The book is slim at 89 pages and covers the journey of Neem Karoli Baba from his birth to his death and after. Born Lakshmi Narayan Sharma in a wealthy Brahmin family in Akbarpur in Uttar Pradesh in 1900, he lost his mother when very young. He showed early inclinations to spiritualism and would be engaged in prayer or meditation. At around 11 years of age he was married off after a year he decided to become a wandering sadhu in the quest for truth - living on alms, staying in jungles and temples. He traveled to Rajasthan (Pushkar), Gujarat (Rajkot and Vavania). In Rajkot the mahant of the temple where he stayed was impressed enough by the young sadhu that he wished him to take over form him but Baba left, not wanting to get attached to one place. At Vavania he was known as Talaiya Baba because he would meditate for long hours in a pond, neck deep. His travels took him to Rameswaram, Hmapi, Madurai - all places where he sought Hanuman.
He returned to Vrindavan and Mathura and while wandering the foothills of Himalayas he stopped at the village Neeb Karori (also called Neem Karoli). It's here that he stayed for long and many miracles are experienced such as curing the sick, helping people overcome their obstacles etc. The villagers dig a cave for him where he meditates. The incident of one of his devotees entering the cave by mistake and seeing Neem Karoli Baba's body wrapped by snakes is from here. At some point Baba's father comes and takes him back saying that he has wife to take care of. Baba returns and stays with his wife, has children and after some years heads back to the mountains.
Neem Karoli Baba's most talked about miracle (the one where his name stuck) happened in 1958 when he is asked to get off a train by a British officer at Neeb Karori village because he was travelling in a first class compartment. Forced to alight the train he walks off and sits at a distance meditating. Meanwhile the train does not move whatever the personnel do. Another engine is called for and even after that the train refuses to budge. It is only that the officers and others realise. They apologise to the Baba and ask him to get back on the train. The Baba says he is just a sadhu and has no power over trains but he agrees to get back on the train. But before getting on the train he tells the Railways personnel to make a railway station at Neeb Karori to make life easier for the villagers and also not to harass any sadhus or holy men travelling in trains. Then, the train starts. News of this miracle spreads far and wide and he came to be known as 'Neeb Karori Baba' or 'Neem Karoli Baba'.
In 1964, he goes away from Neeb Karori and establishes the Kainchi Dham near Nainital. He also stays in Mathura and Vrindavan. In 1967 he establishes the Hanuman temple in Lucknow.
From 1967 on, Baba's western disciples such as Ram Dass, originally Rupert Alpert, a Professor for Harvard who experimented with LSD to explore consciousness and the limits of human mind, Krishna Dass, originally Jeff Kagel, an aspiring rock musician who composes bhajans and music for the Baba, Bhagwan Dass and others carry his message of 'Love all, Serve all' to the west. Though the Baba passed away on Sepermber 11, 1973, his disciples like Ram Dass who had gone back to the US influenced many from the west to come seeking him. Steve Jobs, Zuckerberg, Julia Roberts are famous known westerners while Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have gone there is recent times.
One of the chapters in the book is devoted to Neem Karoli Baba's core teachings which I found to be the most important part of the book.
The main ones are
1) love without condition (everyone is a reflection of me)
2) service is worship (love all, serve all)
3) simplicity and silence (give up money and all the wealth is yours)
4) surrender and faith (all is god's will)
The main ones are
1) love without condition (everyone is a reflection of me)
2) service is worship (love all, serve all)
3) simplicity and silence (give up money and all the wealth is yours)
4) surrender and faith (all is god's will)
5) Don't worry, be happy
They are messages I would like to follow.
The legend of Neem Karoli Baba has grown by leaps and bounds and is showing no signs of abating even after 50 years of his passing away which is itself a miracle. Now thanks to Vishal's movie it must have grown even more and they say one cannot visit Kainchi Dham because the crowds are too great. I visited it in 2021 and it was a very peaceful place.
The book however could have done with better editing as many parts of it are repeated and not organised very well but as with the movie, it's purity of intent is what matters. Vishal Chaturvedi must surely be thinking of writing more books or coming out with another edition of the same book. Nice easy read with many interesting pictures and anecdotes.
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