Neem Karoli Baba

Neem Karoli Baba(Hindi:नीम करौली बाबा,romanized:nīm karaulī bābā)orNeeb Karori Baba(Hindi:नीब करौरी बाबा,romanized:nīb karaurī bābā) (c.1900– 11 September 1973), also known to his followers as 'Maharaj-ji', was aHinduguruand a devotee of theHindu deityHanuman.He is known outside India for being the spiritual master of a number of Americans who travelled to India in the 1960s and 1970s.
Lakshman Narayan Sharmawas born around 1900 in the village Akbarpur inFirozabaddistrict ofUttar Pradesh, India, to a wealthyBrahminfamily.After being married by his parents at the age of 11, he left home to become a wanderingsadhu. He later returned home, at his father's request, to live a settled married life. He fathered two sons and a daughter.
Neem Karoli Baba, known at the time as Baba Lakshman Das (also spelled "Laxman Das"), left his home in 1958.Ram Dasstells a story that Baba Lakshman Das boarded a train without a ticket and the conductor decided to halt the train and forced him out of the train in Neem Karoli village ofFarrukhabad district(U.P). After forcing Baba off the train, the conductor found that the train would not start again. After several attempts at starting the train, someone suggested to the conductor that they allow the sadhu back on to the train. Neem Karoli agreed to board the train on two conditions: 1) the railway company promise to build a station in the village of Neem Karoli (at the time the villagers had to walk many miles to the nearest station), and 2) the railway company must henceforth treat ascetics better. The officials agreed and Neem Karoli Baba boarded the train joking, "What, is it up to me to start trains?" Immediately after his boarding the train, it started, but the train drivers would not proceed unless the sadhu blessed them to move forward. Baba gave his blessings and the train proceeded. Later a train station was built in the village.However, there is no factual evidence of this story being true. Baba lived in the village for a while and was named by locals.
Thereafter he wandered extensively throughout Northern India. During this time he was known under many names, including: Lakshman Das, Handi Wallah Baba, and Tikonia Walla Baba. When he didtapasyaandsadhanaatVavaniavillage ofMorbiinGujarat, he was known as Tallaiya Baba. InVrindavan, local inhabitants addressed him by the name of Chamatkari Baba ("miraclebaba").During his life two mainashramswere built, at Kainchi and at Vrindavan.In time, over 100 temples were constructed in his name.
The Kainchi Dhamashram, where he stayed in the last decade of his life, was built in 1964 with a Hanuman temple. It started two years prior with a modest platform built for two localsadhus, Premi Baba and Sombari Maharaj to performyagnas. Over the years the temple, situated 17 km fromNainitalon the Nainital-Almoraroad, has become an important pilgrimage for locals, as well as spiritual seekers and devotees worldwide. Each year on June 15, the Kainchi DhamBhandaratakes place to commemorate the inauguration of the temple, a celebration that typically receives over 100,000 devotees.
Neem Karoli Baba died at approximately 1:15 a.m. on 11 September 1973 in a hospital atVrindavan,India,after slipping into a diabetic coma. He had been returning by night train toKainchinearNainital, fromAgrawhere he had visited a heart specialist due to experiencing pains in his chest. He and his traveling companions had disembarked atMathurarailway station where he began convulsing and requested being taken to Shri Dham Vrindavan.
Hissamadhiwas built within the complex of the Vrindavan ashram, which also has some of his personal belongings.
Neem Karoli Baba was a lifelong adept ofbhakti yoga, and encouraged service to others (seva) as the highest form of unconditional devotion to God. In the bookMiracle of Love, compiled byRam Dass, a devotee named Anjani shares the following account:
Baba would say that attachment and ego are the greatest hindrances to the realisation of God and that "a learned man and a fool are alike as long as there is attachment and ego in the physical body." He would advise people to surrender to God's will above everything else so that they might develop love and faith in him and thereby be free of unnecessary worries in life.
Siddhi Ma is a prominent figure in the spiritual lineage of Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj, renowned for her unwavering devotion and significant contributions to the community. Born in Almora, she grew up in a family with eight sisters. Siddhi Maa married Tularam Sah, a dedicated devotee of Baba Neem Karoli. Following her husband’s death, she made a profound commitment to serve Baba, ultimately sacrificing her family life to devote herself fully to spiritual pursuits.
When Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj attained Brahmaline status in 1973, Siddhi Ma was chosen as his successor, taking over the management of the Kainchi Dham temple complex. This responsibility placed her in a pivotal role within the spiritual community. Devotees regarded her with immense respect, often equating her spiritual stature to that of Baba. It is said that before becoming Brahmaline, Baba wrote a line for her, affirming her significance: "Mother, wherever you live, there will be Mangal."
Siddhi Ma regularly held darshan sessions for devotees at Kainchi Dham, typically on Saturday and Tuesday. Her presence was considered a blessing, and many devotees believed that she had inherited Baba’s supernatural powers. She was known for her compassionate nature, and her ability to alleviate the suffering of those who came to seek her blessings was widely acknowledged. She often led pilgrimages, fostering a sense of unity and community among her followers.
In 1980, Siddhi Ma established an ashram in Rishikesh, further expanding the spiritual outreach of Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj, who is associated with 108 ashrams globally. The Kainchi Dham and Taos Ashram in New Mexico, USA, are among the most significant. After her passing on December 28, 2017, at the age of 92, a grand statue of Siddhi Maa was installed at Kainchi Dham, alongside the construction of a dedicated pooja room. This serves as a focal point for devotees wishing to honor her memory. An annual bhandara is organized every year on her death anniversary, drawing countless devotees to celebrate her legacy.
Siddhi Ma’s influence extends beyond her lifetime, with stories of her grace and spiritual power continuing to inspire new generations. Her life remains a testament to devotion, compassion, and spiritual fulfillment, solidifying her place in the annals of spiritual history.
Notable disciples of Neem Karoli Baba
AlthoughBaba Hari Dasswas not a disciple, he supervised ashram buildings in the Nainital area before moving to the U.S. to teach.
In April 1974,Steve Jobsand his friendDan Kottketraveled to India to exploreHinduismand Indian spirituality, intending to meet Neem Karoli Baba. However, they arrived to find that the guru had passed away the previous September.Hollywood actressJulia Robertswas also inspired by Neem Karoli Baba; a picture of him led her to Hinduism.Influenced by Jobs,Mark Zuckerberglater visited the ashram inKainchi.Larry BrillianttookGoogle'sLarry PageandeBayco-founderJeffrey Skollon apilgrimageto the same ashram
After returning to the United States,Ram DassandLarry Brilliantfounded theSeva Foundation, an international health organization based in Berkeley, California. Steve Jobs, a friend of Brilliant, also funded the organization.It is committed to applying the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba toward preventing and treating blindness.
In the late 2000s another Foundation evolved, the 'Love Serve Remember Foundation', whose purpose is to preserve and continue the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba.
In 2024, Indian humanitarian and spiritual workerRahul Verma, a devoted follower of Neem Karoli Baba, founded the NKB Divine Meditation Foundation, offering free guided meditation sessions based on the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba to help individuals connect with their inner peace and holistic well-being.
The 2021 documentaryWindfall of Graceoffers an engaging blend of narratives from simple, rustic Indian devotees juxtaposed with narratives of renowned American devotees. These expressions seek to bring out not just the contrasts but also the similarities between the two by way of their overwhelming love and surrender for Neem Karoli Baba. Their individual encounters with Baba sparked dramatic shifts in their life's purpose along with their spiritual path and practice.