Earliest Mention of Mahavatar Babaji

Source: Lahiri Mahasaya’s Kaivalya Darsanam (1894).
Critique: This is widely considered the first reliable source mentioning Babaji. However, this text lacks many details that later stories embellish. The gap between this and later, more mystical accounts suggests possible embellishment.
Fact-check: Direct verification of Kaivalya Darsanam‘s exact mention of Babaji and the context of its content is crucial to evaluate whether Lahiri Mahasaya’s account was factual or symbolic (Mahavatar Babaji – Hist…).