Team India star cricketer Virat Kohli on Thursday returned to India after being stuck in Barbados due to a hurricane. Virat Kohli arrived in India along with the entire Team India squad after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. Team India's arrival in India became hectic. The World Champions were first hosted by PM Modi over breakfast where they participated in an interactive session with the Prime Minister, thereafter, they went straight to Mumbai. In Mumbai, Team India participated in a victory parade organised by the BCCI. Lakhs of people came on the streets to welcome the world champions back at home. Thereafter, Virat Kohli & the team went to Wankhded Stadium for the felicitation ceremony.
After the completion of the ceremony, Virat Kohli headed straight to Mumbai Airport and left for London. Virat left for London to spend time with his wife Anushka Sharma & children Vamika and Akaay. Notably, Virat Kohli was filmed at the airport by the paparazzi. Thereafter, a photo went viral on social media showcasing Virat Kohli's phone wallpaper. Virat Kohli's phone waller contained a picture of Neem Karoli Baba.
Now, the question arises who is Neem Karoli Baba, Virat Kohli's spiritual guru?
Who is Neem Karoli Baba?
As per the official website, Neem Karoli Baba is also known as Neeb Karori Baba. He is called “Maharaj-ji” by his devotees. Maharaj-ji’s teachings were simple and universal. He often said, "Sub Ek” — All is One. He taught us to "love everyone, serve everyone, remember God, and tell the truth."
"Strongly connected to Hanuman, the Hindu God in the form of a monkey, Maharaj-ji “taught” in a highly personalized, non-traditional way that reflected the deep devotion of the bhakti path of the heart. Known as the “Miracle Baba” throughout north India, He manifested many siddhis (powers), such as being in two places at once or putting devotees in samadhi (state of God consciousness) at the touch of a finger."
Neem Karoli Baba is known outside India for being the spiritual master of a number of Americans who travelled to India in the 1960s and 1970s. Neem Karoli Baba died at approximately 1:15 AM on 11 September, 1973 in a hospital at Vrindavan after slipping into a diabetic coma. He had been returning by night train to Kainchi near Nainital, from Agra where he had visited a heart specialist due to experiencing pains in his chest.
For the unversed, back in 2023, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli visited Baba Neem Karoli's ashram. On Holi last year, Anushka Sharma also took to social media to pay her tribute to the Guru. The couple is a strong believer of him.