“Though Mahadeva is invisible, he manifests through the Guru to bless devotees with spiritual success.”
Sanatana Dharma teaches us that Lord Mahadeva, though not visible to the physical eye, takes the form of a Guru to manifest and guide his devotees toward spiritual success. In the sacred land of India, divine gurus like Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Dattatreya, Sri Vashishta, Sri Vedavyasa, and Sage Sri Shuka have incarnated across ages to show humanity the simple path to reach the Divine and attain liberation, the ultimate goal of life.
In more recent times, too, great spiritual masters like Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Ramanuja, Sri Veerabrahmendra Swami, Sri Raghavendra Swami, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, and Sri Malayala Swami have appeared in this land, earning India the name “Ratnagarbha” (womb of gems). One such divine master in that lineage is Sri Sri Sri Hanumatkali Varaprasad Babuji Maharaj.
The Mysterious Beginnings
No one knows where, to whom, or when Sri Babuji was born. Even in childhood, he undertook intense spiritual practices and attained great realization. Around the 1930s, he began appearing on his own to devotees in places like Uppada, Yanamadurru, Bhimavaram, Gundugolanu (in the twin Godavari districts), and also in the Guntur region—visiting homes, solving problems, and awakening spiritual awareness.
At a time when caste discrimination and untouchability were widespread, and blind beliefs prevailed under the guise of religion, he worked tirelessly to eradicate such evils. His teachings were rooted in Truth, Peace, Compassion, and Love, striving to eliminate divisions between humans and foster mutual affection and unity.
Spiritual Miracles and Human Compassion
Though he possessed the eight mystic powers (Ashta Siddhis), Sri Babuji never used them for personal gain or fame, only to uplift the distressed. Many were saved by him from danger, and some even came back to life after being declared dead by doctors. He disliked publicity and never distanced himself from devotees’ worldly problems, saying, “If a person’s stomach is not full and their distress not resolved, how will they grasp Advaita philosophy?”
He believed in first resolving material issues and then gently guiding people toward spirituality.
The Birth of Sri Kalivanashramam
Those who experienced his unconditional love continued to follow him as families for generations. When many of his disciples, transformed in heart and living as one spiritual family regardless of caste or religion, prayed for a common space, Sri Kalivanashramam (Sri Kali Gardens) was established on May 31, 1972, beside the Guntur-Vijayawada national highway, opposite Namburu Railway Station.
The unique feature of this ashram is that all devotees live here with their families as householders, not as renunciants. Babuji believed that the path of renunciation was difficult, and one could attain liberation even while remaining a householder by following the Guru’s path.
Temples in the ashram include:
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Sri Rāmalingeshwara Swami, manifested miraculously in Babuji’s hands.
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Sri Kālikā Parameshwari, resembling the deity worshipped by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Dakshineshwar.
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Sri Kodanda Rama and Sri Radha Krishna temples.
Service to Society
To promote world peace, Babuji conducted three major yajnas (fire rituals) at the ashram. For the benefit of people from nearby villages—Pedakakani, Namburu, Koppuravuru, Kantheru, and Kaja—he established a school and a hospital providing affordable and even free services to the needy.
Thus, through both material and spiritual service, Babuji created a great institution. He left his physical body on December 3, 1988, and his Mahasamadhi (final resting place) became a sacred pilgrimage site known as Sri Brindavanam within the ashram.
The Legacy Continues
His beloved disciple, Yogini Sri Chandra Kaliprasad Mataji, now leads the ashram, spreading his teachings across the country and abroad. Branches of the ashram have been established in Hyderabad, Pedanindrakolanu, Gundugolanu, Bengaluru, Bhimavaram, and more. These branches conduct yajnas, free meal services, and provide elder care.
Inclusive Devotion and Celebration
Festivals like Devi Navaratri, Mahashivaratri, Dhanurmasa, Bhogi, Sankranti, and the Aradhana (memorial celebrations) of Babuji during Kartika are celebrated grandly.
Devotees see the Guru as the embodiment of all deities and conduct Guru Pujas during every festival and significant life event. Devotees especially flock to receive:
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Blessed rice grains (Akshata) during Dasara,
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Kumkum (vermillion) from Jaganmata puja,
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Special fruits (Bhogi pallu) offered to the Guru during Bhogi,
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Holy coins distributed with blessings.
At the Sri Ramalingeshwara temple, devotees from all castes and religions are allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum and perform Abhishekam (ritual bathing of the deity) themselves.
Most remarkably, many women actively serve as priests, assistants, and ritual leaders in all the temples of the ashram—proving that Sri Kalivanashramam transcends all barriers of caste, gender, and sect, affirming that every being is eligible to serve God, follow the spiritual path, and attain liberation.
