Neem Karoli Baba, often remembered simply as Maharaj-ji, drew to himself a circle of disciples whose lives became vehicles for the wider transmission of his bhakti-centered teaching. Among Westerners, the most widely recognized is Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert), a former Harvard psychologist whose encounter with Maharaj-ji transformed his life. His book *Be Here Now* presented not only his personal journey but also a vivid portrait of Neem Karoli Baba’s path of love, devotion, and service, thereby introducing countless seekers to this lineage. Through Ram Dass, many came to understand that Maharaj-ji’s teaching was less a formal doctrine and more a living example of unconditional compassion.

Another significant group of disciples carried this devotional current into the realm of sacred music and kirtan. Krishna Das (Jeffrey Kagel), a renowned kirtan singer and chant leader, repeatedly points back to Neem Karoli Baba as the wellspring of his inspiration, using music as a form of service and remembrance. Bhagavan Das, also a spiritual teacher and musician, is similarly associated with this stream of devotion, embodying the bridge between traditional Indian practice and Western seekers. Jai Uttal, likewise known as a kirtan artist, reflects the same devotional influence and has helped make these chants accessible to a broad audience. Through such figures, the sound of bhakti became a primary vehicle for conveying Maharaj-ji’s presence beyond the physical boundaries of his ashrams.

Neem Karoli Baba’s influence was not limited to musicians and spiritual teachers; it also extended into domains of social service and public health. Larry Brilliant, an epidemiologist and philanthropist who worked on the eradication of smallpox, is described as a close devotee whose life of service bears the imprint of Maharaj-ji’s emphasis on compassion in action. In this way, the guru’s teaching did not remain confined to ashram life but flowed into concrete efforts to alleviate suffering in the wider world. Such disciples demonstrate how devotion, properly understood, can manifest as practical, selfless work.

Among Indian disciples, figures such as Dada Mukherjee and Siddhi Ma stand out as central to the preservation of Neem Karoli Baba’s living legacy. Dada Mukherjee, a close householder devotee, helped establish and maintain ashrams and later wrote about his experiences, offering an intimate window into daily life around Maharaj-ji. Siddhi Ma, a prominent female disciple, became a respected teacher in her own right and helped guide the community after his passing. Through these and many other unnamed devotees who maintained the ashrams and continued the practices, the core of Maharaj-ji’s teaching—love, service, and devotion to the divine—has been quietly sustained and transmitted from heart to heart.