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Hariakhan Baba, is also known as Babaji Maharaji, Mahamunindra, Sri Sadguru, Sri Sadashiva, Mahavatar, Trayambak Baba, Hariakhan Maharaji, Mahaprabhu Ramlal etc. As per oral tradition of Kumaon division of lower Himalayas, Babaji Mahraji is said to come from Nepal, where he has a permanent place in the caves of unknown location. In Kurmachala area (the lower mountains of Himalayas) which includes the districts of Almora, Nainital and Garhwal, he is well known by the name of Hariakhan Baba. He was a teacher of yoga tradition who taught throughout northern India near the Himalayas between 1861 and 1924. His last known personal appearance is recorded to be in 1952-53.
Babaji Maharaji, as he is referred to, is discussed in the book Hariakhan Baba: Known and Unknown by Baba Hari Dass. That collection of personal stories told by local people also recounts the last known appearance of Hariakhan Baba in 1952-53.
Several earlier accounts were also written by an Indian holy man named Sri Mahendra Baba (born in Bihar) - a long term disciple of Maharaji, who identified him as being the same person as Mahavatar Babaji, the immortal master who initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga in 1861.
Historical Background
Hairakhan Babaji first appeared in hariakhan village near the year 1890. He is said to be the great yogi who appeared in many human forms at the same time through his yogic powers of kaya nirmana as described in yoga philosophy of Patanjali. According to one account he was the guru of mahayogi Gorakhnath, then named Yogi Matsyendranath. He was the Mahavatar Baba who initiated Yogi Lahiri Mahashay in almora, whose tradition still goes by the name of kriya yoga of Yogada Society. Hariakhan Babaji's another physical form was by the name of Mahaprabhu Ramlal ji maharaj who lived in a cave in sawai village near Agra, India in year 1911. Mahaprabhuji initiated Yogiraj Chandramohan ji to his tradition of Siddhayoga. Bhagwan Nityanand of Ganeshpuri is said to be the another physical body of Hariakhan Babaji who initiated Swami Muktanand.
