to bow to his feet, but he had disappeared."