A spiritual leader of great repute, Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara passed on in the age of 86 at Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. Known as Kapil Singh, he was a lieutenant colonel with the Indian Air Force and had taken part in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. His military career earned him the title “Aviator Baba,” which stuck with him even after he took sannyasa (renunciation) in order to pursue his spiritual quest.
Pilot Baba: From Sky to Saint
Pilot Baba, who belonged to Air Force and became famous for his dangerous flights on Mosquito aircraft experienced a mid-life crisis while working for the same force. Time to find spiritual enlightenment. His journey into this world led him to become a saint when he became a disciple of Guruji and adopted the name Somnath Giri Vijayraj Singh of Gwalior by Vijayraje Scindia.
Pilot Baba’s ascendancy as an authority on matters concerning spirituality is widely acknowledged. He claimed that he interacted with ancient Hindu mythical characters such as Ashwathama, a warrior from Mahabharata. His accounts about them can be found in two books: Unveiling Mysteries of Himalayas and Revealers Secrets Himalayas where he gives an account of his interactions with these personages and reveals some secrets that are not known by many others except those who live like hermits themselves.
Pilot Baba: Mastering Samadhi
Perhaps more intriguing is that Pilot Baba has mastered samadhi which entails transcending physical death through deep meditation. It has been reported that since 1976 Pilot baba has done this more than one hundred times –a practice for which religious congregations like Ardh Kumbh revolve around him. Followers from all walks of life have been attracted towards his teachings globally; from Japan to the United States of America where he taught that consciousness must be enlightened and the five basic elements unified.
Pilot Baba’s Last Goodbye
On his official Instagram account, Pilot Baba announced his death saying to his followers that they should stay calm and pray. His body will be cremated in Haridwar which is a town of great spiritual importance. This marked an end to what has been an amazing journey from military pilot to one of the world’s most respected spiritual leaders. He left behind his life and teachings that continue to inspire people globally as spiritual wisdom and consciousness development.
