The first known mention of Mahavatar Babaji appears to be in the book “Kaivalya Darsanam” written by Shyama Charan Lahiri himself, published in 1894. In this book, Lahiri Mahasaya describes his meeting with Babaji and receiving Kriya Yoga initiation from him. While It’s important to remember that information about figures like Mahavatar Babaji is often shrouded in mystery and passed down through oral traditions and lineages. While “Kaivalya Darsanam” is the earliest known published source, there might be older, less accessible mentions within specific lineages or undocumented accounts.
I will be giving this disclaimer whenever possible to help the reader understand the prespective. I will promise to write about what I feel and what I know subjectively later. For now, it’s objective all the way.