FOR years I was confounded by this sign, rendered in the Benguiat type font, at Junction Boulevard and 41st Avenue, south of the Flushing elevated over Roosevelt Avenue. It is actually a representation of Corona and Jackson Heights’ South Asian community. The name of this laundromat at 41st Avenue perplexed me, but all I had to do was look it up on the webs. The name should be rendered in two words, Baba Lokenath, a 19th century spiritual leader in the Hindu religion. Elmhurst and Corona feature Middle Eastern, Caribbean and Latin American populations among others, with the Flushing Line dubbed the “International Express.”
According to the AI robot on wikipedia,
Baba Lokenath Brahmachari (1730-1890) was a revered Indian yogi, mystic, and spiritual master from Bengal, considered by many a Purnavatar (complete incarnation) and an incarnation of Lord Shiva, famous for his profound teachings on self-realization, love, and compassion, and his promise to protect devotees in times of danger. He achieved enlightenment through intense yoga and meditation, living an ascetic life, traveling widely, and teaching universal values like love, truth, and non-violence, becoming a household name and deity in Bengal after his death.
I imagine you can take those birth and death dates with at least a pinch of salt.
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12/10/25