Neem Karoli Baba is a Sadhu/Saint who was born in Akbarpur, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1900. His real name is Lakshman Narayan Sharma. After being married by his parents at the age of 11, he left home to become a wandering sadhu. He later returned home, at his father’s request, to live a settled married life. He fathered two sons and a daughter.
How is he known as a Neem Karoli Baba?
Numerous tales of miraculous occurrences involving saints and sages from India have gained global popularity. Among these tales, there is a notable incident involving Baba Neem Karauli. Once, while traveling by train without a ticket, officials expelled him from the train. Remarkably, the train remained standing at that moment. Realizing the significance of the situation, the officials humbly requested Baba to reboard the train. But put a condition that you have to make a station here and the officials agreed. Upon his blessing, the train was able to resume its journey. The place where the train is stopped is Neem Karoli and Baba became famous with the name Neem Karoli Baba after that.
Multiple Names of Neem Karoli Baba:-
Baba visited or lived in many places in India, and people called him by different names in different places. His names include Neem Karoli Baba, Neeb Karori Baba, Maharaj-ji, Handi Wallah Baba, and Tikonia Walla Baba. When he did tapasya and sadhana at Vavania village of Morbi in Gujarat, he was known as Tallaiya Baba. In Vrindavan, local inhabitants addressed him by the name of Chamatkari Baba.
Neem Karoli Baba’s Ashrams in India & USA:-
His ashrams are in Kainchi, Vrindavan, Rishikesh, Shimla, Neem Karoli village near Khimasepur in Farrukhabad, Bhumiadhar, Hanumangarhi, and Delhi in India and in Taos, New Mexico, United States.
Neem Karoli Baba & Steev Jobs
Steve Jobs, along with his friend Dan Kottke, traveled to India in April 1974 to study Hinduism and Indian spirituality; they planned also to meet Neem Karoli Baba but arrived to find the guru had died the previous September.
It is also said that Steve got the idea of Apple’s logo from Baba’s ashram. Neem Karauli Baba reportedly loved apples, which was why Steve chose to cut apples for the people of his company. However, nothing can be said about the veracity of this story.
Steve Jobs also suggested Mark Zuckerberg & Julia Roberts visit India in Baba’s Ashram. Julia is now following Hinduism.
Who is Ram Dass?
In 1967, Bhagavan Das guided Alpert throughout India, eventually introducing him to Neem Karoli Baba, whom Alpert called “Maharaj-ji”, who became his guru at Kainchi ashram. Neem Karoli Baba gave Alpert the name “Ram Dass”, which means “servant of God”, referring to the incarnation of God as Ram or Lord Rama.
Here are some videos where Ram Dass (Alpert) tells a story about his Guru Maharaj Ji (Neem Karoli Baba).
