Along with devotees, Babaji has been visiting the cave in the Chamundi Hills, Mysore where He withdrew into deep meditation following the Mahasamadhi of His Divine Guru Shri Swamiji in 1994.  Babaji, feeling void and missing the physical presence of His beloved Master, retreated to this cave where it is said Sage Markandeya performed Tapas and where Swamiji had occasionally taken devotees.  

After remaining in a deeply withdrawn state for two or three days, Babaji was stirred by nearby sounds.  Suddenly Swamiji appeared before him, surrounded by a dazzling light. Swamiji told Babaji that the time had come to undertake five years of Tapas, and that His twenty years of selfless service had already borne the fruits of seven years of Tapas.  Babaji replied that He wished only to continue serving in Swamiji’s Mission and sing bhajans in the glory of His name.  But Swamiji assured Him that He would create circumstances in which Babaji will have to sit for 5 years of Tapas and attain Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Thus, in this cave in the Chamundi Hills, Swamiji first blessed Babaji to go into Tapas.