Childhood of Kriya Babaji

There are very few accounts of Babaji's childhood. One source of information is book Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition by Marshall Govindan. According to Govindan, Babaji was named Nagaraj (King of Serpents by his Parents)

Yogis S.A.A Ramiah and V.T. Nelakanthan claim that in 1953 Mahavthar Babaji told them he had been born on 30 November 203 CE in a small coastal village now known in Tamil Nadu, India.

According to Govindan's book, babaji Nagaraj's father was the priest of the village's temple. Babaji revealed only those details which believed to be formative as well as potentially instructive to his disciples. Govindan mentioned one jackfruit incident like this: "One time Nagaraja's mother had got one rare jackfruit for family feast and put it aside. Babaji was only 4 years old that time. He found jackfruit when his mother was not around and ate it all. When mother came to know about the cloth inside Babaji's mouth, nearly suffocating him. Fortunately, Babaji survived. Later he thanked God for Showing him that she was to be loved without attachment or illusion. His love for his mother became unconditioned and detached.