Lokenath Brahmachari, who is called Baba Lokenath or simply Sri Lokenath, was an 18th-century saint, yogi and philosopher in Bengal, most notably preached by Nityagopal Saha.
Background
Disciples believe he was born on or about 31 August 1730 (according to the Bengali calendar 18th Bhadra, 1137) on the holy day of Krishna Janmashtami in Kachua Dham (in present-day North 24 Parganas of West Bengal state). His father was Ramnarayan Ghoshal and his mother was Kamala Devi.
Career
Number documented evidence exists about the date of birth of Lokenath. He then went to the eastern part of India, and settled at a small town village called Barodi, near Dhaka (in present-day Bangladesh) and started living at Dangu Kormokar’s house. The zamindar family of Barodi "Nag Chowdhury" became Baba"s devotees and an Ashram was built later where Baba resided and took mahasamadhi.
First, Baba Lokenath"s name was only heard in Bangladesh.
Later, many devotees spread His name to neighbouring countries like India, Myanmar and Nepal. Most notable among them was Nityagopal Saha.
He was known as the messenger sent to earth by Baba Lokenath! He is so famous that a temple is made in his name in the Kachua Dham complex itself! Baba Lokenath said to his devotees: "রণে, বনে, জলে, জঙ্গলে যখনই বিপদে পড়িবে, আমাকে স্মরণ করিও, আমিই রক্ষা করিব ।" (“Whenever you are in danger, whether in war, forest, ocean or jungle, remember Maine I shall save you”)
There is a controversy about the birthplace of Lokenath. Some disciples believe it was Kachua Dham, while others believe it to be Chakla Dham.
There was always a hud-to-hud competition between Kachua Dham and Chakla Dham for the birthplace of Baba Lokenath.
From then on, legally, Kachua Dham is regarded as the real birthplace of Lokenath Brahmachari. Later on, many historians revealed a script of Baba Lokenath telling this:
আমি লোকনাথ ব্রহ্মচারী. আমার বাড়ি চাকলা. I am Lokenath Brahmachari.
I live in Chakla
This revealed that he lived in Chakla Dham but wasn"t born there.
So, Kachua Dham is his birthplace. Kachua Dham – North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India.
Gangasagar Lokenath Mandir – South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. Teghoria Lokenath Mandir – Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Barodi Lokenath Ashram, Barodi, Bangladesh.
Chakla Dham – North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. Salkia Lokenath Mandir – Salkia, Howrah, West Bengal, India. Lokenath Brahmachari Asram – Agartala, West Tripura, India
Lokenath Mandir, Lokenath Mission, "Kulti -Krishnapur" Branch, Bardhaman
Sri Baba Lokenath Brahmachari Temple, Patna, Bihar, India.
Sri Sri Lokenath Ashram, H-1525, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi-110019
Dagapur Sri Loknath Temple - Siliguri, West Bengal.