The Babulnath Shiva temple was once the tallest structure in the island town of Mumbai because it is situated on a hillock. Mumbai is now a bustling metro city and financial capital of the country, however, at one time it was still a rustic little, small town – where the citizens established their kul daivam and other deities as per their needs and inner calling. Of these Babulnath, an ancient Shiva temple, stood tall for more than one reason. One reason is the presence of a highly revered Nath Yogi Sundernathji or “Raja Sundernathji”.

Today, I thought I should write another blog post on Nath Sampradaya. So, I was looking into a few topics. And then in the evening, I decided it was time to visit Babulnath temple, which I intended to for a few days. Thus, while I had not written my Nath Sampradaya blog post, I did visit Babulnath Temple.

Dattatreya @ Babulnath Temple

There are about 100 steps that lead up to Babulnath temple. Right at the beginning of the steps, there is a large banyan tree. With many murti kept below it – including Hanumanji, Devis and also Dattatreya.

Halfway up the steps there is a landing space – where 2 sadhus have made their home. Today, I noted that their shrine had a beautiful, large-sized picture of Dattatreya. So, I feel I should chat with them a little about Dattatreya and what exactly they are doing, what is their lineage and all that. After all, I do have some personal calling and connection with Dattatreya. (You can know more about it in my Youtube Member’s videos)

These sadhus have large trishulas with peacock feather fans kept as part of their stay area.

After climbing the next flight of steps, there are two shrines – Panchmukhi Gayatri devi & Sripad Vallabha who is considered as Dattatreya avatar.

These are the many Dattatreya presence I saw in this temple. If I have missed any, please inform me.

Once I reached the main temple, the aarti was going on. I spent some time admiring the beautiful murti of Kaal Bhairava as the dwarapalaka of the main shrine. And on the left was Ganesh.

Read about Kaal Bhairava Spots Outside of Kashi

Raja Sundarnath Nath Yogi, Avadhuta & Siddha

Already, I had been getting a little suspicion that Nath Sampradaya might have a footprint here. In the corner there is a havan space and a trishula kept there. When I asked the caretaker, he said, it is Guru Maharajji’s space. “Who Guru Maharaj?” I asked. “There used to be a great Guru Maharaj who stayed there for many years. This is his space”. There was a photo kept there, which was very similar to the Nath Yogi pictures of their Navnath with Shiva as the Adinath.

But this caretaker didn’t say the N word. So, I left it at that.

Finally, in the mandapam area where many other deities are there including Satya Narayan, Vishnu Vishwaroop and more, I came across a large photo frame of Raja Sundarnathji.

I had to move some stuff to read the info board next to his photo. It was written in Hindi, I persisted and read all of it. It is a truly fascinating story!

Raja Sundarnathji was a beautiful yogi – and reading his story, I must say, he is one of the beings I will easily call an “Avadhuta”. Because I have as yet not come across many beings who are so obviously “avadhuta”.

It seems he would always be in a samadhi. And his fellow yogis have to help regulate him – because if he starts walking – he will walk non-stop leaving everyone and everything behind. If he sits, he will sit non-stop. If he stands , he will simply keep standing. So, his fellow yogis have to make him sit when he needs to. They will make him stand and ask him to walk when needed. If he starts walking he will walk faster than anyone, so the yogis have to run behind him and ask him to sit until they are ready to start walking again.

Amazing.

Well, one fine day, when Raja Sundarnathji was with his fellow Nath Yogis at the Kumbh Mela… after mela, the other yogis wanted to go Southwards. So, they all started their padyatra towards down south.

A few days in,

Raja Sundarnathji was not seen at his dhuni. He had disappeared.

Later on, it was pieced together that he had simply flown away to Mumbai – where he was found sitting under a Babul tree with his Dhuni. This was around 1906 it seems. About 120 years back.

And he stayed here for many years. And soon a lot of other Nath Yogis and sadhus and eminent folk started visiting there.

What a beautiful story!

And thus, we have a powerful connection that ties Babulnath Shiva temple with the Nath Sampradaya.

And thus, with today’s visit, I had a beautiful experience and exploration – I have now (also today) finished my blog post on Nath Sampradaya as thought of earlier in the day. Life became mysterious today.