Khatkhate Baba saved a village from floods and epidemic. Apart from this, he has blessed people to resume normal life.
Profile
Khatkate Baba was born as PanditShiv Prasad Chaudhari in 1855 in Delhi to Pandit Thakur Prasad Chaudari. Not much is known about his mother. His ancestors originally belonged to Kashmir but had to move from there because of the harassment of the Muslim chieftains. Then they moved further down to Delhi in search of jobs. Pandit Shiv Prasad’s father moved to Delhi as he became the Tehsildar there. Pandit Shiva Prasad completed his education from Delhi College and he was appointed as the sarishtedar in MahakmaBandobast of the Rae Bareli district in 1875. He married SharikaShuri, daughter of PanditBholaNathKaulNala and they were from Kashmiri Mohalla, Lucknow. Pandit Shiv Prasad loved his wife who was a beautiful woman. He would visit her during the weekends and was very attached to her. Unfortunately she died due to some complications in childbirth. This shook Pandit Shiv Prasad and he was totally disillusioned with the world. He resigned his job and left the place without informing anyone. Where he went and what he did is not known to anyone. But he reappearedin Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh in 1886. Now he was a completely transformed person, one who attained sainthood. He wrapped a cloth around him and there was divine aura him. He had a wooden stick and wooden sandals. So wherever he went there was a ‘Khatkaht’sound made by his sandals and stick and he got the name ‘Khatkhate Baba’. However he was ceremonially addressed as Shri 108 PrasiddhNath. On BudhaPoornima day in 1930 he left the body at the age of 71. A samadhi was built for Khatkhate Baba and soon it became a museum where his belongings are also kept.
Philosophy Propounded
Khatkhate Baba did not preach much but lived and helped people with his powers. He moved across the river by walking on it, levitated in air while doing asanas, turned water into ghee and even brought a dead man back to life. He saved the village from the flood in Yamuna and from the epidemic cholera. People approached him with various reasons for worldly benefits and spiritual guidance and he had a solution for all of them.
Work Done to Spread the Philosophy
Khatkhate Baba did nothing to further his work. But his devotees built an ashram and money poured in from all quarters and a trust was formed. Now the ashram and his samadhi at Etawah is a pilgrimage centre.
