Neem Karoli Baba’s Love for Food and Miracles
Neem Karoli Baba’s Love for Food: His Favorite Dishes and Miracles Through Food
Neem Karoli Baba, lovingly called Maharajji, is one of India’s most revered saints. Known for his simplicity, boundless love, and divine wisdom, Maharajji's connection with food was extraordinary. Far beyond the act of eating, food became a medium for blessings, miracles, and love. Whether sharing jalebis with children, eating kheer at a devotee's home, or miraculously feeding hundreds with a small meal, his stories with food reveal profound spiritual truths and his immense grace.
Neem Karoli Baba’s Divine Connection with Food
Food as a Medium of Blessings
Baba’s love for food extended to his devotees, as he would often eat meals prepared by them, relieving their negative karmas. Eating at someone’s home was considered a blessing, as prosperity and peace would follow. Baba’s grace ensured that wherever he dined, joy and abundance thrived.
Miracles Through Food
Jalebis and Unlimited Grace
Jalebis, one of Baba’s favorite sweets, were often distributed as prasad at Kainchi Dham. On many occasions, devotees witnessed buckets of jalebis miraculously feeding large crowds, with leftovers still remaining. Baba’s humorous distribution and insistence on sharing with everyone reflected his inclusive love.
The Kheer Miracle
Kheer (Indian rice pudding) holds a special place in Maharajji's stories. A devotee in Allahabad once offered kheer to Baba’s photo, only to find the photo dripping with it—a sign of divine acceptance. Similarly, Maharajji would bless families with prosperity after eating kheer at their homes.
Feeding Hundreds During a Roadblock
Once, during a roadblock in Kainchi, Maharajji instructed the ashram to prepare puris and vegetables through the night. The next day, over a hundred stranded buses arrived, filled with hungry passengers. Baba ensured everyone was fed, turning a chaotic situation into a divine feast.
Neem Karoli Baba’s Favorite Foods
Mangoes – A Treat for the Soul
Baba loved mangoes, often sharing them with devotees. Despite his later years of dietary simplicity, he reminisced about eating “two hundred mangoes” at a time.
Sandesh – The Sweet for Coughs
Baba often spoke of sandesh, a Bengali sweet, as a remedy for coughs. One day, a devotee brought him a kilo of sandesh, which Baba consumed entirely, jokingly saying it was for medicinal purposes.
Chapatis and Dal
Baba’s preference for simple meals like chapatis and dal mirrored his humble nature. On one occasion, he blessed a devotee by miraculously turning their wheat flour into gram flour when he requested chapatis made of chickpea flour.
Kachauris – Love Beyond Life
A devotee from Bhowali regularly brought kachauris for Baba. Even after his Mahasamadhi, she dreamed of him asking for kachauris, prompting her to continue her offerings at Kainchi Dham.
Laddu Miracles
Baba often blessed devotees with laddus (sweet balls). In one instance, a doctor’s wife, suffering from a fever, was cured after eating laddus blessed by Maharajji.
Miraculous Stories of Food Multiplication
Feeding Scouts in Kainchi
Once, Maharajji prepared food for hundreds of scouts who arrived unexpectedly at Kainchi. The food, prepared for a small group, multiplied miraculously to feed everyone.
The Oranges That Multiplied
Swami Chidananda and his group once offered eight oranges to Baba, who distributed them among eighteen people. The devotees were astonished to see the basket never emptying.
Neem Karoli Baba’s Food Miracles as Symbols of Love and Devotion
A Devotee’s Last Wish
One night, Baba woke up and demanded moong dal and roti. Despite it being midnight, he ate heartily. The next day, news arrived that a devotee had passed away at that hour, longing for the same food. Baba’s act was a way of fulfilling the devotee’s last wish, freeing them from earthly desires.
Food for the Divine Flute Player
In Allahabad, a man carrying a flute appeared at a devotee’s home, asking for food. When he was fed, he remarked, “I’ve been looking for a house where devotion and Lakshmi reside.” Later, Baba revealed that it was Bihariji (Lord Krishna) who had graced the house.
Neem Karoli Baba’s Philosophy: Feeding as Satsang
“Aao, Khao, Jao” – The Essence of Satsang
Maharajji often summarised his satsang with the phrase, “Aao, khao, jao” (Come, eat, go). This simple yet profound act of eating together created a sense of unity, breaking barriers of caste, religion, and status.
Food as Prasad
Every morsel of food distributed by Baba was considered prasad (blessed offering). Devotees believed that eating food touched by Baba brought divine grace and healing.
Lesser-Known Stories of Neem Karoli Baba’s Food Miracles
Transforming Lives with Puris
Baba once handed warm puris directly to a devotee, who felt immense joy. Sharing these puris with his family, the devotee experienced a transformation in his life.
Feeding Animals as Devotion
Baba’s compassion extended to animals. He often ensured stray dogs and monkeys were fed, considering them no less than humans.
The Eternal Feast of Grace
Neem Karoli Baba’s love for food goes far beyond physical sustenance. Through food, he connected with his devotees, blessed them, and demonstrated divine miracles. Each meal shared or blessed by Maharajji carried spiritual significance, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of those who experienced his grace. His legacy reminds us that in sharing, feeding, and loving, we find the true essence of spirituality.
References
Dada Mukerji, By His Grace
Miracle of Love by Ram Dass
Accounts from devotees at Kainchi Dham
Anecdotes from Neem Karoli Baba Ashrams and archives
