"Simplicity, ease... is a cage. A bird within a cage of its own making now fears to fly. What if... what if... what if... 'taunted by questions, energy vanishes.'"
The bird gazes out, waiting for a self-liberation."
"But it's alone in emptiness, cage and void exist in the mind."
These reflective thoughts are from a sage who chose a life of simplicity and detachment over aerospace engineering after graduating from IIT Mumbai.
Currently, he wanders on the banks of Sangam in Prayagraj, unraveling life’s mysteries. An interview with him went viral, leaving many astounded upon discovering that an IIT graduate had forsaken million-dollar packages and corporate allure to embrace a monastic life.
Wisdom of the Yogi on Prayagraj's Sandy Shores
This sage, seated on Prayagraj’s sands, shares his life philosophy. These reflections are penned in his English book, 'A Beautiful Place to Get Lost,' written while in Manali.
His journey to this life stage is mesmerizing. In a News 18 interview, when asked how he reached such a state, he smiled like a child and said, "This is the best state... Haha... Keep following knowledge, where will you go, right here you will arrive."
He humorously revealed the secret of his laughter, stating philosophically, "What can be done in a world that can end at any moment. I’ll die laughing… If not laughing, it seems I was too busy. Must tell God, stop time, stop death... Peace is possible, laughter is Blissful."
Masani Gorakh, Batuk Bhairav, Raghav, Madhav… Which Name Shall I Tell?
At Kumbh, when asked his name, he baffled many, saying, "Which one, I have many names, Masani Gorakh, Batuk Bhairav, Raghav, Madhav, Sarveshwari, Jagadishwari, Jagadish."
Yet, he insists he’s neither a saint nor a recluse, preferring to be called a seeker. Once known as Abhay Singh, he explains, "Being called a saint or ascetic raises questions like who initiated you, from whom did you take renunciation, but assume you embarked alone on a quest for knowledge, gained wisdom from a shopkeeper, a tea guru, a business guru."
Recounting his journey to IIT, he said, "I came from a small town, Jhajjar, hadn't heard of IIT until grade 12, then I found out about coaching, dropped a year, moved to Delhi, and got selected, my mind was sharp."
Ranked 731st Nationwide
This boy from Haryana's Jhajjar ranked 731st in the JEE exam. He chose aerospace engineering, "Not for money, a big college meant family would allow me to go far, and then I saw that according to the rank, aerospace was fitting and interesting. Didn't think about jobs."
Studying aerospace engineering drove him toward philosophy, liking Postmodernism, Epistemology. Future events started knocking at fate’s door.
The love for patterns, designs started early, Abhay Singh pursued this alongside aerospace in IIT.
Discussing further, he said, "After IIT, the question was what to do in life, I looked for answers in philosophy, had debates with teachers - give me practical insights useful in life, theories are fine but what should I do."
While grappling with these questions, Abhay Singh realized to pursue what he liked, to dedicate life to it. This led him to pursue a Master in Design after engineering, and he taught physics at coaching centers from 2012 to 2014.
Worked with Leading Fashion Magazines
Baba Abhay Singh captured dreams during IIT's internship with photography in Uttarakhand for two months, then worked with Vogue, GQ, directed fashion films.
In an ABP interview, when asked about his broad experiences and renunciation, his answer genuinely inspires. He simply said, "This is renunciation, when you see things, in this world, things hold enthusiasm until unseen, curiosity persists. You wonder how they are, seem happy, but it’s a facade. Then you rise above it, look beyond."
After designing, working a first job in the corporate sector fetched him a salary of 12 lakhs.
This young sage grew bored with each new job until reaching Dharamshala, learning life's basics. In 2017, depression hit hard, but friends helped him break free. He then set his sights on Canada, passing the demanding IELTS exam. Yet, he couldn’t settle, and then COVID struck.
He recounts, "The pandemic heightened stress. I meditated, questions surfaced like why am I not gaining strength, I knew I could but wasn’t able. I delved into reading about them."
Abhay Singh caught a return flight to India in 2021. His home life lacked peace, disturbances prevailed, he recalls how in mental strain, people react—fight, flight, or freeze. He aimed to avoid freezing.
Girlfriend and Parents
His temperament led to clashes with his parents. He said sometimes they called the police to take him away. It’s fortunate I got out. In his videos, he calls this a parental trap, stating parents aren't gods. They too are creations of God; Satya Yuga’s concept doesn’t apply in Kali Yuga. He philosophically adds that when ego and selfishness dominate parents, divine forces break their arrogance.
Discussing his time at IIT Mumbai, he revealed having girlfriends, which he deems natural.
Awakening After Zero State
He narrates life’s moments forecasting death, "Felt like dying, but let it be, I saw beyond mind and awakened." In 2021, he vowed to bring forth what is true religion, true knowledge, listening to Vishnu hymns and playing the ektara, starting the Truth Series."
Videos of this are on Abhay Singh's Instagram. He mentions, "I went to Sadhguru, stayed nine months in his ashram, my ego dissolved."
Abhay Singh studied all religious books—Quran, Hadith, Buddhist, Chinese, Egyptian history, physics, math, statistics, architecture, astrology. Comprehending, "What is this?" He practiced bathing in cold water, hands shriveling, shivering.
Mystical Guidance of Mahadev
He disclosed starting a pilgrimage from Manali, traversed Khirganga, felt directed by Mahadev, and tutored. Experienced life firsthand, visiting Kedarnath, learned to sit by the sacred fire, wield the trident, trekked the Uttarakhand circuit all on foot, 20 km per day, triggered by a desire to absorb knowledge along the path.
Abhay Singh notes, "I'm surviving on Canada-earned money, Mahadev’s witnessing my work, ensures funds sustain life, urging me to focus on duty."
