Pokhara, April 15

Mahayogi Siddhababa Shribaishnav Krishnadasji Maharaj, who observed a Bhu Samadhi at Naranarayan Baba Ashram in Ramghat of Pokhara, has emerged from under the ground after concluding his eight-day Samadhi today.

His emergence has elated thousands of devotees assembled at the site to observe the rare event. The ascetic had shut himself up in a wooden box, which was wrapped in plastic and blanket, and was buried in a pit inside a locked room at the Ramghat-based ashram. He had started his Samadhi from 6:35 pm on April 8. To make sure that no foul play takes place, barley seeds were planted over the site where the ascetic was buried and the room was locked from outside.

Govind Tiwari, vice-chairman of the ashram, opened the box today at about 9:35 am. Tiwari had opened the box after removing the barley seedlings and a thick layer of soil over it. Siddhababa was moved out of the box moments after it was opened. Upon emerging from his Samadhi, he prayed for some time by counting the rosary beads between his fingers and performed a puja at the site. He also gave a sermon to the devotees gathered at the site today.

While doctors, journalists and devotees were present at the site to observe the unbelievable event, others watched it on TV channels that had broadcast the event live.

Sculptor Bishnu Prasad Baral said he was speechless by what he saw in front of his eyes. “It’s something I had only heard of earlier and now that I’ve witnessed it, I feel more respect for the Vedic Sanatan religion and to the ascetic who has performed this feat here,” he said.

Dr Kalu Sharma and Dr Narayan Gautam along with their team had examined Baba’s health once he emerged from his Samadhi and said all his vitals were normal.

On his part, Dr Gautam likened the act of Samadhi to the process of human hibernation in scientific parlance. “Though it seems impossible to take such Samadhi and be alive for days and months without oxygen, even medical science has acknowledged its possibility. It’s possible to be alive in Samadhi by reducing human metabolism to zero level,” he said.

He, however, cautioned normal people not to practice such act, saying it was possible only in case of some great yogis and ascetics who devote their time in long, rigorous and complicated meditation practices.

Siddhababa is a Nepali citizen, who is said to have achieved enlightenment by meditating in the Himalayas and various religious landmarks of India. He had observed similar Samadhi in Sunsari’s Chatara for the first time about seven years ago, on the occasion of Ram Navami and in Muktimath on the occasion of Nawaratri last year.