Babaji becomes Boganathar’s disciple

At the age of eleven, along with a group of scholar ascetics from Banaras, young Nagaraj made an arduous journey on foot and partly by boat to the sacred shrine of Kathirgamam.

The famous sacred temple at Kathirgamam in southern most tip of the Sri Lanka is a Shanmuga shrine, which is most revered place of worship for Hindus and Buddhists, and off late to Muslims. Centuries ago Gowthama Buddha took a long pilgrimage to the above shrine. This temple established by Siddha Boganathar contains no carved image of God. The Siddha Boganathar had only installed a Mystic-Yantra (Geometrical symbol) carved into gold plate, representing within its form and mantra syllables, a crystallization of great deity Shanmuga. Siddha Boganathar imparted the mystic power of this Yantra for the benefit of all those who seek the blessings of lord Shanmuga. Down through the centuries Kathirgamam has been the scene of miracles to millions. The Kathirgamam shrine is deep inside the forest, beside the river Manika Ganga. From a very long time Saints, Sages and Siddhas of yore practiced severe austerities and one can imagine how the place would be filled with their vibrations.

Babaji Nagaraj met the Great Siddha Boganathar and became his disciple. Boganathar was the grandson of famous immortal Siddha Thirumoolar. After initiation from Boganathar, Nagaraj performed intensive yoga sadhanas, particularly various “dhyana kriyas” under Bogar’s guidance. The penance was done for long period without a break and gradually intensified. On looking at the devotion and dedication at which Babaji Nagaraj performed the penance, Bogar also further initiated his sincere disciple into more advanced kriyas. His consciousness expanded and Babaji Nagaraj realized the divinity within him. His consciousness merged in the cosmic spirit. The Samadhi experiences gradually deepened over the months and climaxed with a vision of Lord Kumaraswamy or Shanmuga. Babaji realized that he was incarnating the consciousness of Lord Shanmuga. Under Boganathar’s guidance, Babaji delved into the mysteries of the ten systems of sanathana philosophy to understand and appreciate the full significance of Siddhanta of the Siddhas.

Babaji and Sage Agasthya

Babaji was inspired by Bogar’s advice to seek out the powerful sage and Siddha Agasthya for his further initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayama. Sage Agasthya was at Courtrallam in the Pothigai hills of Tamil Nadu.

Babaji moved to Courtrallam on foot and on arriving there resolved to remain at that place until Agasthya initiated him into the secrets of yoga. Babaji adopted a suitable asana, and began to pray for the appearance of the great sage. He was fed at times by the pilgrims. He never left the place, in spite of the forces of nature like rain, shine, dust, insect bites etc., He prayed with great fervour and patience by surrendering his life to God. On the 48th day, when he was whiskers away from complete collapse, he fervently repeated the sage Agasthya’s name. No sooner the message reached the Sage telepathically, than he was by his disciple’s side immediately. Babaji Nagaraj’s love & fervour melted the heart of the Siddha. Agastya embraced Nagaraj, fed him and later imitated him into Kriya Kundali Pranayama or “Vasi Yoga”.

Siddha Agastya was in total control of the entire southern India. He was the savior and guardian. On the instruction of lord Shiva Siddha Agastya stays in southern India, near Kanyakumai. The Himalayas were so tall that the shadow engulfs the entire south making it dark. So Sage Agastya turns his journey towards north. On seeing Siddha, the Himalaya bends to half and bows its head to pay tributes to the sage. Sage Agastya blesses Himalaya to remain as such, and hence the height of Himalayas reduces to the present height ^[4].

Babaji at Himalayas

Sage Agastya, after giving due emphasis to the strict conditions under which it was to be practiced and its potential for awakening the higher levels of consciousness, enlightenment, and the ultimate transformation of the Pancha Koshas, directed Babaji to go to Badrinath in the upper ranges of the Himalayas.

Badrinath is in the Himalayan Mountains at a height of 10,243’ above MSL a few miles south of the border of present Tibet. It lies at the confluence of the Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda Rivers. Heavy snowing at about mid October causes people to move out of Badrinath. Only the most courageous of yogis can live in Badrinath then. The place is sanctified by the presence of the hermitages of many sages, Rishis, Yogis and Siddhas as well as a temple dedicated to Sri Badrinarayan or Lord Vishnu.

Adi Shankara re-enshrined the image of Lord Vishnu, which lay asleep in the NaradKund Lake. Pilgrimages are under taken to Badrinath to overcome evil karmas and also to attain Moksha (liberation) from the cycle of births and deaths.

As per the directions of Agastya, Babaji moved to Badrinath and spent 18 months practicing intensively all the Kriya yoga techniques taught to him by his gurus Boganathar and Agasthya.

After 18 months of rigorous yoga Sadhana, Babaji entered a state of Soruba Samadhi, wherein the Absolute Divinity descended, merged with and transformed the spiritual, intellectual, mental, vital as well as the physical bodies. From then on, Babaji’s physical body ceased to age and sparkled with a golden luster of divine incorruptibility.

Babaji and the 18 Siddha traditions by M Govindan

Note: [2] Babaji has revealed to Dr. N Rajgopal that he gave Kriya Yoga initiation to Abhinava Sankara and not to Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Abhinava Sankara was the Guru of Kamakoti peeta and the 38th in succession to Sri Adi Sankara. Abhinava Sankara, a very learned and pious man, was born in 788 A.D in the cyclic year of Vibhava, solar month Vrishabha, on the 10th day of Shukla Paksha. It is said that like Adi Sankara, Abhinava Sankara also traveled length and breath of India, held discussions with learned men and intellectually conquered many of them. He left his body in A.D 839 – Notable Horoscopes by Dr. B V Raman.

Note: [3] Babaji’s divine revelation to Dr. N Rajgopal

Note: [4] Babaji’s divine revelation to Dr. N Rajgopal