Neem Karoli Baba was born during childhood in a small village in north India with an absolute simplicity and interest in spirituality at a very young age. His life was a relatively unremarkable one without much of an education, yet spiritual charisma and wisdom drew seekers of many different backgrounds to him. The impact of Maharaj-ji was seen to be tremendous and most people who had met him had inner calm and clarity. He was so humble and accessible that he was loved not only in India but all over the world.

The power of bhakti or devotion, the sure way to liberation and spiritual fulfillment, was one of the major teachings of Maharaj-ji. He preached that love is the supreme form of human life and devotion to the God must be sincere and pure with no emphasis on the rituals and belief. With a straightforward but deep message of loving God and serving others selflessly one would gain the true happiness and peace. This message is quite timeless and at its core at Hanuman Mandir Adelaide spiritual practices.

Neem Karoli Baba had a special devotion especially to Lord Hanuman, the god-monkey god who was very strong, loyal and devout to Lord Rama. Hanuman was the model that Maharaj-ji saw in his ideals of surrender, courage and humility, which He said should be practiced by his disciples. These associations of deity are so much deeply incorporated into the rituals, prayers and community life in Hanuman Mandir Adelaide where worshipers and followers are inspired by deity and teachings of Maharaj-ji.

Neem Karoli Baba was considered in possessed by miraculous power as well as a human being of compassion throughout his life. There are a thousand tales on how he used to heal the sick, give spiritual guidance and assist them during their time of crisis. His miracles were nothing more than supernatural happenings, but rather symbols of his unrestraint kindness and closeness to the divine. Practitioners in different parts of the world still submit stories of healing and metamorphosis to the grace of Maharaj-ji.

Selfless service (seva) is also another pillar of the teachings of Maharaj-ji. He stressed on the fact that serving others without any demand is indeed one of the most holy things one can do because it is the immediate manifestation of love to God when we are going about our daily businesses. The principle led to numerous charity efforts and volunteerism programs that still exist to this day in his memory. In the Adelaide Hanuman Mandir the performance of seva is an essential element of the spiritual and social ethos, the embodiment of the vision of the saint, a love in action.

The influence of Neem Karoli Baba was not limited to India and this was owing to his followers who now spread his message across the world. One of the best-known was Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert), whose book Be Here Now carried the teachings of Maharaj-ji to the West and opened a pathway between Eastern and Western cultures of spiritual seekers. There are some other prominent disciples who have remained true to the spirit of teachings of Maharaj-ji such as Krishna Das and other spiritual gurus who have carried on with the teachings in many countries across the globe.

At Hanuman Mandir Adelaide, the tradition of Neem Karoli Baba is followed by conducting regular emotional meetings (the supply of spiritual gatherings), kirtan (chanting hauls), meditation, and selfless work. These events create a place where the devotees can strengthen the bond with the teachings of Maharaj-ji, become more devoted to Lord Hanuman and become community in the realm of spiritual prosperity. The temple is a light house of spiritual teaching and practice of this great saint.

The insights of Neem Karoli Baba can have an immense influence on a person in the aspects of life and spiritual manifestations. His teaching teaches us not to look at the material and instead live the life of love, compassion, humility, and devotion. His example demonstrates that spirituality does not have to be in any temple or read in any scriptures but is present in each deed of compassion and each minute of sincere prayer.

The teachings of Neem Karoli Baba in the present hectic situation of this world can help and serve as a never-ending guideline to have some grace and faith in life. His teaching of renouncement of the ego, by faith in God and serving man without any selfish motives, gave hope to millions of his disciples and followers to live the life that is worth living and spiritually rewarded.