Who Was Baba Neem Karoli?
Neem Karoli Baba was a revered Hindu spiritual master and a devout follower of Lord Hanuman. His followers affectionately called him Maharaj-ji.
Born Lakshman Narayan Sharma around 1900 in Akbarpur (now part of Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh), Baba Neem Karoli hailed from a wealthy Brahmin family. He was married at the age of 11, as arranged by his parents. However, he soon left home to live as a wandering sadhu (ascetic). After some time, at his father’s request, he returned to lead a more settled life, where he married again and fathered two sons and a daughter.
Neem Karoli Baba is especially well-known outside of India for his role as a spiritual guide to many Americans who traveled to India during the 1960s and 70s, seeking his wisdom and blessings. His teachings emphasized the importance of selfless service to others as the highest form of devotion to God. Throughout his life, he was a dedicated practitioner of bhakti yoga (the path of devotion), inspiring countless people worldwide with his compassion, humility, and spiritual insight.
Neem Karoli Baba often emphasized that attachment and ego were the greatest obstacles to the realization of God. He would say, “A learned man and a fool are alike as long as there is attachment and ego in the physical body,” highlighting the need to transcend these limitations for true spiritual awakening.
In 1974, Steve Jobs, accompanied by his friend Dan Kottke, traveled to India to explore Hinduism and Indian spirituality. Their journey was also meant to include a meeting with Neem Karoli Baba, but they arrived after the Baba had already passed away.
Influenced by his encounter with Neem Karoli Baba, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, visited the Kainchi Dham ashram in 2015 during a challenging period for his company. Zuckerberg’s visit was a personal pilgrimage inspired by the wisdom and teachings of Baba Neem Karoli.
Julia Roberts, the Hollywood actress, is also said to have been deeply influenced by Neem Karoli Baba. Her spiritual journey into Hinduism began after being drawn to a picture of the Baba. In a 2010 interview, she shared, “I was so drawn to the picture of this person, and I didn’t know who he was or what he was about, but I felt a very strong interest.” This initial fascination led her to explore deeper spiritual practices associated with him and Hinduism.