Neem Karoli Baba

Neem Karoli Baba is also known as Neeb Karori Baba (which means the sadhu from Neem Karoli or Neeb Karori), and is called  “Maharaj-ji” by His devotees. Maharajji was born in the village Akbarpur (Firozabad district) of Uttar Pradesh (India) in a wealthy Brahmin zameendar (landlord) family.

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Neem Karoli Baba was known for his simple and direct teachings, emphasizing love, devotion, and selfless service. He believed in the oneness of all religions and often said, "Sub Ek" (All is One). His teachings transcended religious boundaries and attracted people from different faiths.

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From early childhood Maharajji was detached from worldly attachments. At the age of eleven he was married to a girl from an affluent Brahmin family. Immediately after his marriage Maharajji left home and went to Gujarat. He roamed around various places in Gujarat and the entire country.  It is said that he went to Gujrat and lived  with a saint who gave him the name Laxman Das. He remained in Gujrat for 7 years. He grew big hair and except for a begging bowl and a “langot”( a lion-cloth), had no other belongings. He also lived in a village 40 km off “Morvi” in Gujrat, in the aashram of Rama Bai and did spiritual practice in a “talab” or pond.

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After around 10-15 years (this is approximate and is as told by elders from village of Akbarpur) his father was informed by someone that he had seen a sadhu (ascetic) who was a lookalike of his son in the village of Neeb Karori (misspelt as 'Neem Karoli' at times) in the Farukkhabad district in Uttar Pradesh.

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His father immediately rushed to the village of Neeb Karori to meet and get his son. There he met Maharajji and ordered him to return home. Maharajji followed his fathers instructions and returned. This was the beginning of two different types of life that Maharajji led. One that of a householder and the other that of a saint. He devoted time towards his responsibility of a householder and at the same time he continued to look after his bigger family i.e. the world at large. However, there was no difference in his life and style of living when discharging duties of a householder or that of a saint. In his family as a householder he has two sons and a daughter.

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Neem Karoli Baba was known for his supernatural abilities and miracles. He reportedly had the power to heal the sick, foretell the future, and materialize objects out of thin air.

He showered unconditional love on all those who came into His presence and even to those who were not able to meet Him in the body but had established a deep connection with him beyond the physical plane.

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During his lifetime, two main ashrams were built. One was at Vrindavan, and the other one was at Kainchi. It was at the Kainchi ashram where the Baba used to spend his summer days.

Shri Neem Karoli Baba practiced and preached bhakti yoga throughout his life. According to him, service to others (Seva) is the highest form of unconditional devotion to God.

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Usually, he used to sit or lie down on a wooden bench, wrapping him in a plaid blanket. Few devotees would sit around him. Visitors used to come and go. They were given food, a few words, and a pat on the head or back, and then they were sent away.

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Many prominent personalities, including spiritual seekers, musicians, and Westerners, came to seek his blessings and guidance. His most well-known devotee in the US was Ram Dass (Richard Alpert), the Harvard psychologist, whose work created a bridge between Eastern and Western philosophies. Larry Brilliant, the inaugural director of Google.org, took Google’s Larry Page and Jeffrey Skoll, co-founder of eBay, on a transformational pilgrimage to the Kainchi Ashram, nestled on the foothills of the Himalayas, to meet his guru.

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Steve Jobs arrived at the Ashram in 1974, too late to have a physical darshan of the saint, who had left his bodily form in 1973. Jobs was reported to have a photograph of Neem Karoli Baba beside him in his last days. Mark Zuckerberg spent time in the Ashram as well. They played an essential role in introducing him to the Western world.

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Baba’s main message.

“Sub Ek” — All is One.