What's the buzz around Virat Kohli's phone wallpaper?

India turned around the game in the final few overs to get crowned as the world champions in the T20 World Cup held in the USA. Some days after the nail-biting thriller held at Barbados, team India returned to their home country and received a reception for ages. Marine Drive in Mumbai mimicked Buenos Aries of 2022 as seas of supporters choked Mumbai city in jamboree. All the visuals of the celebrations went viral on the internet while some hawk-eyed netizens fixated on the phone wallpaper of superstar Virat Kohli. It was a blurry image of an elder citizen and many doubted it for some relatives of Virat. But within moments after the pic went viral on the internet, the doubts got cleared.

That wallpaper image was of a mystic monk who lived half a century ago and went by the name Neem Karoli Baba. What does Virat has to do with a photo of a mystic Baba who seldom made it to the headlines in India? Many might have seen this thought running through their heads but the reality may leave you in awe.

According to Hindu belief, there are three types of prayers. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga. Neem Karoli Baba was the yogi who practised Bhakti Yoga. This practice is believed to help you attain ultimate salvation where a yogi worships his favorite deity. Neem Karoli Baba was a great Hanuman devotee and word spread about his mystic powers during the late 70s which increased his line of admirers which even had names from Hollywood.

He has many disciples in foreign countries like American yoga guru Baba Ram Das, singer Bhagavan Das, and American Tibetan Buddhist teacher Suryadas. Eminent people from various world fields have come to Neem Karoli Baba's ashram at various crisis points and are said to have returned in utmost contentment.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and his friend Dan Kottke came to India in 1974, only to meet Neem Karoli Baba and learn more about Hinduism. After learning about Steve Jobs' experience, META chief Mark Zuckerberg visited Baba's Ashram in Kainchi in 2015. During this time, Meta was sailing in turbulent waters with business taking a hit. Hollywood star Julia Roberts came close to Hinduism only because of Baba.

Former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma are ardent admirers of Baba. Kohli and Anushka visited Baba's ashram in 2023. The images of Kohli closing his eyes and praying were viral on the internet back then.

Born in Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh in the early 20th century, Laxman Narayan Sharma found enlightenment and turned to Neem Karoli Baba. Some disciples believe that he is an avatar of Hanuman.