1871–October 1967 · Uttara Kaula guru of Ranchi
Shri Pagala Baba was born Panchanan Mitra, son of Kalicharan Mitra, in Dhopadhoha, Jessore country, Bengal. He held the Uttara Kaula parampara. His initiation name is not known. People called him Dadu. Locally he was Panch Mistry or Pagal Mistry, because he would not touch money. Pagala Baba means “mad father.”
He kept a small ashram on the edge of Ranchi, now Mukteshwardham. His samadhi is there, with those of the Mothers. Trustees keep the place. It is their house, not an ashram of the International Nath Order.
In 1963 he gave Shri Gurudev Mahendranath Tantric initiation into Uttara Kaula. In 1967, at Pagala Baba’s mahasamadhi, Mahendranath received that parampara and became its last guru. He would not pass that sadhu seat as a sadhu seat in the West. This Order is a householder stream. It is not Mukteshwardham renamed.
Mahendranath spoke of remaining in communication with him for more than twenty years after the passing. Lt. Col. C. C. Bakshi and M. D. Chhugani wrote from the Ranchi side. Chhugani’s Baba of Mukteshwardham is the printed life. Sri Kapilnath’s notes are the INO record of the man and of a visit to the samadhi.
