Neem Karoli Baba (Hindi: नीम करोली
बाबा) or Neeb Karori Baba also known to followers as
Maharaj-ji, was a Hindu guru and devotee of the Hindu deity Hanuman.
He is known outside India for being the guru of a number of Americans who
travelled to India in the 1960s and 1970s, the most well-known being the
spiritual teachers Ram Dass and Bhagavan Das, and the musiciansKrishna Das and Jai Uttal.
His ashrams are in Kainchi, Vrindavan, Rishikesh, Shimla, Bhumiadhar, Hanuman
Gadi, Lucknow, Delhi in India and in Taos, New
Mexico, USA.
He left his home and wandered extensively throughout northern India as
a sadhu.
During this time he was known under many names including Lakshman Das, Handi
Wallah Baba, and Tikonia Walla Baba. When he did tapasya and sadhana at Bavania in Gujarat,
he was known as Tallaiya Baba. In Vrindavan,
local inhabitants addressed him by the name of Chamatkari Baba (miraclebaba).[1] He
was considered by many to be a saint.
Neem Karoli was a lifelong adept of bhakti yoga,
and encouraged service to others (seva)
as the highest form of unconditional devotion to God.
Baba Neem Karoli's Ashram in Taos is dedicated to his saying: "Love
everyone, serve everyone."
Maharajji established at least 108 temples, fed millions of people,
advised government and corporate leaders, performed what can be called
Miracles, influenced current American and Indian society, brought grace into
the lives of countless suffering people, and all the while remained out of the
"public eye."
It is believed that by the time Maharajji was 17 years old He knew
EVERYTHING. This is to be taken to mean a knowing that is actually incomprehensible
to you and me. A knowing that is all. The knowing of Bhagvan. The knowing of
God. Maharajji had nothing and Maharajji had everything.
In the late 60's an American known as Baba Ram Dass authored books telling
of Neem Karoli Baba and hundreds of westerners went for Maharajji's darshan.
Maharajji was elusive as the stories tell, but many were allowed to be in His
presence and they tell stories that are a wonderment of love and grace and
lilas and mostly awe.
Now, there appears to be three Maharajji's. One is the historical
Maharajji. This Maharajji seems to have taken birth and lived a
"traceable" life in time. Secondly, there is the "formless"
Maharajji. This Maharajji is the Maharajji that we apparently connect with on
our "inner" dimension. Thirdly, there is the Maharajji that exists in
form "now"; the Maharajji who is reported seen and experienced; the
Maharajji who never actually died. This is Maharajji who is a
"time-traveler". We are just beginning to learn about that Maharajji
and some of His effects in the world.
Maharajji taught many people. These teachings continue today. The teaching
was very subtle or literally a knock on the head. Maharajji's teachings seem to
have been totally individual. Each devotee would have the answer or the help
they needed in the way that was best suited to their needs. When devotees remembered
Him, Maharajji would rush to them to help and protect them. This seems to be
going on to this day.
Maharajji seems to be continually visiting people and helping them since
He "left His body" in Vrindaban in 1973. Maharajji has visited,
helped, guided, fed, and called into service so many in the last forty years.
Maharajji never went away. For this we can be grateful.
