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“Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji, that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing.”
โ Lahiri Mahasaya, as recorded inย Autobiography of a Yogiย by Paramahansa Yogananda
Mahavatar Babaji โ whose name translates to“Great Avatar, Revered Father” โ is a legendary immortal yogiwho is believed to have lived for centuries in the remote Himalayan mountains. He is revered as the reviver of Kriya Yoga, an ancient spiritual science of breath, meditation, and self-realization that traces its roots to the earliest Vedic traditions of India.
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The world first learned of Babaji’s existence through Paramahansa Yogananda’s epoch-making book Autobiography of a Yogi, published in 1946. In that book, Yogananda described Babaji as a deathless avatar who had quietly guided the spiritual evolution of humanity from behind the scenes for centuries. According to Yogananda, Babaji had appeared to numerous saints and masters โ often without their knowing โ shaping the course of spiritual history across traditions and civilizations.
โThe Kriya Yoga which I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century is a revival of the same science that Krishna gave millennia ago to Arjuna, and that was later known to Patanjali and Christ, and to St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples.โ โ Mahavatar Babaji to Lahiri Mahasaya (circa 1861), as documented in Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda (Source: Wikipedia โ Mahavatar Babaji)
Babaji has been called by many reverential names by his disciples and devotees:ย Mahamuni Babaji Maharajย (Supreme Ecstatic Saint),ย Maha Yogiย (Greatest of Yogis),ย Trambak Baba, andย Shiva Baba. He chose the simple and humble name “Babaji” for himself, reflecting his wish to remain accessible and unassuming despite being regarded by followers as one of the highest spiritual beings to ever walk the earth.
According to accounts attributed to Babaji himself โ shared with his disciples S.A.A. Ramaiah and V.T. Neelakantan beginning in 1942 โ the great yogi was born onย November 30, 203 CEย in a small coastal village then known as Swethanathapuram, now calledย Parangipettai, in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The village lies near where the Cauvery River meets the Bay of Bengal, not far from the sacred temple city of Chidambaram.
His parents wereย Nambudri Brahminsย who had migrated from the Malabar coast of Kerala. His father served as the priest at the localย Shiva temple, which today is a temple dedicated to Lord Muruga (Subrahmanya), Shiva’s son. The child was given the nameย Nagaraj, meaning “King of Serpents” โ a profound name that carries symbolic resonance withย Kundalini Shakti, the latent spiritual energy described in yogic traditions as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine.
The birth is said to have occurred duringย Kartikai Deepamย (the Festival of Lights), under theย Rohini Nakshatraย โ the same birth star associated with Lord Krishna. Within the Tamil Siddha tradition, Babaji is also venerated as a manifestation of Lord Muruga himself, making his connection to Tamil Nadu’s devotional culture especially deep and significant.
One of the few personal stories Babaji chose to share with his disciples concerns a formative childhood event. When Nagaraj was just four years old, his mother had set aside a rare jackfruit for a family religious function. Not knowing this, the little boy found the fruit when his mother was away and ate the entire thing. When she discovered what had happened, she flew into a rage and stuffed a cloth into his mouth as punishment, nearly suffocating him. Babaji survived, and later expressed gratitude to God for this experience โ it taught him that his mother was to be loved without attachment or illusion, transforming his love into something unconditional and unbound by personal expectation.
Babaji’s father,ย Swethanatha Ayyar, was a priest in theย Muthukumaraswamy Templeย in the area. The family lived a devout, simple life near what is today the site of the Customs Office in Parangipettai. Every Thursday, special abhishekam (sacred bathing ceremony) is still performed for Mahavatar Babaji at the temple, and grand celebrations are held on his birthday each year on November 30th.
(Source:ย aalayamkanden.blogspot.com โ Birth Place of Maha Avatar Babaji; Marshall Govindan,ย Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition)
When Nagaraj was between five and seven years old, during one of the temple festivals, he wasย kidnapped by a traderย and sold into slavery in what is now Kolkata (Calcutta). However, the man who purchased him turned out to be kind-hearted and soon set the boy free. This pivotal moment of liberation set Nagaraj on his extraordinary spiritual path.
After gaining his freedom, Nagaraj joined a group ofย wandering sadhusย (holy ascetics) who traveled the length and breadth of India. For the next decade, the young seeker immersed himself in the study of sacred Hindu scriptures โ theย Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Puranas. His innate spiritual gifts, likely carried from previous lifetimes, made him a prodigy among the wandering monks.
(Sources: Marshall Govindan,ย Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition;ย babajiskriyayoga.net;ย learnkriyayoga.com)
Nagaraj’s spiritual quest led him from the plains of India to the sacred shrine ofย Kataragama (Katirgamam)ย in southern Sri Lanka โ one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for devotees of Lord Murugan. According to the account revealed by Babaji to his disciples, the young Nagaraj was directed to Kataragama by Sage Agasthiyar himself. With great difficulty, the 11-year-old boy made the arduous journey to this ancient shrine surrounded by jungle. It was here that Nagaraj met his destined guru:ย Bhogarnatha Siddharย (also known as Bogar), one of the legendaryย 18 Tamil Siddhas.
Bhogarnatha taught the young discipleย Vasi Yogamย (a powerful pranayama technique), and through the guru’s grace, Nagaraj was blessed with a directย vision of Lord Muruga. This experience at Kataragama remains central to the Tamil Siddha understanding of Babaji โ that he is intimately connected with Lord Murugan, the divine commander and embodiment of spiritual wisdom.
Bhogarnatha was himself a master of extraordinary powers and spiritual attainments. He is traditionally credited with creating and installing theย Navapashana idolย of Lord Subrahmanya at the famousย Palani Hill Templeย in Tamil Nadu. Under Bogar’s guidance, Nagaraj underwent rigorousย Kriya Yoga sadhanaย (spiritual practice) for an extended period. It was during this intensive training that the young disciple was initiated into the deepest secrets of yogic practice, including the transformative technique ofย Kaya Kalpaย โ a method said to preserve the physical body in a youthful state for centuries.
After his training at Kataragama, Bhogarnatha directed Nagaraj to travel toย Courtallamย in southern Tamil Nadu, where the legendary sageย Agasthiyarย (Agastya) โ perhaps the most revered of all Tamil Siddhas โ was living incognito. Under Agasthiyar’s tutelage, Nagaraj received advanced instruction inย Kundalini Pranayamaย and other higher yogic practices.
Agasthiyar then directed the young yogi to the high Himalayan temple ofย Badrinath, one of Hinduism’s four most sacred pilgrimage destinations (Char Dham). Here, at the banks of the Alaknanda River, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Nagaraj performed intense tapas (austerities) and meditation. Through the combined power of all his yogic training, he is said to have attained the supreme state ofย Soruba Samadhiย โ a condition of perpetual divine consciousness in which the physical body itself is transformed into an immortal vehicle of light.
From this point forward, Nagaraj became known asย Mahavatar Babajiย โ a title bestowed upon him by his devoted disciple Lahiri Mahasaya in the nineteenth century. He is said to have remained in the Himalayan region ever since, occasionally appearing to deserving seekers and guiding the spiritual evolution of humanity from his hidden abode.
(Sources:ย babajiskriyayoga.net; Marshall Govindan,ย Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition;ย yoginiashram.com)
Kriya Yogaย is an ancient system of yogic practices designed to accelerate the spiritual evolution of the practitioner. The word “Kriya” comes from the Sanskrit rootย kri, meaning “to do” or “to act,” and “Yoga” means “union” โ so Kriya Yoga literally means “Union through Action” or, more precisely, “Union through Sacred Spiritual Practice.”
The foundations of Kriya Yoga stretch back thousands of years. In theย Yoga Sutras of Patanjaliย (one of the foundational texts of yoga philosophy), Kriya Yoga is described as comprising three components:ย tapasย (discipline),ย svadhyayaย (self-study), andย Ishvara pranidhanaย (surrender to the Divine). Theย Bhagavad Gitaย also contains references to Kriya Yoga, particularly in Lord Krishna’s teachings to Arjuna about the science of breath and meditation.
Mahavatar Babaji revived this ancient science and transmitted it in its complete form to his discipleย Lahiri Mahasayaย in 1861 near Ranikhet in the Himalayan foothills. Babaji declared that the same spiritual science had been known to ancient masters including Krishna, Patanjali, and even Christ and his disciples โ making it a universal spiritual technique transcending any single religion or culture.
At its heart, Kriya Yoga is designed to achieve three profound transformations:
According to Paramahansa Yogananda, one Kriya technique performedproperly is equivalent to one year of natural spiritual evolution, making it one ofthe most powerful accelerative practices known to humanity.
As taught within the tradition transmitted by Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah and Marshall Govindan (Satchidananda), Babaji’s Kriya Yoga is organized into five complementary branches of practice, each addressing a different dimension of the human being:
This branch includes specific physical postures (asanas), relaxation techniques, and practices for the physical body. Unlike ordinary hatha yoga, these postures are specifically designed to awaken and channel Kundalini energy through the subtle energy channels (nadis) of the body. Regular practice brings physical health, vitality, and creates the bodily conditions necessary for deeper meditation.
This is considered the central and most powerful practice within Kriya Yoga. Through specific breathing techniques, the practitioner learns to circulate and directย pranaย (life-force energy) through the spine and the subtle energy centers (chakras). This systematic breathwork gradually awakens the dormant Kundalini energy and draws it upward through the central channel (Sushumna Nadi), leading to progressively higher states of consciousness.
The meditation practices of Kriya Yoga involve progressive techniques for stilling the mind, withdrawing consciousness from the external senses (pratyahara), and directing awareness inward. Through sustained practice, the meditator experiences deepening states of absorption โ from concentration (dharana) to meditation (dhyana) to the ultimate state of union (samadhi).
This branch involves the repetition of sacred sound vibrations โ either aloud or silently โ to purify and refine the mental and emotional bodies. Specific mantras are associated with different energy centers and states of consciousness, and their practice complements the other branches of Kriya Yoga by working at the vibrational level of consciousness.
The final branch encompasses the cultivation of devotion, love, and surrender to the Divine. This includes devotional practices, selfless service, and the development of an ever-deepening personal relationship with God/Source/the Absolute. Bhakti provides the emotional and motivational fuel for sustained practice of the other branches.
(Source:ย babajiskriyayoga.net โ What is Kriya Yoga?)
The complete system of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga, as transmitted throughย Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah, encompassesย 144 specific Kriya techniquesย distributed across the five branches. These techniques form a comprehensive, systematic approach to spiritual transformation โ each building upon the previous to create a progressive path from physical purification to ultimate Self-realization. The 144 techniques include specific asanas (postures), pranayamas (breath exercises), bandhas (energy locks), mudras (gestures), meditation methods, and devotional practices, all designed to work together as an integrated system. Detailed instruction in these techniques is available only through formal initiation from authorized teachers of the Kriya Babaji Yoga Sangam.
(Reference:ย Scribd โ Babaji’s Kriya Yoga, Yogi Ramaiah, 144 Kriya Techniques)
Mahavatar Babaji’s teachings are deeply rooted in the ancientย 18 Siddha traditionย (Pathinen Siddhar) of Tamil Nadu โ a lineage of enlightened masters who achieved extraordinary spiritual and scientific realizations thousands of years ago. The 18 Siddhas are revered in Tamil culture as divine beings who mastered the secrets of the body, mind, medicine, alchemy, and consciousness.
The 18 Siddhas include revered masters such asย Thirumoolarย (author of the Thirumandiram),ย Agasthiyarย (the father of Tamil literature and Siddha medicine),ย Bogar/Bhogarnatha (Babaji’s direct guru, who created the Navapashana idol at Palani), Korakkar,ย Machamuni,ย Konganar,ย Idaikkadar,ย Kamalamuni,ย Sattainathar,ย Sundaranandar,ย Karuvurar,ย Ramadevar,ย Nandeeswarar, Dhanvantri,ย Patanjali,ย Pambatti Siddhar,ย Kudambai, andย Valmiki. Each of these masters contributed unique knowledge to the integrated system that Babaji later synthesized as Kriya Yoga.
Babaji’s guru,ย Bhogarnatha (Bogar), holds a special place in this lineage. He is traditionally credited with creating the famousย Navapashana (nine-poison) idolย of Lord Subrahmanya at theย Palani Murugan Templeย in Tamil Nadu โ one of the most important pilgrimage sites in South India. Bogar spent years atย Pulipani Ashramย near Palani, where his statue stands today as a testament to his extraordinary life and teachings. After training at Palani, Bogar moved to Kataragama in Sri Lanka, where he would eventually meet and initiate young Nagaraj (Babaji).
(Sources:ย babajiskriyayoga.net;ย aalayamkanden.blogspot.com;ย thekriyayoga.com)
Theย Yantraย of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga is a sacred geometric symbol that represents the cosmic energies channeled through the practice. A yantra is a visual tool for meditation โ a geometric pattern that serves as a focal point for concentration and as a symbolic representation of divine consciousness.
The Yantra consists of three primary geometric elements, each with deep symbolic meaning. Theย outer circle (green)ย represents the infinite cosmos and the primordial sound of Om that pervades all existence. Theย square (blue)ย within it represents the material plane, the four directions, and the structured framework of earthly life. Theย triangle (red)ย at the center represents the divine trinity โ Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation), and Shiva (dissolution) โ as well as the three fundamental aspects of Kriya Yoga practice: tapas, svadhyaya, and Ishvara pranidhana. Theย bindu (dot)ย at the very center represents the point of absolute unity โ Atman, the Self, the destination of all yogic practice. The Tamil inscription “เฎเฎฎเฏ” (Om/Aum) at the four cardinal points anchors the yantra in the primordial vibration of the universe.
This guru mantra has the power toย connect the practitioner’s pulse to the pulse of Babaji, tuning the devotee into the grace of the legendary Himalayan Siddha. Through the mantra, Babaji reveals himself to his devotees. Through its repetition, the inner guru โ the supreme intelligence abiding in theย crown chakra (Sahasrara)ย โ becomes accessible.
The mantra isย shaktiย โ conscious energy. It carries power because the Guru transmits his shakti through the mantra, and the shakti enters the disciple through the mantra. The root of the mantra is the guru’s word, and indeed, the mantra is a form of the guru himself. Sincere and devoted repetition of this mantra, whether silently or aloud, is considered one of the most direct ways to invoke Babaji’s presence and blessings.
(Source:ย Babaji Institute of Kriya Yoga โ thekriyayoga.com;ย babajiskriyayoga.net)
The transmission of Kriya Yoga from Mahavatar Babaji to the modern world followed two primary lineages, both of which continue to thrive today:
Mahavatar Babaji appeared to Shyamacharan Lahiri (later known as Lahiri Mahasaya) in the hills near Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. Babaji initiated him into Kriya Yoga and instructed him to return to the world and teach the sacred science to all sincere seekers, regardless of caste or creed. Lahiri Mahasaya lived as a householder and government accountant in Varanasi, demonstrating that the highest spiritual attainments were available to ordinary people living in the world.
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri became a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya. A scholar of both Eastern and Western scriptures, Sri Yukteswar established ashrams at Serampore and Puri. In 1894, Babaji himself appeared to Sri Yukteswar at the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad and instructed him to write a comparative study of Hindu and Christian scriptures, which became the book The Holy Science.
Paramahansa Yogananda, Sri Yukteswar’s foremost disciple, traveled to America in 1920, becoming the first major Indian spiritual teacher to live permanently in the West. He founded the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and its sister organization in India, Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS). His 1946 book Autobiography of a Yogi introduced millions worldwide to Babaji and Kriya Yoga.
Today, Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) maintain Babaji’s cave at Dunagiri, operate ashrams and meditation centers worldwide, and continue to initiate seekers into Kriya Yoga following the lineage established by Yogananda. The organization has trained millions of practitioners across the globe.
Babaji appeared independently to S.A.A. Ramaiah, a young geology student at Madras University, and to V.T. Neelakantan, a prominent journalist. He brought them together to work for his mission and transmitted the complete system of Kriya Yoga rooted in the 18 Siddha tradition of Tamil Nadu. S.A.A. Ramaiah went on to establish 54 Kriya Yoga centers worldwide and founded the Kriya Babaji Yoga Sangam with headquarters in Chennai.
Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah oversaw the construction of a granite temple at Babaji’s birthplace in Parangipettai, built in the traditional Dravidian style. The site was identified through direct revelation from Babaji himself.
Marshall Govindan (Satchidananda), a Canadian who trained under Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah for over 18 years, established ashrams in Quebec (Canada), Bangalore (India), Badrinath, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Japan, and Austria. His books, including Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition, provide detailed accounts of Babaji’s life and teachings. He continues to initiate seekers and train teachers through the Babaji’s Kriya Yoga and Publications organization.
(Sources: Paramahansa Yogananda,ย Autobiography of a Yogi;ย babajiskriyayoga.net โ Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah;ย Kriya Babaji Yoga Sangam)
Theย Kriya Babaji Templeย stands at the very site where Mahavatar Babaji is believed to have been born over 1,800 years ago in the coastal town of Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu. The temple was built in 1975 under the direction ofย Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah, who received direct guidance from Babaji regarding the location of his birthplace.
The temple is constructed in the traditionalย Dravidian architectural style, using hand-carved granite blocks quarried from near Kanadukathan and sculpted by traditionalย stapathiย artisans in Karakudi. The construction process itself was considered a sacred undertaking, completed during the monsoon season with workers chanting divine names as they labored to move the massive stone blocks into place.
High in the mountains of theย Kumaon Himalayas, near the ancient village of Kukuchina onย Dunagiri Mountainย in Uttarakhand, lies the most sacred site in the Kriya Yoga world โย Mahavatar Babaji’s Cave. This is the cave where, in 1861, Babaji appeared to the government accountantย Lahiri Mahasayaย and initiated him into the ancient science of Kriya Yoga, thereby setting in motion the spiritual revolution that would eventually reach millions of seekers worldwide.
The cave is situated on theย Pandukholi Mountainย ridge, accessible via a renovated mountain path that requires approximately one hour of climbing from the trailhead. The trail passes through dense Himalayan forests of pine and oak, with breathtaking views of terraced hillsides and distant mountain ranges.
(Sources:ย dunagiri.com โ How to Reach Babaji’s Cave; Paramahansa Yogananda,ย Autobiography of a Yogi)
The ancient sacred city ofย Kataragamaย in southern Sri Lanka holds a pivotal place in the life of Mahavatar Babaji. It was here that the young Nagaraj, then just 11 years old, met his destined guruย Bhogarnatha Siddharย and was initiated into the profound practices of Kriya Yoga. Today, aย Babaji Kriya Yoga Ashramย stands in Kataragama at No. 9, Naga Street โ a living reminder of this sacred connection. The ashram serves as a center for Kriya Yoga practice, meditation, and pilgrimage for devotees from around the world.
Kataragama is one of the most important multi-faith pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka, sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, and indigenous Vedda people alike. For devotees of Lord Murugan (Skanda), it is particularly significant as the site where Murugan is believed to have established his divine presence. For Kriya Yogis, it carries the additional sanctity of being where Babaji received his first formal Kriya Yoga initiation and had a direct vision of Lord Muruga.
Pulipani Ashramย near the famousย Palani Murugan Templeย in Tamil Nadu is another crucial site in the Kriya Yoga lineage. This is where Babaji’s guru,ย Bhogarnatha (Bogar), spent many years in intense yogic practice before his journey to Kataragama. Bogar is one of the most celebrated of the 18 Siddhas, renowned for creating the sacredย Navapashana idolย (made from nine poisonous herbs alchemically transformed) of Lord Subrahmanya that is worshipped at the Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple to this day.
Aย statue of Bogarย stands at Pulipani Ashram, honoring his extraordinary contribution to the Siddha tradition. The ashram serves as a pilgrimage point for devotees tracing the lineage of Kriya Yoga from its ancient Siddha roots. For Kriya Yoga practitioners, visiting Pulipani Ashram offers a tangible connection to the guru-disciple chain that ultimately produced Mahavatar Babaji.
There are two main routes to reach the cave from Delhi:
For theย Dunagiri cave trek:ย Wear sturdy, comfortable trekking shoes. Carry 2 liters of water, light snacks, and sun protection. The cave is open fromย 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. Visitors are requested toย remove shoes and maintain silenceย inside the cave and surrounding shrine area. The trek can be moderately strenuous for beginners.
Forย Parangipettai temple:ย Dress modestly (covering shoulders and knees) as this is an active Hindu temple. Temple hours are 8:00 AMโ12:00 PM and 4:00 PMโ8:00 PM. It is advisable toย contact Kriya Babaji Yoga Sangam in advanceย as entry may require prior permission.
(Source:ย dunagiri.com โ Practical Tips for Visiting Babaji’s Cave)
As part of our ongoing spiritual documentation work at theย Arun Raj Foundation, I undertook a pilgrimage to both of Mahavatar Babaji’s most sacred sites โ his birthplace temple in Parangipettai and his Himalayan cave near Dunagiri. What follows is a brief account of this deeply transformative journey, documented through photographs taken during the pilgrimage.
Arriving at the modest entrance gate of the Kriya Babaji Temple in Parangipettai, you are immediately struck by the contrast between the spiritual significance of this site and its quiet, unassuming location in a small coastal Tamil Nadu town. The ornate silver gate bears the inscription “Kriya Babaji Temple” in both Tamil (เฎเฎฟเฎฐเฎฟเฎฏเฎพ เฎชเฎพเฎชเฎพเฎเฎฟ เฎเฏเฎตเฎฟเฎฒเฏ) and English.
The journey to Babaji’s cave near Dunagiri is as much a spiritual experience as a physical one. From the base point near Kukuchina, the path ascends through magnificent pine and oak forests, with the crisp Himalayan air filling the lungs at every step. The trail narrows at certain points to barely a foot wide, hugging the mountainside with steep drops to the valley below โ a reminder that the spiritual path itself requires both courage and faith.
Reaching the cave itself was a profoundly moving experience. The small structure maintained by the Yogoda Satsanga Society, with its simple sign reading “Cave of Mahavatar Babaji,” conceals an interior that radiates an almost tangible spiritual energy. Sitting in meditation inside the cave where Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga over 160 years ago, one cannot help but feel connected to a vast, ancient stream of spiritual transmission that stretches back through millennia.
The following videos were recorded during our pilgrimage to the sacred sites associated with Mahavatar Babaji. Upload these to your website’s media library to display them here.
๐ฌ Video Files Included
Video 1: babaji-cave-dunagiri-video-1.mp4 โ Footage from the trek and sacred sites near Dunagiri
Video 2: babaji-cave-dunagiri-video-2.mp4 โ Additional footage from the pilgrimage
Instructions: Upload these videos to your WordPress Media Library and embed them using the WordPress video block or a video player plugin.
For additional context and visual reference, consider embedding these publicly available YouTube videos about Babaji and Kriya Yoga on your page using the WordPress YouTube embed block. Search for titles like “Autobiography of a Yogi Babaji Chapter,” “Kriya Yoga Meditation Introduction,” or “Dunagiri Babaji Cave Trek” to find relevant, high-quality content to embed.
Mahavatar Babaji is a legendary immortal yogi believed to have been born on November 30, 203 CE in Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India. He is the reviver ofย Kriya Yogaย and is considered a Mahavatar โ a great divine incarnation. His existence was first publicly revealed through Paramahansa Yogananda’sย Autobiography of a Yogiย in 1946. He is believed to continue living in the Himalayas, guiding sincere spiritual seekers.
Kriya Yoga is an ancient meditation and pranayama technique revived by Mahavatar Babaji. It includes five branches โย Hatha Yogaย (physical postures),ย Kundalini Pranayamaย (breath control),ย Dhyanaย (meditation),ย Mantraย (sacred sound), andย Bhaktiย (devotion). The practice is designed to accelerate spiritual evolution by purifying the body, stilling the mind, and awakening the dormant Kundalini energy.
The sacred cave is located inย Kukuchina, near Dunagiri Mountainย in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, India. It is maintained by the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (Self-Realization Fellowship) and is open to visitors fromย 8 AM to 4 PM daily. The cave is accessible via a 1-hour mountain trek from Kukuchina village.
Babaji was born in the coastal village ofย Parangipettaiย (formerly Swethanathapuram), near Chidambaram in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. A temple calledย Kriya Babaji Templeย was built at his birthplace in 1975 by Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah.
According to the Kriya Yoga tradition, Babaji attainedย Soruba Samadhiย โ a state of immortal consciousness in which the physical body is transformed. Devotees believe he continues to exist in an immortal form in the Himalayas. Paramahansa Yogananda and numerous other spiritual teachers have described encounters with Babaji spanning across centuries.
Kriya Yoga is traditionally transmitted through formal initiation from an authorized guru or teacher. The most direct and authentic path to learning Babaji’s Kriya Yoga is through theย Kriya Babaji Yoga Sangam (KBYS), founded byย Yogiar (Prof. Dr. Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah), the direct disciple of Sathguru Kriya Babaji himself. Yogiar received the complete transmission of 144 Kriya techniques directly from Babaji and established 54 centers worldwide to disseminate these teachings. KBYS headquarters is at 5A Arulanandam Street, Santhome, Chennai 600004, India. For international training programs, theย Babaji Institute of Kriya Yogaย (thekriyayoga.com) offers teacher training courses in India, Sri Lanka, and Bali. Additionally, theย Babaji’s Kriya Yoga and Publicationsย organization (babajiskriyayoga.net), led by Marshall Govindan (Satchidananda), a senior disciple of Yogiar, offers initiation seminars worldwide. Theย Self-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Societyย (following the Yogananda lineage) also offers Kriya Yoga initiation through their lessons program.
Within the Tamil Siddha tradition, Babaji is often venerated as anย avatar (incarnation) of Lord Muruganย (Subrahmanya), Shiva’s divine son. The Tamil inscription at the Parangipettai temple describes Babaji as an incarnation of Tamil deity Murugan. This connection is also reflected in the fact that Babaji’s father was a priest at a Shiva temple that later became a Muruga temple, and that Babaji received initiation at Kataragama, which is one of the most important Murugan pilgrimage sites.
Mahavatar Babaji’s image appears on the cover ofย The Beatles’ iconic 1967 albumย Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This inclusion reflects the band’s deep interest in Eastern spirituality, particularly their study of Paramahansa Yogananda’sย Autobiography of a Yogi. George Harrison, the band’s lead guitarist, was especially devoted to Indian spiritual traditions throughout his life.
Disclaimer & Copyright Notice:ย All photographs on this page are original works from the author’s personal pilgrimage and are the property of the Arun Raj Foundation. Historical and spiritual information has been compiled from multiple publicly available sources, which are cited throughout the text and in the References section. This page is intended for educational and spiritual purposes. For the most authoritative information about Kriya Yoga initiation and practice, please consult the organizations referenced above directly. All referenced external content is attributed to its original source with proper citations. No copyrighted material has been reproduced; all content is original writing based on research and personal experience.
The Arun Raj Foundation is dedicated to documenting and preserving India’s rich spiritual heritage. Explore our extensive collection ofย Murugan Temple guidesย across Tamil Nadu and beyond, featuring original photographs, historical details, and pilgrimage information.
Mahavatar Babaji’s deep connection to Lord Murugan makes this page a natural extension of our temple documentation mission โ bridging the ancient Siddha traditions of Tamil Nadu with the Himalayan spiritual heritage that has inspired millions worldwide.