Bhagavan Nityananda
Bhagavan Nityananda, one of the most revered Siddha Gurus of the modern era, was a janma siddha—one born with the full realization of his own divine nature. From an early age, Bhagavan Nityananda spontaneously manifested his mastery of atma jnana—knowledge of the Self.
Born in the South Indian state of Kerala, Bhagavan Nityananda, as a young man, traveled on foot throughout India. As his reputation as an enlightened master and miraculous healer spread, crowds of seekers were drawn to his wisdom and blessings. Eventually, by the mid-1930s, he settled in the village of Ganeshpuri in the state of Maharashtra. Out of honor and respect his devotees began to call him Bhagavan, a title that means ‘the Lord; the venerable one; the great one.’ He always directed people to turn within and meditate.
Bhagavan Nityananda also undertook many philanthropic works. Over the next three decades, he transformed the village by educating the villagers; feeding, clothing, and schooling the children; and providing for the building of roads and local facilities, including the very first hospital in Ganeshpuri.
In 1956, Bhagavan Nityananda asked Swami Muktananda, one of his main disciples, who was later to become his successor, to settle nearby in Gavdevi Village. Swami Muktananda was known as Baba, so the devotees began to affectionately refer to Bhagavan Nityananda as Bade Baba, which is Hindi for ‘elder Baba.’
Bade Baba’s core teaching is:
The Heart is the hub of all sacred places. Go there and roam.
This foundational Siddha Yoga teaching has guided generations of students on the Siddha Yoga path.