My Avatar Is A Real Avatar!

kullukid · Sep 21st, 2006, 23:52

What or who is your Avatar & what does it mean to you?

My Avatar is Mahavatar Babaji, who is a wandering saint who dwells in the Himalayas & alledgedly has done so for over 1800 hundred years, Over the last 200 years he has appeared on several occasions to a few spiritually advanced people such as Yogananda, (author of "autobiography of a yogi" & founder of "The Fellowship Of Self Realisation" in the U.S.) his Guru Sri Yukteswar & his Guru Lahiri Mahasaya. He appeared to these 3 in particular as they were part of a lineage & Babaji was actually the Guru of Lahiri Mahasaya, whom he taught & initiated into the ancient practice of "Kriya Yoga" (breath control) Babaji instructed Lahiri to "Bestow the kriya key only on qualified chelas" but Lahiri pleaded with Babaji to let him communicate kriya to all seekers (for the benefit of mankind) Babaji granted him this wish thereby releasing the ancient secret art of kriya to the world. Lahiri instructed over 5000 people in the art & Yogananda took the method across to America & introduced it to the western world. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Babaji.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mahavatar Babaji -
Babaji is a legendary Hindu saint, yogi, and culture hero. His life was first documented by Paramahansa Yogananda in his best-selling Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) and later accounts have added to Babaji's biography, some claim him to be nearly 1,800 years old. Yogananda describes Mahavatar Babaji as the guru of Lahiri Mahasaya and an avatar. Yogananda wrote that Mahavatar Babaji is responsible for the revival, in 1861, of a spiritual technique known as Kriya Yoga, which is claimed to accelerate the spiritual aspirant's evolution. Yogananda said that Babaji was Krishna in a former lifetime,[ and he often prayed out loud to "Babaji-Krishna." Lahiri Mahasaya wrote in his personal diary that 'Krishna is Babaji'.

From Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda:

The northern Himalayan crags near Badrinarayan are still blessed by the living presence of Babaji, guru of Lahiri Mahasaya. The secluded master has retained his physical form for centuries, perhaps for millenniums. The deathless Babaji is an avatara. This Sanskrit word means “descent”; its roots are ava, “down,” and tri, “to pass.” In the Hindu scriptures, avatara signifies the descent of Divinity into flesh.
Babaji's spiritual state is beyond human comprehension," Sri Yukteswar explained to me. "The dwarfed vision of men cannot pierce to his transcendental star. One attempts in vain even to picture the avatar's attainment. It is inconceivable.
More from Autobiography of a Yogi, on Mahavatar Babaji's life and role:

The Mahavatar is in constant communion with Christ; together they send out vibrations of redemption, and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age. The work of these two fully-illumined masters–one with the body, and one without it–is to inspire the nations to forsake suicidal wars, race hatreds, religious sectarianism, and the boomerang-evils of materialism. Babaji is well aware of the trend of modern times, especially of the influence and complexities of Western civilization, and realizes the necessity of spreading the self-liberations of yoga equally in the West and in the East.
That there is no historical reference to Babaji need not surprise us. The great guru has never openly appeared in any century; the misinterpreting glare of publicity has no place in his millennial plans. Like the Creator, the sole but silent Power, Babaji works in a humble obscurity.
No limiting facts about Babaji’s family or birthplace, dear to the annalist’s heart, have ever been discovered. His speech is generally in Hindi, but he converses easily in any language. He has adopted the simple name of Babaji (revered father); other titles of respect given him by Lahiri Mahasaya’s disciples are Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj (supreme ecstatic saint), Maha Yogi (greatest of yogis), Trambak Baba and Shiva Baba (titles of avatars of Shiva). Does it matter that we know not the patronymic of an earth-released master?
"Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji," Lahiri Mahasaya said, "that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing."

Post-Yogananda claims about Mahavatar Babaji
Since the publication of Autobiography of a Yogi in 1946, several teachers have claimed a direct connection to Mahavatar Babaji, and offered more background stories about Babaji. Some of these stories conflict with the details in Autobiography of a Yogi, and some contradict each other. There are different opinions on whether these stories refer to the Mahavatar Babaji that Yogananda wrote about.

Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition by M. Govindan, builds upon Yogananda's description of Babaji by giving new details, such as Babaji's birthdate (30th of November 203 A.D.), youth, and attainment of the highest goal of physical immortality under the guidance of two great Siddha Masters of South India - Agastyar and Bogar. Govindan claims to have met Babaji in person.

Another saint who is often identified with Mahavatar Babaji is Hariakhan Baba, a teacher who lived and taught from 1861 through 1924. Babaji is discussed in the book Hariakhan Baba: Known and Unknown by Baba Hari Dasa. Several accounts were also written by an Indian holy man named Mahendra Baba, a long term disciple, who identified him as being the same person as Mahavatar Babaji. Roy Eugene Davis, a direct personal disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and former minister of the Self-Realization Fellowship Phoenix Temple, expressed a similar conclusion in his book Life Surrendered in God: The Philosophy and Practices of Kriya Yoga.

Another teacher who is mistakenly identified with Mahavatar Babaji has a confusingly similar name, Haidakhan Babaji. He lived in northern India and taught publicly from 1970 to 1984. The spiritual teacher Leonard Orr wrote about his encounters with Haidakhan Babaji in many of his books, including Babaji: The Angel of the Lord and, together with Sondra Ray, promoted him as being Mahavatar Babaji. Since this 'Babaji' died in 1984, he cannot be the same Mahavatar Babaji from Autobiography of a Yogi, who said, "I will never leave my physical body." 'Babaji' is a common name for saints and teachers in India - thus the growing confusion about the many different 'Babajis'. Shanti! KK

AvidTrekker · Sep 22nd, 2006, 00:20

kullukid, have you met Babaji? Or any of his direct disciples? Since when are you aware of Babaji?

I just met one of Babaji's direct disciples at Himachal Pradesh. His bhaktas have made an ashram dedicated to Babaji. Babaji's statue has been installed at this ashram. People around him say this disciple is 400 plus years old. To me he appears around 35 - 40. He stays somewhere around Amarnath during winters... comes to this ashram only briefly during summer.

There are two other direct disciples I have met in Mumbai.

emilii · Sep 22nd, 2006, 02:25

My avatar is a picture of two little girls we met in Coorg. It was taken on our first trip to India in December 2004. Beautiful

kullukid · Sep 22nd, 2006, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvidTrekker

kullukid, have you met Babaji? Or any of his direct disciples? Since when are you aware of Babaji?

I just met one of Babaji's direct disciples at Himachal Pradesh. His bhaktas have made an ashram dedicated to Babaji. Babaji's statue has been installed at this ashram. People around him say this disciple is 400 plus years old. To me he appears around 35 - 40. He stays somewhere around Amarnath during winters... comes to this ashram only briefly during summer.

There are two other direct disciples I have met in Mumbai.

I WISH!

Avid, Maybe if i desire hard enough he will materialise himself in front of me! like the crystal palace appeared to Lahiri Mahasaya?

& pray do tell where in H.P.is the ashram? is this where you met his disciple? Were you convinced?
I was first aware of Babaji about 15yrs ago when i read Yoganandas book & have been fascinated ever since.
Slightly off topic, but do you know if the road from spiti to Kinnaur as re-opened Howieuk is in Vashisht at the mo & is wanting to do the full circle by bullet but i told him he needs to check the bridge situation!

If you bump into Babaji in the deep Himalaya tell him i'm looking for him!

Vasko · Sep 22nd, 2006, 17:05

My avatar is Shy Baba. Hence the box.

anu_k · Sep 22nd, 2006, 17:42

My avatar is the Glorioso Lily (or karthigaipoo in tamil). It is the national flower of my homeland.

saajan_20 · Sep 22nd, 2006, 18:06

my avtaar is me driving up in the mountains
cant remember which 1 is this
my quest for driving up mountains brought me here to indiamike!!!

AvidTrekker · Sep 23rd, 2006, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by kullukid

I WISH!

Avid, Maybe if i desire hard enough he will materialise himself in front of me! like the crystal palace appeared to Lahiri Mahasaya?

& pray do tell where in H.P.is the ashram?

Tell you by PM... I don't think he will appreciate publicity.

Quote:

is this where you met his disciple?

yes

Quote:

Were you convinced?

of what? That he is actually Babaji's disciple? At least I believe so... otherwise I would not have gone there in the first place.

Quote:

Slightly off topic, but do you know if the road from spiti to Kinnaur as re-opened Howieuk is in Vashisht at the mo & is wanting to do the full circle by bullet but i told him he needs to check the bridge situation!

The route is open. They have created a Malling Pass route above the infamous Malling Naalaa.... so it wont close at that point at least.

Quote:

If you bump into Babaji in the deep Himalaya tell him i'm looking for him!

He knows, I don't need to inform Him.

kullukid · Sep 24th, 2006, 00:20

MY PRIVATE MESSAGE FACILITIES ACTIVATED
MY FLIGHTS BOOKED
MY BAGS ARE PACKED
LEAD THE WAY AVID!

kk

martintheveg · Oct 6th, 2006, 00:08

Hi.
I`ve just put mine on from the "Ring of Kerry", Ireland, last year.
Not very "indian" or spiritual though,i`m afraid.

Shaktipalooza · Oct 6th, 2006, 01:28

Mine is India's first Super Hero, Shaktimaan!!!!

"Lover of truth and an enemy of all evil. His birth has been to wipe off all evil from this earth. Filled with yogic powers and a tower of strength and energy, he is a friend of society and especially weaker section of society."

I believe one of his powers was the ability to do things really fast...

indiadreamer · Oct 6th, 2006, 02:19

A young girl I met from the street kids. A brief respite of fun and childhood in a life with little of both.

rangss · Oct 6th, 2006, 02:36

Mine has a reward on his head.

etin · Oct 6th, 2006, 03:10

mine is not a blond...... ooops

robotvoice · Oct 6th, 2006, 03:49

my avatar is robby the robot from "forbidden planet"

Sep 21st, 2006, 23:52	#1
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 934	My Avatar Is A Real Avatar! What or who is your Avatar & what does it mean to you? My Avatar is Mahavatar Babaji, who is a wandering saint who dwells in the Himalayas & alledgedly has done so for over 1800 hundred years, Over the last 200 years he has appeared on several occasions to a few spiritually advanced people such as Yogananda, (author of "autobiography of a yogi" & founder of "The Fellowship Of Self Realisation" in the U.S.) his Guru Sri Yukteswar & his Guru Lahiri Mahasaya. He appeared to these 3 in particular as they were part of a lineage & Babaji was actually the Guru of Lahiri Mahasaya, whom he taught & initiated into the ancient practice of "Kriya Yoga" (breath control) Babaji instructed Lahiri to "Bestow the kriya key only on qualified chelas" but Lahiri pleaded with Babaji to let him communicate kriya to all seekers (for the benefit of mankind) Babaji granted him this wish thereby releasing the ancient secret art of kriya to the world. Lahiri instructed over 5000 people in the art & Yogananda took the method across to America & introduced it to the western world. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Babaji. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mahavatar Babaji - Babaji is a legendary Hindu saint, yogi, and culture hero. His life was first documented by Paramahansa Yogananda in his best-selling Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) and later accounts have added to Babaji's biography, some claim him to be nearly 1,800 years old. Yogananda describes Mahavatar Babaji as the guru of Lahiri Mahasaya and an avatar. Yogananda wrote that Mahavatar Babaji is responsible for the revival, in 1861, of a spiritual technique known as Kriya Yoga, which is claimed to accelerate the spiritual aspirant's evolution. Yogananda said that Babaji was Krishna in a former lifetime,[ and he often prayed out loud to "Babaji-Krishna." Lahiri Mahasaya wrote in his personal diary that 'Krishna is Babaji'. From Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda: The northern Himalayan crags near Badrinarayan are still blessed by the living presence of Babaji, guru of Lahiri Mahasaya. The secluded master has retained his physical form for centuries, perhaps for millenniums. The deathless Babaji is an avatara. This Sanskrit word means “descent”; its roots are ava, “down,” and tri, “to pass.” In the Hindu scriptures, avatara signifies the descent of Divinity into flesh. Babaji's spiritual state is beyond human comprehension," Sri Yukteswar explained to me. "The dwarfed vision of men cannot pierce to his transcendental star. One attempts in vain even to picture the avatar's attainment. It is inconceivable. More from Autobiography of a Yogi, on Mahavatar Babaji's life and role: The Mahavatar is in constant communion with Christ; together they send out vibrations of redemption, and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age. The work of these two fully-illumined masters–one with the body, and one without it–is to inspire the nations to forsake suicidal wars, race hatreds, religious sectarianism, and the boomerang-evils of materialism. Babaji is well aware of the trend of modern times, especially of the influence and complexities of Western civilization, and realizes the necessity of spreading the self-liberations of yoga equally in the West and in the East. That there is no historical reference to Babaji need not surprise us. The great guru has never openly appeared in any century; the misinterpreting glare of publicity has no place in his millennial plans. Like the Creator, the sole but silent Power, Babaji works in a humble obscurity. No limiting facts about Babaji’s family or birthplace, dear to the annalist’s heart, have ever been discovered. His speech is generally in Hindi, but he converses easily in any language. He has adopted the simple name of Babaji (revered father); other titles of respect given him by Lahiri Mahasaya’s disciples are Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj (supreme ecstatic saint), Maha Yogi (greatest of yogis), Trambak Baba and Shiva Baba (titles of avatars of Shiva). Does it matter that we know not the patronymic of an earth-released master? "Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji," Lahiri Mahasaya said, "that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing." Post-Yogananda claims about Mahavatar Babaji Since the publication of Autobiography of a Yogi in 1946, several teachers have claimed a direct connection to Mahavatar Babaji, and offered more background stories about Babaji. Some of these stories conflict with the details in Autobiography of a Yogi, and some contradict each other. There are different opinions on whether these stories refer to the Mahavatar Babaji that Yogananda wrote about. Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition by M. Govindan, builds upon Yogananda's description of Babaji by giving new details, such as Babaji's birthdate (30th of November 203 A.D.), youth, and attainment of the highest goal of physical immortality under the guidance of two great Siddha Masters of South India - Agastyar and Bogar. Govindan claims to have met Babaji in person. Another saint who is often identified with Mahavatar Babaji is Hariakhan Baba, a teacher who lived and taught from 1861 through 1924. Babaji is discussed in the book Hariakhan Baba: Known and Unknown by Baba Hari Dasa. Several accounts were also written by an Indian holy man named Mahendra Baba, a long term disciple, who identified him as being the same person as Mahavatar Babaji. Roy Eugene Davis, a direct personal disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and former minister of the Self-Realization Fellowship Phoenix Temple, expressed a similar conclusion in his book Life Surrendered in God: The Philosophy and Practices of Kriya Yoga. Another teacher who is mistakenly identified with Mahavatar Babaji has a confusingly similar name, Haidakhan Babaji. He lived in northern India and taught publicly from 1970 to 1984. The spiritual teacher Leonard Orr wrote about his encounters with Haidakhan Babaji in many of his books, including Babaji: The Angel of the Lord and, together with Sondra Ray, promoted him as being Mahavatar Babaji. Since this 'Babaji' died in 1984, he cannot be the same Mahavatar Babaji from Autobiography of a Yogi, who said, "I will never leave my physical body." 'Babaji' is a common name for saints and teachers in India - thus the growing confusion about the many different 'Babajis'. Shanti! KK

Sep 22nd, 2006, 00:20	#2
AvidTrekker Veda Chanting & Mantra Yoga teacher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya Posts: 2,772	Babaji's disciple kullukid, have you met Babaji? Or any of his direct disciples? Since when are you aware of Babaji? I just met one of Babaji's direct disciples at Himachal Pradesh. His bhaktas have made an ashram dedicated to Babaji. Babaji's statue has been installed at this ashram. People around him say this disciple is 400 plus years old. To me he appears around 35 - 40. He stays somewhere around Amarnath during winters... comes to this ashram only briefly during summer. There are two other direct disciples I have met in Mumbai. __________________ The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

Sep 22nd, 2006, 02:25	#3
emilii Back to Delhi =)) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 164	My avatar is a picture of two little girls we met in Coorg. It was taken on our first trip to India in December 2004. Beautiful __________________ Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Seuss My homeland http://virtual.finland.fi/Picture_Book

Oct 6th, 2006, 00:08	#10
martintheveg Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bromley, Kent , U.K. Posts: 93	avatar Hi. I`ve just put mine on from the "Ring of Kerry", Ireland, last year. Not very "indian" or spiritual though,i`m afraid.

Oct 6th, 2006, 01:28	#11
Shaktipalooza Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Portland Oregon USA Posts: 893	Mine is India's first Super Hero, Shaktimaan!!!! "Lover of truth and an enemy of all evil. His birth has been to wipe off all evil from this earth. Filled with yogic powers and a tower of strength and energy, he is a friend of society and especially weaker section of society." I believe one of his powers was the ability to do things really fast... __________________ IndiaGroove - Train finder now in beta! Pics from India 2006 Traditional Indian Dance

Sep 22nd, 2006, 17:05	#5
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 479	My avatar is Shy Baba. Hence the box.

Sep 22nd, 2006, 17:42	#6
anu_k Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 128	My avatar is the Glorioso Lily (or karthigaipoo in tamil). It is the national flower of my homeland.

Sep 22nd, 2006, 18:06	#7
saajan_20 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: bombay {mumbai} Posts: 315	my avtaar is me driving up in the mountains cant remember which 1 is this my quest for driving up mountains brought me here to indiamike!!!

Sep 24th, 2006, 00:20	#9
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 934	MY PRIVATE MESSAGE FACILITIES ACTIVATED MY FLIGHTS BOOKED MY BAGS ARE PACKED LEAD THE WAY AVID! kk

Oct 6th, 2006, 02:19	#12
indiadreamer workin on my attitude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Global Village......... ok, California Posts: 216	A young girl I met from the street kids. A brief respite of fun and childhood in a life with little of both.

Oct 6th, 2006, 02:36	#13
rangss Bulk Carrier Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,834	Mine has a reward on his head. __________________ ...and I took the road less travelled.

Oct 6th, 2006, 03:10	#14
etin ° Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Confoederatio Helvetica Posts: 253	mine is not a blond...... ooops

Oct 6th, 2006, 03:49	#15
robotvoice mikeaholic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california Posts: 1,159	my avatar is robby the robot from "forbidden planet"

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