Creation and Diffusion of the Founding Myth of SRCM

This is a translation (Google Translate) of the comments on Elodie's blog by Alexis. This is a corrected and re-edited version of an earlier research paper. (see part 1 in Archives---Part 3 to follow as soon as the new autobiography of Babuji is out)

Elodie's blog: http://pourquevivelesahajmarg.blogspot.com/
Alexis's Blog: http://shriramchandramission.blogspot.com/


2nd Part: Creation and Diffusion of the Founding Myth of SRCM

1 Babuji, founder of the myth (1922-47)

a) Hesitations and Procrastinations

Babuji meets Lalaji on June 3, 1922 for the first time. He will see him again no more than 3 times in all. His parents see his interest in Lalaji, the disciple of a Moslem Sufi, in a bad light. They fear a possible conversion to Islam.

However, the fusion between Babuji and his Master, Lalaji, starts shortly after his death in 1931, while, according to statements of Lalaji’s many successors, Babuji is not a preceptor of Lalaji’s group. He is then in this great vacuum until 1944, although he seems to have attended Ramashram Satsang of Dr. Chaturbhuj and that of Shri Krishna Lal in Sikandarabad. He (Babuji) also dreams that he goes to Kanpur, and sits with the family of Raghubal Dayal, brother of Lalaji. He thus will hesitate for nearly 14 years before beginning his work.

b) The Foundation of the Myth

In April 1944, Babuji prays to his Master during several days requesting that he shows him the light, like Moses on Mount Sinai.

In the 2nd part of his autobiography, published posthumously by the SRCM of Shahjahanpur, one can read on May 22, 44 these remarks allotted to Lalaji: "Shahjahanpur will be the Centre (…) The powers of ennemies are weakened. Now they can do no harm to you (…) I am merged in you, and hence remain dependent on Him [Lalaji's Master] alone in every matter. He loves you."

Puis le 30 mai suivant : "Start the organization. Begin attracting people to yourself."


On June 3, 1944, Lalaji dictates the organization with Babuji in dream.

In Volume 2 of Babuji’s autobiography, published by the SRCM®, one finds dated August 6, 1944: Lalaji ordered: "There should be an announcement in the Bhandara that I (Lalaji) have appointed you, Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, as my heir-apparent and representative (…) Those who oppose you shall not derive any benefit for me.". (1st English edition, p. 20).

Babuji prays also to Swami Vivekananda, Lord Krishna and Buddha himself as of August 14, 1944. It is Vivekananda who apparently gave him his instructions for the creation of the emblem of the SRCM. On July 21, 1945, the SRCM is finally officially completed in Shahjahanpur and is registered in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), according to Babuji’s grandson Navneet KUMAR Saxena.

According to the SRCM®, Babuji largely conceived his method of transmission on January 3, 1946, while the words of the prayer were dictated to him by Lalaji on January 12. Lastly, he writes in his first book “Commentary one Ten Commandments of Sahaj Marg”, which apparently has been dictated to him by Lalaji according to the ISRC.

2 The Diffusion of the Shahjahanpur Myth in New York (1947-74)

The diffusion is carried out in three stages, initially in Uttar Pradesh by word of mouth (to the end of the 1940’s)), then (in the 1950’s) to the remainder of India, thanks to the reputation of both his book, and of his new disciple, Dr. Varadachari, a professor of Philosophy, then finally to the rest of the world (starting from the end of the 1960’s): -

During the period 1948-49, various notabilities of Uttar Pradesh approach Babuji, such S.P. Srivastava, professor of philosophy and M.L. Chaturvedi, judge with High the Court of Justice d' Allahabad, then his Kum daughter. Kasturi Chaturvedi. –

In 1955, Babuji launches his famous book “Reality at Dawn”. Its notoriety overflows Uttar Pradesh. Men of the south join him, like Dr. KC Varadachari and Raghavendra Rao of Karnataka. KC Narayana, son of Varadachari, also joined him in 1956. The meeting between Babuji and Dr. K.C. Varadachari, professor of philosophy in Tirupati, is transformed into a deep friendship. In 1963, K.C. Varadachari obtains the celebrated Chair of Vivekananda at the University of Madras. In 1965, he creates Sahaj Marg Research Institute, where he spreads the idea that Sahaj Marg is no more or less than Raja Yoga. Then Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (aka Chari) arrives in 1964… -

Lakshmi Narasimhan marks the beginning of the internationalization of Sahaj Marg. He leaves to teach it in Copenhagen in 1968-69. K.C. Narayana undertakes a trip to the USA in 1971. Meanwhile, Chari was appointed secretary general of the mission in 1970, and he involves Babuji in their first common voyage in the occident in 1972.

3 Some Elements of Analysis

a) Dreams of intercommunications and paranoid delusions

The integrity of the transfer of power between Lalaji and Babuji rests solely on the dreams of Babuji. To accept it is to believe in only the account of Babuji, and it is to adhere to the principle of numerous intercommunications with a deceased person, in spite of all the facts which are reported to us.
While still living,, Lalaji sent several of his most faithful disciples to spread his teaching without any exclusivity. He named 212 preceptors, according to his grandson, Dinesh KUMAR Saxena, but Babuji was never a preceptor, and met Lalaji only 3 times in all.

Lastly, the dreams of Babuji reported by S.P. Srivastava seem to be the product of paranoid delusions wherein it is learned that Babuji was apparently surrounded by competitors and enemies, who go as far as trying to poison him or assassinate him.

"Some persons, physically and socially close to Revered Lalaji, had claimed to be His representative and successor, and they were trying somewhat deliberately to harm and even do away with the physical existence of Grand Master's real representative in every possible way, including the use of certain spiritual techniques. Some other quite well advanced disciples of the Grand Master, being averse to the false claims due to obvious lack of real effect, had started setting up organisations more or less in allegiance to the Grand Master, but centred mainly around these so-called advanced disciples as visible personalities to guide the multitudes attached to them on the age-old path of spirituality, as brought to them by the Grand Master, who had passed out of physical existence on August 14/15 (midnight), 1931."
(Introduction of the 2nd autobiographical volume, published by the SRCM of Shahjahanpur).

That Lalaji is touched by psychosis is very surprising, on the contrary Babuji seems, in more usual fact, as one will again see it little before his death.

b) Particuliarities of Sahaj Marg

The Sufi roots of the teaching of Lalaji are camouflaged, while its bonds with Rajah Yoga are strongly emphasized. Babuji transforms “Naveen Sadhana” of Lalaji into “Sahaj Marg”. Contrary to Lalaji and all its other successors, Babuji invents exclusivity. He is its only and sole heir. His disciples must adhere to a single Master, i.e. himself. While living, Lalaji had several Masters and he encouraged his disciples to befreind several. Vis-a-vis the broadmindedness of Lalaji, does Babuji create the doctrine thus and throws (without the knowledge?) basis of the worship of the personality which will proliferate thereafter.

4 Bibliographical Sources

a) Autobiographies of Babuji - Part I: early life, adult life, At the feet of the Master, Newspaper (1928 - 1932), vol. 1 1899-1932 (2nd ED 1980 1500 copies), SRCM - Part II: Instructions and received spiritual lessons of Masters (Posthumous, SRCM Shahjahanpur): * vol. 1 1944 May/Sep (1st ED 1987 3000 copies) - Preparation * vol. 2 Oct. 1944 - 1945 Mar (1st ED 1988 3000 copies) - Declaration * vol. 3 1945 Apr - 1955 Jun (1st ED 1989 2000 copies) - Contribution - Volume 2 (1st English edition), SRCM®
b) K.C. Varadachari - Works of Dr. K.C.Varadachari (vol. 1 to 9) Supplements - Ramachandra Publishers - Correspondences between Babuji and Dr. K.C. Varadachari: Letters of the Master (vol. I & II), 1992 - SRCM®
c) Other sources - ISRC: http://www.sriramchandra.org/Master/BabujiMaharajStory.htm - SRCM®: www.srcm.org and www.sahajmarg.org - Family of Babuji (Umesh Chandra Saxena and Navneet KUMAR Saxena) - Various anonymous testimonys