According to the Hindu belief, spiritual journey to the absolute is, generally, not accomplished in one life time. The Sadhak (religiously preserving ascetic) soul moves with its spiritual tradition inherited from previous births. However when God kindly smiles on someone, the path of adoption of the Guru becomes easy. This auspicious co-incidence happened in Ravi Baba’s spiritual path. As a consequence, Baba Prakash Puri emerged as sun, to symbolically illumine Ravi Baba’s spiritual path.
Ravi Baba was born in the vicinity of the famous Indian pilgrimage i.e. Ganga Sagar, it is part of Vardhman district in West Bengal. At the age of 10, Ravi Baba, with permission of his parent embarked on the parth of Sanyas(renunciation). The meaning of the word ‘Sanyas’ is that a person consciously detaches himself from the worldly affairs . Kapil Ashram, in the vicinity of Ganga Sagar became his first spiritual refuge. Here the child Ravi started his first lessons in austerities. After spending around eight year in this hermitage, Ravi came to the birth place of the great seer Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu. Here, spending sometime at a famous temple Navdeep Chaitanya Mahadev, he shifted to another shrine ten kilometers away. The name of the shrine was “Bhandatikudi Ashram”. After having stayed for sometime here, his spiritual quest took him to Vrindavan. By this time people had started addressing him as Ravi Baba. Chanting the name of God and practicing mediation, Ravi Baba initially moved from one temple to another. Then he withdrew to a secluded temple, a little distance from the famous ISKON Temple. The only possession he had was hermit’s loin cloth and a worn out blanket. Living under the tutelage of renowned saint Naryan Giri, he steadily progressed on the path of self-realization and religion contemplation. He had only one yearning he wanted to be accepted and adopted by a Sadguru (worthy preceptor) Only then this life in this world would be fructified. Only this would quench his spiritual thirst. The very first ‘mantra’ of Bhavnopashida (a Hindu scripture) affirms: “The most venerated Guru (worthy preceptor) is the only and foremost causal power”. Through the spiritual bonus point earned by Ravi Baba in the previous lives, the Sadguru (worthy preceptor) has himself arrived in Vrindavan in search of his worthy disciple. The mutual searched ended into a unification of will.
It is common belief in the world of spirituality that as a disciple is in the fond search of a worthy preceptor (Sadguru) in the same way, a Sadguru is also always in search of worthy disciple. After establishing all the shrines, Baba Prakashpuri started thinking in terms of handing over this spiritual heritage to a worthy disciple.
In 1984, Baba Prakashpuri organized a free community meal after the resurrection of Pandwala Shiva Temple at Gurgaon. After this, he decided to pay a visit to celebrated saint at Vrindavana. His name was Saint Naryana Giri. During Baba Prakashpuri’s stay at Vrindavana, Ravi Baba went in the company of Saint Narayana Giri to pay obeisance to him. However, Ravi Baba’s wish was not fulfilled as Baba Prakashpuri had already left for Kanya Kumari. However, he got an opportunity to have a glimpse of Baba Prakashpuri soon. He went to Raiseena hermitage in the company of Saint Narayan Giri. In the very first instance, Baba Prakashpuri experienced on intuitive feeling that Ravi Baba had a strong desire to accept and adopt him as a Guru. After having a darshan (holy glimpse) of Baba Prakashpuri, Ravi Baba went back to Vrindavana. In those days Ravi Baba practiced spirituality at the feet of Saint Naryana Giri and lived in an isolated hut. His desire to be accepted and adopted by a worthy preceptor was getting stronger by the day.
After a lapse of some time, Baba Prakash Puri went to Vrindavana again. Saint Naryana Giri was away from Vrindavana at that time. At that moment. Ravi Baba shut in hut, was pondering over the weighty question of how to seek refuge at the feet of a Sadguru ( a worthy preceptor). Suddenly, there was a knock, and Baba Ravi found a familiar menial at the door. As he heard the message, Baba Ravi felt as if his cherished desire to sit at the feet of Sadguru was about to be realized. With whatever little offerings he could manage, Ravi Baba rushed to the place where Baba Prakashpuri was staying. Paying his obeisance, he offered his oblations to the Guru, and then sat with folded hands before him. As their eyes met, both felt a great sense of joy. The Guru said in an affection tone: “Ravi, would you come to Gurgaon with me?” What else could Ravi Baba desire from life? He felt thrilled and blessed on getting the Guru’s benediction, it seemed to him that his punyas (virtuous acts) committed in previous births had suddenly awakened, and he was about to be rewarded for those acts.