Sripad Baba: A Miracle of God – Reminiscences, Opinions, Life and Works

 Book Review

Sripad Baba: A Miracle of God – Reminiscences, Opinions, Life and Works

Author: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Keshari

Publisher: Notion Press, Chennai | October 2024

ISBN: 9798324113742 | Pages: 573 | Price: ₹1,500

Review by: Dr. Rahul Swami, IIM alumnus, faculty of management and cultural columnist

In an era where spiritual legacies risk being reduced to anecdotes or internet folklore, Sripad Baba: A Miracle of God- Reminiscences, Opinions, Life and Works by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Keshari stands out as a timely and sincere scholarly intervention. The 573-page volume offers an expansive, multi-dimensional portrayal of Sripad Baba, a mystic yogi of Vrindavan whose quiet influence shaped cultural, educational, and spiritual discourses across India and beyond.

The introduction offers a thoughtful exploration of India’s spiritual ethos, setting the context for the emergence of Sripad Baba. Dr. Keshari presents Babaji as a figure who, in his youth, realised the transcendent and personal aspects of divinity, and later, through his itinerant sadhana across Bundelkhand and the Himalayas, became a revered presence in Vraj. From the 1960s onward, he became deeply integrated into the region’s spiritual ecology, experiencing and imparting Vrajras (Bliss of Vraj) by connecting people to Radha-Krishna’ divine Lila. His founding of the Vraj Academy in 1978 marked a major milestone in efforts to preserve and promote the tangible and intangible heritage of the Vraj region. His activities pertaining to Vraj Academy made him an important public figure and exponent of Indian culture.

The book is rich in both primary and secondary sources. The author has travelled extensively, collecting letters, testimonies, photographs, and oral histories from disciples and associates of Babaji. Anecdotes come alive through narratives shared by scholars, saints, cultural icons, and common devotees. Contributions from personalities such as Radhanath Swami, Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati, George Harrison, Rabbi David Zeller, and Prof. Natalaya Sazanova, among others, lend the work both cross-cultural depth and historical texture.

A significant feature of the book is the diverse portrayal of Babaji’s identity; as a saint, spiritual mentor, mystic, ecological visionary, and cultural reformer. Some perceived him as a sibling, others as a guru, yet others as a friend or divine incarnation. Dr. Keshari wisely refrains from defining Babaji through a single lens, allowing readers to form their own understanding from multiple perspectives.

Chapter One explores Babaji’s early life and spiritual evolution. A mystical narrative about parakaya pravesh, the yogic practice of transmigrating into another body, is introduced, tracing Babaji’s alleged entry into the body of a deceased royal child in Panna. This story, believed by many saints of Vraj, is presented alongside more conventional accounts of his birth near Varanasi. The influence of Avadhoot Sharir Baba is also discussed, drawing spiritual parallels with figures like Trailanga Swami and Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

Chapter Two comprises powerful testimonies. From clairvoyant encounters to miraculous healing, from transformative dialogues to psychic experiences, these accounts reflect the profound impact Babaji had on people across countries and communities. George Harrison's tribute song to baba ji, Prof. Sazanova’s mystical visions, Dr. S.K. Cosmic Kapoor was intellectually reoriented by Babaji towards Vedic mathematics, multidimensional geometry. Dr. Om Kaul, a strategist, was drawn into spirituality by Babaji’s and Prabhudatta Brahmchari Ji’s Hanuman idol project in Delhi all find space in this mosaic of spiritual impressions and many more from his disciples across the globe from different walks of life.

Chapter Three reflects the author’s own experiences of grace and blessing, presented not as self-promotion, but as intimate narrative insights that humanise the biography without distorting it.

Chapter Four offers a summative view of Babaji’s life and contributions. It explores key initiatives like the Vraj Academy, projects on Raslila, Bhakti literature, ecological preservation, the Yamuna basin, and Gau Sewa. One of Babaji’s most ambitious visions; the proposed Shashwat Bharati: University of Eastern Consciousness, is discussed in detail. Conceived as an integrative spiritual-educational model rooted in Vedic knowledge, this vision attempted to address the gaps in modern education. Though the university never materialised due to Babaji’s demise in 1996, the conceptual groundwork laid by his writings, lectures, and Kumbh Mela seminars remains noteworthy.

What elevates this work is its deep documentation. Beyond hagiography, the author engages archival research, translations of Hindi and Russian material, and digital platforms to create a multi-source narrative. Visual documentation; letters, photographs, and video stills; enriches the reader’s experience and offers authenticity to the text.

There are minor repetitions across chapters, particularly regarding the Vraj Academy and university vision, which could have been edited more tightly. The length and density may also feel daunting to general readers. However, these are minor limitations in what is otherwise a major contribution.

Sripad Baba: A Miracle of God - Reminiscences, Opinions, Life and Works is more than a biography, is a cultural preservation effort, a spiritual journey, and a socio-intellectual reflection on India’s sacred geography and the people who shape it. Dr. Keshari’s devotion is evident, but so is his rigour. In bridging memory, scholarship, and testimony, the book revives the life of a saint not only for remembrance but for reflection.

At over 570 pages, the book demands patience, but it rewards that patience richly. It is a work that invites not just reading, but contemplation.