Pavhari Baba
Encyclopedia
Pavhari Baba
Sant Pavhari Baba was an ascetic born near Varanasi
of Brahmin
parents. As a youth he had demonstrated mastery of Hindu
philosophy. In his adulthood he renounced the world, particularly those people who seek to serve only themselves, and built an underground hermitage
.
It is there the Yogi Baba is said to have meditated for days on end and was known by the sobriquet
as the "air-eating holy man". People from far and wide sought to visit Baba, and he was known to have intellectual powers so great they were only surpassed by his humility. It is said he communicated with visitors through a wall.
Baba is attributed with saying "those who are dirty enjoy wallowing in mud."
Swami Vivekananda
visited him during his life, seeking some guidance for Hatha Yoga
techniques.
Baba is noted for having a wide base of knowledge on all of the practical elements of Vedanta
while remaining humble and thus influenced Vivekananda's theoretical fraweworks but also his day to day living.
Like many ascetics, Pavhari Baba's life is shrouded in mystery. His death is rumored to have been caused by his own hands, when he was near 100, while other sources have him dying peacefully in his cave.
Sant Pavhari Baba was an ascetic born near Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
of Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
parents. As a youth he had demonstrated mastery of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
philosophy. In his adulthood he renounced the world, particularly those people who seek to serve only themselves, and built an underground hermitage
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
.
It is there the Yogi Baba is said to have meditated for days on end and was known by the sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
as the "air-eating holy man". People from far and wide sought to visit Baba, and he was known to have intellectual powers so great they were only surpassed by his humility. It is said he communicated with visitors through a wall.
Baba is attributed with saying "those who are dirty enjoy wallowing in mud."
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
visited him during his life, seeking some guidance for Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
techniques.
Baba is noted for having a wide base of knowledge on all of the practical elements of Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
while remaining humble and thus influenced Vivekananda's theoretical fraweworks but also his day to day living.
Like many ascetics, Pavhari Baba's life is shrouded in mystery. His death is rumored to have been caused by his own hands, when he was near 100, while other sources have him dying peacefully in his cave.