Neem Karoli Baba has profoundly impacted the lives of many, including notable figures like Virat Kohli, Julia Roberts, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs.
Here’s everything you need to know about baba ji.
Neem Karoli baba
- Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma made a pilgrimage to Baba ji’s ashram, Kainchi Dham, located in Nainital.
- Julia Roberts shared that she was drawn to Hinduism after seeing a photograph of Neem Karoli Baba.
- Mark Zuckerberg visited the ashram during a challenging period for himself and Facebook. Initially planning to stay for just one day, the Facebook founder ended up extending his stay to two days.
- Apple co-founder Steve Jobs traveled to the Ashram with his friend Dan Kottke to meet Baba ji. However, Baba ji had passed away before Jobs could meet him.
Neem Karoli baba facts
1 - Early Life and Background
Baba ji was born into a Brahmin family in the village of Akbarpur, located in the Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
2 - Marriage and Wandering
- At the age of 11, Neem Karoli Baba was married to a Brahmin girl.
- Shortly after the marriage, he left home and wandered across India as a sadhu, adopting various names.
3 - Spiritual Knowledge
It is believed that by the age of 17, Neem Karoli Baba had attained complete spiritual knowledge.
4 - Return to Family Life
- After wandering for 10-15 years, his father learned that Neem Karoli Baba had been seen in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh.
His father went to bring him back, urging him to stay with the family. During his time at home, Neem Karoli Baba, who had two sons and a daughter, engaged in social work.
5 - Construction of Spiritual Sites
In 1962, Neem Karoli Baba constructed a platform (chabootara) at a location in Kainchi village where two spiritual gurus, Sadhu Premi Baba and Sombari Maharaj, had performed Yagyas.
6 - Building of Temples
- Neem Karoli Baba established several temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman, with the first one inaugurated on June 15, 1964. A second temple was later built in Vrindavan.
7 - Temples and Ashrams
Neem Karoli Baba has established temples in various locations, including Lucknow, and an Ashram in Texas, USA. According to his official website, Maharajji founded at least 108 temples.
8 - Influence in the West
- In the late 1960s, an American named Baba Ram Dass wrote books about Baba ji, leading hundreds of Westerners to seek his darshan.
9 - Final Days and Legacy
- Neem Karoli Baba chose Vrindavan for his Samadhi.
He passed away on September 10, 1973. A temple was later built at the Ashram in his honor, with his statue being consecrated on June 15, 1976.
10 - Visiting the Ashram
- Visitors wishing to stay at the Ashram in Kainchi village must obtain prior permission.
- With a reference from an older devotee, one can stay for three days.
- The ashram remains closed for a significant part of the year due to extreme cold.
