Swami Paramahansa Ram Krishna Das: the Himalayan Milk Baba

Shri Ram Krishna Das, Vaishnav Bhairaji is a Hindu Sadhu (ascetic) and Sakshatkar (master of sacred Sanskrit Vedic scriptures) following the path of Bhakti (devotion to God). He manifests lakshanas (spiritual markings found on great beings) on the soles of his feet (see Baba's lakshanas). Baba is known for his many austerities (penances) and siddhas (powers), including prophecy. He is presently visiting the United States and offers darshan (viewing), audition (of sacred music and chants), shaktipat (transmission of divine energy) and blessings to all sincere seekers.

Baba was born on Ram's birthday, April 18th, 1933, in a small village near Kathmandu, Nepal (see astrological natal chart). As a child of eight years playing in the forests near his village, Baba had several darshans of the sacred Naga (divine snake), including the five headed Naga deity Shestra. These experiences prompted him to leave Nepal at age 18 and enter the Hindu Vaishnavi Ramayana order at Ayodhya Puri (near Nagessaran Ashram) in central India. As a taiga (literally, "restraint"; renunciate) of the Ramayana sampravaya (order), Baba is a devotee of Ram, and therefore of Hanuman (an avatar of Shiva), who has enshrined Ram and his consort Sita in his heart. Baba's guru was Shri Shri 1008 Shri Swami Lal Dassji Maharaj.

Baba has practiced celibacy his entire life. As part of his sadhana (spiritual practice), Baba has undertaken many difficult tapas (penances in the form of austerities), including subsisting solely on two litres of milk a day for twenty five years. His extended milk austerity earned him the title Doodhdhari Baba ("Milk Baba"). Other austerities included a twelve year traveling austerity to pilgrimage sites across India, Nepal and Tibet, including sacred Mount Kailash; a twelve year solitary meditation and puja (ritual observances) austerity at an isolated Shiva temple on the banks of the Narmada River near Bhopal. Baba performed a three year ash austerity (covering the body with ashes), which was ended in order for Baba to fulfill his life's purpose as a traveling master of the Hindu sacred texts. Baba's 52 year jatta (dreadlock) austerity continues.

Baba has attended numerous Melas (major cyclic religious festivals in India, attended by millions of pilgrims and many thousands of sadhus and saints representing all the Hindu orders) for initiatory activities connected with his sampravaya, which worships all the deities in the Hindu pantheon.

Baba's spiritual training included japa (the ritual recitation of a sacred mantra) to enable him to learn over 100,000 sacred Sanskrit scriptural texts and devotional chants. Babaji is recognized by the Hindu community at large as one of the greatest living masters of the Ramayana. In recent years, Baba has visited some twenty countries, performing in Europe, the United States and other parts of the world (see audio).

From 1991 until 2001, Baba resided in Kathmandu, in a small "kuti" (ascetic's cell) across from the sacred Shiva temple of Pashupatinath (see links) in Ram Mandir, on the banks of the Bhagavati River opposite the Arya Ghat (cremation grounds). The government of Nepal has accorded Baba's kuti the status of a national treasure, with the installation above the doorway of a bronze plaque engraved with the words, "Doodhdhari Baba" ("Milk Baba"). Baba's kuti continues to be maintained for local devotees and pilgrims to Nepal by his disciple Vishnu Das. Offerings made at Baba's kuti provide support for many local families and children.

In addition to his childhood experiences with the sacred Nagas in the forests of Nepal, Baba has had darshan of Hanuman flying through the sky carrying Mount Meru in his upturned palm. He has had darshan of Shiva meditating in front of his dhuni (ritual hearth) underneath the waters of Lake Manosorovar, and he has seen the fourteen rishis silently file by him in the icy stillness of a dark Himalyan night, dragging their long jattas through the leaves as they passed.

Baba is known for his siddhas, including prophecy. Baba believes his prophetic ability, manifesting through dreams, is the result of his 25 year milk purification diet (milk is considered the most sattvic, or pure, food as no life is sacrificed to obtain it). He correctly predicted the fall of the Berlin wall, the assassination of the two Ghandis, and many other major world events.

The author received powerful shaktipat in a dream from Baba one month before she learned of his physical presence in the world.

Baba is currently visiting the United States, performing sacred chants with harmonium, performing and presiding over pujas and other ceremonies and bestowing his shakipat and blessings upon all sincere aspirants who seek his darshan (see contact).

Pilgrims desiring to travel to Mount Kailash may inquire about possible future trips Baba may take to this sacred area.