In bestowing Kriya initiation on his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya, Babaji said, "The Kriya Yoga that I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century is a revival of the same science that Krishna gave millenniums ago to Arjuna; and that was later known to Patanjali and Christ, and to St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples."
- Mahavatar Babaji (as quoted in Autobiography of a Yogi)
The meeting of Mahavatar Babaji with Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji has been commemorated as Babaji Smriti Divas by YSS devotees for long. This day - July 25, 2018 - was celebrated across NCR with special programmes.
YSS Noida Ashram
The commemoration programme for Mahavatar Babaji Smriti Divas was conducted by Brahmachari Sheelanandaji at YSS Noida Ashram on July 25, 2018. It was attended by around 300 devotees.
In his discourse, Brahmachariji referred to Daya Mataji’s experience mentioned in her book, Only Love, where Ma talks of her visit to Babaji’s cave. She states that upon her return from the cave, she could not sleep at night. As she sat in meditation, the whole room was lit suddenly with a golden light. The light became a brilliant blue, and there again was the presence of beloved Babaji! He said: "My child, know this: it is not necessary for devotees to come to this spot to find me. Whoever goes within with deep devotion, calling and believing in me, will find my response." Ma says that this was his message to all of us. How true it is. If you only believe, if you just have devotion and silently call on Babaji, you will feel his response.
YSS Gurugram Kendra
On the occasion of Mahavatar Babaji Smriti Divas on July 25, Swami Lalitanandaji conducted Energization Exercises, satsanga and pushpanjali at YSS Gurugram Kendrafrom 5 pm to 7 pm. About 67 devotees joyously participated in the programme which was celebrated with the distribution of a special prasad - Babaji's favourite kheer - to devotees.
The program started at 5 pm sharp, with group practice of the Energisation Exercises led by Swamiji himself, in the beautiful lawns of the Kendra. After this the program shifted to the Dhyana Mandir at 5:15 pm.
After a period of meditation and chanting from 5:15 to 5:50, Swami Lalitanandaji started the Commemoration Satsanga.
Swamiji started by drawing the attention of the devotees to the significance of this sacred day. It was on this day in 1920 that Mahavatar Babaji chose to appear in person to Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramhansa Yoganandaji at his Garpar Road house in Kolkata (West Bengal) to assure him of God’s blessings for his trip to America. Swamiji read out the relevant passages from Guruji’s best-selling spiritual classic - the Autobiography of a Yogi, and explained the import of these to the devotees. He mentioned how Guruji considered this incident as the most sacred experience of his life, how he arranged to draw a picture of the Mahavatar and how the world first came to know of His existence through Yoganandaji. Swamiji read out the passages where Swami Sri Yukteswarji talks about the stature of Mahavatar Babaji, which is inconceivable to the mind of man.
After the satsanga, Swamiji did aarati and conducted healing prayers, followed by pushpanjali to the accompaniment of bhajans and chants by devotees. At the close of the programme, Swamiji distributed prasad.
In a period of counselling after that, many devotees availed of the opportunity to speak to Swamiji regarding their spiritual queries.
YSS Delhi Kendra
Commemorating the auspicious day when Mahavatar Babaji had appeared before Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji, a special programme was conducted at YSS Delhi Kendra on July 25, 2018. Brahamchari Vinayanandaji conducted the group meditation and satsanga on this occasion, which was attended by about 200 devotees.
Beginning with the cosmic chant 'I will sing Thy Name,' Brahmachariji conducted meditation for around 40 minutes, followed by a talk. He started his satsanga by encouraging the devotees to "live the moment for which we all had gathered." Then he spoke about Babaji, and read the description of the Mahavatar from the Autobiography of a Yogi.
He reminded the attendees of the words of Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya: "Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji, that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing."
Reading further from the spiritual classic authored by Sr Sri Paramahansa Yogananda - the Autobiography of a Yogi, Brahmachariji shared with the devotees the incident where Babaji had given initiation to Lahiri Mahasaya in which the relaxation of kriya was to be given to all sincere devotees on the request of Lahiri Mahasayaji. "Be it so. The divine wish has been expressed through you. Give kriya to all who humbly ask you for help," the great Babaji had replied.
On his way to Danapur, Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya had prayed for Babaji to appear and he did appear. Babaji found that it was a trifle for which he was asked to appear, and said: "Henceforth, my son, I shall come whenever you need me; not always when you call me."
Then we were taken to Dasasamedh bathing ghat where Lahiri Mahasaya, Babaji and Mataji appeared, and to the incident where Babaji promised, "I shall never leave my physical body. It will always remain visible to at least a small number of people on this earth. The Lord has spoken His own wish through your lips."
After the satsanga, devotees offered pushpanjali and received prasad.
