Neem Karoli Baba

Baba Neem Karoli ( नीम करौली बाबा ) or Neeb Karori Baba ( नीब करौरी बाबा) (1900 – 11 September 1973) was a Hindu guru, mystic, and devotee of the Hindu deity Hanumanji. He is well known among his followers not even in India but also in Americans. Who traveled to India in the 1960 and 1970s.

Many famous from India eg. Former President VV Giri, Gopal Swarup Pathak, Justice Vasudev Mukherjee, Jugal Kishor Birla, etc. And from the western world Steve Jobs (Apple founder), Mark Zuckerberg (CEO Facebook), Julia Robert. The most well-known being Mr. Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert 06 April 1931) is an American spiritual teacher and author of  “Miracle of Love”, Bhagavan Das, the musicians Krishna Das, Jai Uttal and many more already visited here.

Suggestion to Read: Ayodhya – Ram Janmabhoomi

Baba Neem Karoli Ashram

Baba’s ashrams are in Kainchi, Vrindavan, Rishikesh, Shimla, Neeb Karori village near Khimasepur in Farrukhabad, Bhumiadhar, Hanuman Gadi, Lucknow, Delhi in India and in Taos, New Mexico, USA.

Born as

Born as Lakshmi (Laxmi) Narayan Sharma, around 1900, in village Akbarpur, Firozabad District, Uttar Pradesh, India, in a Brahmin family of Durga Prasad Sharma. After marrying young at 11, Neem Karoli Baba became a wandering sadhu. But later he returned home, at his father’s request.

How to become Baba Neem Karoli

Neem Karoli Baba or Baba Lakshman Das left his home in 1958. He boarded a train for the nearest city. As soon as the conductor discovered a Sadhu seated in the first-class coach without a ticket. He pulled the emergency brake and the train ground to a halt. After some verbal debate, Maharaj-Ji put off the train. The train had stopped near the village of Neeb Karori, Farrukhabad district (U.P) where Maharaj-Ji had been living.

After Maharaj-Ji off of the train, he sat down under the shade of a tree the conductor blew his whistle and the engineer opened the throttle. But the train didn’t move after several attempts.  As a result, another engine arranged in to push it, but all attempts failed. A local magistrate, who knew of Maharaj-Ji, suggested to the officials that they coax that young sadhu back onto the train. Initially, the official ignored these such superstitions, but later he agrees to board Sadhu again on to the train.

Suggestion to Read: Char Dham Yatra

Railway Officials Promise

Maharajji agreed on two conditions. The railway officials must promise to the built railway station for the village of Neeb Karori (at that time the villagers had to walk many miles to the nearest station), and the railroad department must treat sadhus better. The official did promise for his effort to do the same.

Maharajji boarded the train, jokingly saying, “What is it up to me to start trains? “. The engineer started the train, but after few yards, he stopped it and said, “Unless the sadhu orders me, I will not proceed”. Maharaj-Ji said, “Let it go.” then he proceeded.

Then Maharaj-Ji said that the officials kept their word, and soon afterward a train station built at Neeb Karori with the name of B L Daspuri Railway Station, Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh and after that, sadhus received more respect.

Baba lived in the village of Neeb Karori for a while and this name was given by locals.

Known by Different Name

Baba Neem Karoli wandered throughout Northern India. During this time he was known under many names including Lakshman Das, Handi Wallah Baba, and Tikonia Walla Baba. When he did Tapasya and Sadhanaat in Gujarat, he is known as Tallaiya Baba. In Vrindavan, locally addressed him by the name of Miracle Baba (Chamatkari Baba). During his life, two main ashrams built, firstly at Vrindavan and secondly at Kainchi. During this time, over 100 temples were constructed in his name.

Neem Karoli Baba Nainital

The Kainchi Dham ashram where Maharaj Ji stayed in the last decade of his life, built-in 1964 with a Hanuman temple. It is also known as baba neem Karoli Dham. Founded in 1962, two years prior with a modest platform built for two local sadhus, Premi Baba and Sombari Maharaj to perform yajnas. And is very well maintained and kept neat and clean.

It is placed at an altitude of (1400 meters) on the Nainital – Almora Road, 9 Km from Bhowali and 17 Kms from Nainital. This place has achieved recognition owing to the ashram of the famous Shri Neem Karoli Maharaj Ji.

Kainchi is a term used in local language for two sharp hairpin bends of the motor road. It has NO relation with scissors.

Suggestion to Read: Pura Mahadev

Maharaj Ji’s Samadhi Temple at Vrindavan Dham

He was returning by night train to Kainchi (Nainital) from Agra where he had visited a heart specialist due to experiencing pains in his chest. He and his traveling companions de-board train at Mathura railway station where he began convulsing and requested being taken to Shri Dham Vrindavan.

Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji) died at approx. 1:15 a.m. in the early morning of 11 Sep 1973 in a hospital at Vrindavan, India after slipping into a diabetic coma.

His Samadhi Shrine built within the complex of Neem Karoli Baba Ashram Vrindavan, which also has some of his personal belongings.

Neem Karoli Baba Teachings

Maharaj Ji was a great Indian saint of the Himalayan ancestry. He was a lifelong adept of bhakti-yoga, and encouraging service (Seva) to others, is the highest form of unconditional devotion to God. As per the book Miracle of Love, compiled by Mr. Ram Dass.

Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj’s Statue placed in Kainchi Dham as on 15 June 1976 as per wish by baba with the mantra, puja, and all rituals.

Many hundreds of people visit the temples here every day. But as on June 15th Bhandara, approx. more than one lakh (100,000) visitors from all around the world come and feed.

Suggestion to Read: Varanasi – Where People Come to Die

Where to Stay

Here is not much accommodation to stay in Kainchi Dham, Either we have to pre-book Dharamshala, or we have to stay in Nainital, Bhimtal or Bhowali and visit the temple. Near temple on road, we can park our vehicle while Darshan of Temple, if it is not peak season or 15 June Bhandara.

Timings

Winter: November to March {7am to 6 pm}

Summer: April to October {6am to 7 pm}

How to Reach Baba Neem Karoli Mandir

It is almost 17 km from Nanital, 321km from Delhi, 343km from Dehradun, and 390km from Lucknow, UP. We can reach by our own vehicles also.

By Bus: Nearest Bus depot is Kathgodam, Haldwani.

Train Route: Nearest Railway Station is Kathgodam.

Air Route: Nearest Airport is Pantnagar.
After that, can take pvt taxi or Roadways Bus for Nainital – Almora road and Kainchi Dham Ashram is on Road.

YouTube Video

This is my own experience to visit Shree Kainchi Dham, Pls find YouTube video below:-

Click here: Baba Neem Karoli YouTube Video

Audiobook by Pocket FM

This is नीब करौरी के बाबा की संक्षिप्त जीवनी audiobook by Pocket FM. You can listen more of नीब करौरी के बाबा की संक्षिप्त जीवनी clicking here.

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