MAHAVATAR BABAJI TEMPLE

 Parangipettai Babaji Temple:

The temple of Mahavatar Babaji is also in Parangipettai. The temple is kept open from 8 am to noon and from 4 to 8 pm. The Chennai contact numbers are 044 2464 3630 and 094440 54279 and Mr Karthikeyan 099941 97935. A visit to this temple is suggested for those who want to learn/practice Kriya Yoga and meditation.

The first person who had recounted his account of meeting the Babaji was Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri (Mahasaya to his disciples) who met the Master in 1861 in the upper reaches of Himalayas near Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. However Babaji’s name became well known after the publication of “Autobiography of a Yogi” of Swami Yogananda Paramahamsa. The Swami’s book was followed by extensive writing on Babaji by journalist VT Neelakantan and Yoga Master SAA Ramiah. The latter was responsible for the temple at Parangipettai. Many of the details provided in this write up were culled from the writings of several disciples.

Babaji was born in 203 AD ( as per the various accounts mentioned above) on the Rohini star in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November 30th) at Parangipettai to Swethanatha Iyer and Gnanambika. He was named Nagarajan. His father was a priest in the local Muthukumaraswamy temple. When he was seven, he was kidnapped and sold in Kolkatta. Later he moved to several places including Varanasi, Uttarakhand etc and was partly initiated into spiritual life.

He then went to Podhigai Malai ( near Kutralam in Tirunelveli district) where he had darshan of Sage Agasthyar. He advised him to go to Kathirkamam (present Katarkama in Sri Lanka) where he would be received by a Guru. Babaji went to Kathirkamam where Siddhar Bhogar initiated him into Kriya Yoga and made him a Sanyasi. Babaji is also an exponent of a branch of Tantra called Kaula . He also had darshan of Sri Murugan of Kathirkamam. From there, he went to Uttarakhand and in the higher ranges, set up a small dwelling place for meditation. According to his disciples, the Master is ageless and has lived through several centuries and he is still present in the Himalayas.

Yogi Ramiah was from Chettinadu (Kanadukathan) from a spiritually oriented family. He had initiation from his grandfather and mother and eventually he became a disciple of Babaji. He was responsible for starting several Kriya Yoga centres with Headquarters at Chennai. He desired to construct a temple cum meditation hall for his spiritual master.

In the seventies, he decided to construct the temple in the birthplace of Babaji. After a lot of efforts, the Government released the land and the single shrine temple came up here. The materials for construction were brought from Karaikudi. The shrine is having Vinayaka and Muruga at the entrance, with the idol of Babaji in a peetam. Though Babaji’s photos are kept all over the world, this is the only place in TN where his idol is present. The idol faces north. He shows Abhaya Mudra with his right hand, keeping the left hand on his lap. In front of the shrine, his stone footprints are installed. In the pillars in front of the shrine, the images of his two disciples are sculpted. The image of Kathirkama Murugan giving darshan to Babaji below a banyan tree, is also present here. The vimanam contains images of various events in Babaji’s spiritual path. Since Babaji is a Guru, Thursdays see a large contingent of disciples with abhishekam at 7 pm. There is also a Homa Kundam in front of the shrine where homam is performed on the birthday of Babaji.

There are some Yantras installed in front of the shrine. According to the disciples, there was one great devotee of Babaji. He wanted to have darshan of the Master and searched in several places in the Himalayas, but in vain. Finally out of frustration, he jumped from a hill top. Babaji arranged for bringing the body before him and brought him back to life. Two of the yantras are pertaining to this disciple and Annai, another prime disciple. Two other yantras represent Babaji and Murugan. There is a Dyana Mantapam attached to the temple which is extensively used by the visiting devotees to do meditation. Since it is a new temple built on a modest scale, please do not go with any expectation of a grand edifice, normally seen in Tanjavur region. Note: Photos and some of the inputs were collected from various websites.

Shlokas:

"Daivi Hyesa Gunamayi Mama Maya Duratyaya Mameva Ye Prapadyante Mayametam Taranti Te"

Meaning -According to this sloka, the heavenly maya of God is very complicated, but those who worship God will be able to overcome it.

Balam Balavatam Caham Kamaragavivarjitam Dharmaviruddho Bhutesu Kamo'smi Bharatarsabha

Meaning -According to this sloka, God is the isolated and aloof strength of the controlling and virtuous craving in men.