- Claim: Yogananda popularized Babaji in the West through Autobiography of a Yogi (1946).
- Critique: Yogananda’s account, while foundational for modern followers, is not a historical source. It relies on mystical experiences, which are subjective. Scholarly reviews of Yogananda’s work often highlight the spiritual, rather than historical, nature of his writings (Mahavatar Babaji – Hist…).