Fifty shades of faith: Devotees talk about why they believe in their gurus

[V.Balasubramani]

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Fifty shades of faith: Devotees talk about why they believe in their gurus

Godmen and godwomen have been around for as long as one can remember in India. From time to time, when allegations of all kinds surface against these self-styled spiritual leaders, gurus or babas, one wonders what their devotees (belonging to all strata of society) see in them.

Answers to this question, however, do not always allow for simple pigeon-holing, and reveal various degrees of agency, intelligence, and unshakeable belief in the guru or "brainwash". However, the fact that these self-proclaimed spiritual leaders have a following (large or small) is an indicator that they are either fulfilling or exploiting some real or perceived vacuum or need in an individual, that society has either created or failed to address.


Needs, real and imagined

Lakshmi Priya (27) is a case in point. She says her parents were introduced to Mata Amrithanandamayi or Amma, at a time when they faced problems – real and imagined – that needed fixing. An MPhil holder in Political Science, Lakshmi claims that Amma cured her younger brother of asthma through prayers 15 years ago. Back then, her parents, who were facing financial difficulties, also thought that she was not very good at studies. They believe that after Amma came into their lives, things got better.

Lakshmi grew up with photos of Amma along with images of gods in her house in Kochi, where she lives with her father, a central government employee and mother, who is a teacher in a government school. She and her family wear rings or lockets with images of Amma. “Once you feel the comfort of her (Amma's) love, you will be the happiest person in the world,” she says.

Mumbai-based businessman Sanjeev Gupta had a similar experience. Thirteen years ago, he was “totally disturbed” by business and family-related problems. That was when a friend invited him to Raadhe Maa’s satsang in the city. “When I first saw her, her presence touched me,” Gupta says, adding that not only were his problems solved “110 percent”, but that he also got back his peace of mind.

- See more at: http://www.thenewsminute.com/articl...elieve-their-gurus-33117#sthash.wdVMEWf9.dpuf

 

[yesmohan]

It is said these Gurujis / Mathajis receive funds from foreign sources.
All these Gurujis / Mathajis have " influential followers " in politics.
No Govt. had taken any action to scrutinise their accounts or source of funds.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

The unfaithful: Analysing the new 'Godmen' of India

• 
• Trikal Bhavanta of Pari akhada at Sadhugram in Nashik File Photo iamin.in

The biggest blow to Hinduism — triggering a crisis of faith — has been inflicted not by outside forces of infidels, but from within, by some of its so-called spiritual gurus. The self-styled godmen and women who have made a mockery of faith by leading gullible devotees up the garden path to salvation. The latest to join the league of dubious characters are Swami Sachidanand, Radhe Maa and Trikal Bhawanta.

The Swami, previously known as Sachin Dutta, has managed to become mahamandaleshwar (a high priest), despite a colourful past, to put it mildly. He has several criminal cases pending against him. A beer-bar-owner-turned-realtor-turned-sadhu, he has duped several buyers with his dream-home projects in Noida.


Read more at: http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/editorial-the-unfaithful-analysing-the-new-godmen-of-india-2111448

 

[CHANDRU1849]

What is the reason for so many god-men and god-women appearing frequently from Hindu fold?

Is a recent phenomenon or prevalent from Vedic period?

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Greed, fear, superstition: Why Radhe became our Maa and Asaram our Bapu

Excerpts of article:
……………………………………………………
Why do Indians go to Babas and Maas? Most of the bhakts want something in life, preferably without too much effort or pain: money, fame, job, security, health, marriage, sex, babies et al. These self-anointed messengers of god promise short-cuts and thus attract covetous devotees.

A majority of these Babas/Maas are either service-providers, brokers, networkers or heads of crony clubs that serve each other's interests. Some are more subtle; instead of material desires, they sell yogic postures, natural remedies for ailments ranging from homosexuality to cancer, or peace of mind through lifestyle-mantras masquerading as spiritual wisdom. A rare few, like Rajneesh, offer everything under the sun--from sambhog (sex) to samadhi (enlightenment/nirvana/peace).

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/india/fear-greed-superstition-radhe-became-ma-asaram-bapu-2386454.html

 

[prasad1]

The alien leaves for Delhi. Due to his strange behavior, the people assume he is drunk and call him PK (pee-kay, Hindi for "drunk"). People tell him that only "God" can help him find his remote. PK sincerely practices every Indian religion attempting to find "God", to no avail. He later discovers that Tapasvi has his remote, who claims it was a gift from God. Tapasvi refuses to return the remote. Jaggu promises PK that she will recover his remote and he can go back home. PK concludes that Tapasvi and other godmen must be dialing a "wrong number" to communicate with God, and are therefore advising the public to engage in meaningless rituals. Jaggu encourages the public to expose fraudulent godmen, by sending their videos to her news channel, calling them "wrong numbers". Meanwhile, Bhairon finds the thief and contacts PK, informing him they will come to Delhi.
Tapasvi decides to confront PK on-air. Tapasvi asks PK what the "right number" is. PK says the "God that created us all" is the only one we should believe in, and that the other "duplicate Gods" are created by man. Tapasvi claims he has a direct connection to God and refers to his prediction of Sarfaraz's betrayal as proof. PK realizes that Sarfaraz did not write the letter. Jaggu contacts the Pakistan Embassy in Belgium where Sarfaraz worked part-time. The embassy tells her that Sarfaraz still loves her, and transfers the line to Sarfaraz. Jaggu and Sarfaraz reconnect, and Tapasvi is forced to return PK's remote.

PK is a winner all the way, a film that Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt would have been proud of had they been alive. Rajkumar Hirani is without a doubt their most worthy standard-bearer.

That movie poked fun at this phenomenon of god-men.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Most of the Godmen are fake and end up in jail. They commit all sorts of offences including Economic offences, sexual offences and criminal offences.

Some Babus have supporters possessing deadly weapons like .315 caliber Rifles.

Their Ashrams are built like Forts with trenches to defend.

They continue their nefarious activities inside their dens comfortably with the blessings of their supporters which include politicians and business tycoons.

There are numerous tales and messages spread by their supporters praising and glorifying these Babus and Maas and only God knows how many of such tales are rumors and how many prove to be true?

While few are facing trouble with law enforcing agencies, most are scot free and continue their activities and cheating the general public. They make good money.

And it is the only lucrative profession which requires no minimum qualification.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Movies like Da Vinci Code and Books like 'Satanic Verses' have faced trouble either with the law enforcing agencies or with general public.

What is important is the whole content and message such Movies and Books convey. ' PK' besides projecting Godmen it attacked core ideologies of Hinduism, moked idol worshipers and portrayed Hindus like fools. Which cannot be tolerated not only in this Forum but anywhere under the sun. That particular movie would have won bcos of publicity it gained due to the litigation but had it served its purpose.

Why then supporters still follow Babus and Maas??

 

[renuka]

Mata,Pita,GURU,Deivam..that is why people follow Gurujis.

BTW every Guru cant be a fake..a Guru has a rightful place in Hindu society.

A few days back a friend sent me a video of Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev speaking about stress in day to day life.

His talk was superb ..with a such a good command of English and being so informative he sounded more like a Psychiatrist.

He was also talking about the solar system and the human mind and evolution of the human brain,about size of synapses and number of synapses which all made perfect sense.
He was not just talking nonsense..he seemed very well informed and one gets the feeling that not all his knowledge is from a text book.

Then he was also saying that Yoga done purely as a physical exercise is not really advisable.

He is fully into the 8th fold Yoga of Patanjali.

That video does make one realize that physical exercise alone is not enough.

So I feel there is no harm we learn and listen to anyone and decide what is right for us.

 

[yesmohan]

Movies like Da Vinci Code and Books like 'Satanic Verses' have faced trouble either with the law enforcing agencies or with general public.

What is important is the whole content and message such Movies and Books convey. ' PK' besides projecting Godmen it attacked core ideologies of Hinduism, moked idol worshipers and portrayed Hindus like fools. Which cannot be tolerated not only in this Forum but anywhere under the sun. That particular movie would have won bcos of publicity it gained due to the litigation but had it served its purpose.

Why then supporters still follow Babus and Maas??

In any other religion, no fake God-man/ God-woman could flourish.Immediate action will be taken by "all means" by the concerned sect of that religion.
But in Hinduism it is free for all trade.No licenses, no regulation,no rules, no control over...any thing....absolute independence!!! .
Lot of sects..... lot of castes....... lot of sub castes........within the sub castes.... lot of touch screens & untouchable screens.................
one will not adjust/agree ,in any way, with others within their own sect. More and more complexities......to innumerable extent leading to vulnerable acts.....
Having the status of religion as such ................How any one take action against these "duplicates/ self imposed Gods".

There is no law enforcing system in Hinduism; law breakers very well survive.
Of course we could take pride of by propagating... "Hinduism as ............thy name is tolerance"

 

[V.Balasubramani]

In any other religion, no fake God-man/ God-woman could flourish.Immediate action will be taken by "all means" by the concerned sect of that religion.
But in Hinduism it is free for all trade.No licenses, no regulation,no rules, no control over...any thing....absolute independence!!! .
Lot of sects..... lot of castes....... lot of sub castes........within the sub castes.... lot of touch screens & untouchable screens.................
one will not adjust/agree ,in any way, with others within their own sect. More and more complexities......to innumerable extent leading to vulnerable acts.....
Having the status of religion as such ................How any one take action against these "duplicates/ self imposed Gods".

There is no law enforcing system in Hinduism; law breakers very well survive.
Of course we could take pride of by propagating... "Hinduism as ............thy name is tolerance"

Babus and Maas are also human beings and are thus prone to fall victim to material pleasures.

Such Godmen commit offences irrespective of caste, colour, creed, religion.......etc

HC directs police to register case against father of Church

Read more at: http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-against-father-of-church-115021301775_1.html


Police register rape case against Catholic priest in Kerala –

See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/in...tholic-priest-in-kerala/#sthash.nJCsiDbt.dpuf

Case against Priest for Allegedly Molesting Minor

Read more at: http://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...Molesting-Minor/2015/04/02/article2742815.ece
[h=1]CB-CID registers case against 19, including three Bishops[/h]Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...19-including-three-bishops/article7199725.ece

It is the law enforcing agencies that takes action against such culprits.

 

[sangom]

Babus and Maas are also human beings and are thus prone to fall victim to material pleasures.

Such Godmen commit offences irrespective of caste, colour, creed, religion.......etc

HC directs police to register case against father of Church

Read more at: http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-against-father-of-church-115021301775_1.html


Police register rape case against Catholic priest in Kerala –

See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/in...tholic-priest-in-kerala/#sthash.nJCsiDbt.dpuf

Case against Priest for Allegedly Molesting Minor

Read more at: http://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...Molesting-Minor/2015/04/02/article2742815.ece
CB-CID registers case against 19, including three Bishops

Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...19-including-three-bishops/article7199725.ece

It is the law enforcing agencies that takes action against such culprits.

If you notice, without bias, all the above are priest or bishop, not a Christian Godman/Godwoman. That is a specialty of the bhakti-goaded hindu religion only in which people wrongly believe that a guru alone can take you towards mOksha or liberation and this moksha is not at all known. Thus these gurus become tour guides to the land that does not exist at all! Godmen/godwomen usually start in a humble way as 'spiritual' gurus but soon put on themselves the halo of godman/godwoman.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

If you notice, without bias, all the above are priest or bishop, not a Christian Godman/Godwoman. That is a specialty of the bhakti-goaded hindu religion only in which people wrongly believe that a guru alone can take you towards mOksha or liberation and this moksha is not at all known. Thus these gurus become tour guides to the land that does not exist at all! Godmen/godwomen usually start in a humble way as 'spiritual' gurus but soon put on themselves the halo of godman/godwoman.

Sangom Ji,

How do you distinguish a Godmen/Godwomen from Priest or Bishop. Where do you draw the line?

 

[talwan]

Latest in the list of 'maa's is Radhe maa. She enjoys the clout of many in Bollywood,Recently she is in the dragnet of police for some Dowry demandswith her devotee.
Alwan

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Latest in the list of 'maa's is Radhe maa. She enjoys the clout of many in Bollywood,Recently she is in the dragnet of police for some Dowry demandswith her devotee.
Alwan

Spirituality, Bollywood style

• 
  • Self proclaimed god-woman, Radhe Maa in Mumbai. Photo: Vivek Bendre

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[h=2]Is the cult of Radhe Maa very different from the various strands of religiosity that have taken root in the past few decades?[/h]A long-standing perspective on modernity — that a march toward it would lead progressively to lessening of religious and related affiliations – has been discredited over a period of time. Modern technologies — such as television — feed growing religious appetites.


For example, even a product of the information revolution, the Internet, is used to hunt for marriage partners of a given caste. Modern electoral politics is all about utilising identities that predate this modernity for political gain. We have too easily assumed a linear narrative for modernity, even more so if we clearly observe that it consists of bits and pieces from different historical periods, and that it unfolds in a circular rather than linear manner. It frequently goes back to the past and incorporates elements from long-forgotten eras into its unfolding present.


We have assumed erroneously that we know what modernity is, thereby confusing its present character with what we wish it to be. Confusing a wish with the reality on the ground might well be called the Great Nehruvian Conceit — we are all part of this.


Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/spirituality-bollywood-style/article7531485.ece

 

[sarang]

Others don't get reported!

What is the reason for so many god-men and god-women appearing frequently from Hindu fold?

Is a recent phenomenon or prevalent from Vedic period?

 

[sangom]

Sangom Ji,

How do you distinguish a Godmen/Godwomen from Priest or Bishop. Where do you draw the line?

A priest or a Bishop is a person, trained in a seminary or equivalent and appointed to the echelons of the Church Priesthood. The lay people, i.e., the christian public take them for what they actually are, viz., church-appointed priests of varying statuses, and do not regard them as Christ or Yahova having appeared in human form in the 21st. century. Usually, if you are able to closely move with the christians they will have many jokes also about their priest/s to confidentially tell. In many respects these priests are the equivalent of our temple priests.

Godmen/Godwomen, on the contrary, need not have any religious training, nor even full formal school education, and are not "appointed" by any centralized authority as such godman/godwoman, etc. They are self-appointed or "Swayambhoos" and appear like shooting stars, one fine day, to the public. Once they are accepted by a certain 'critical mass' of devout believers there is nothing to stop these godmen/godwomen in their eternal journey to fame, riches and what not. Even if these are caught and prosecuted under law and jailed, on completion of their jail term these godmen/godwomen will be accepted and revered by their gullible followers (devotees) with double their original zeal.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

We cannot totally eradicate Godmen/Godwomen syndrome from Hinduism. It has been prevalent since Vedic period.

We can identify good one, if available, and hear, if necessary.

 

[sangom]

We cannot totally eradicate Godmen/Godwomen syndrome from Hinduism. It has been prevalent since Vedic period.

We can identify good one, if available, and hear, if necessary.

I do not think there were today's kind of godmen/godwomen in vedic times. There were rishis of course but many of them family men leading their ascetic lives.

The present malaise has sprung from the repeated emphasis given by brahminism on the need for a guru who alone can lead a person along the spiritual path to liberation. This guru-mania has given rise to gurus who claim divinity, for added effect and publicity/money. That is the reason.

In today's circumstances any person can progress spiritually without any guru whatsoever, I feel.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

A priest or a Bishop is a person, trained in a seminary or equivalent and appointed to the echelons of the Church Priesthood. The lay people, i.e., the christian public take them for what they actually are, viz., church-appointed priests of varying statuses, and do not regard them as Christ or Yahova having appeared in human form in the 21st. century. Usually, if you are able to closely move with the christians they will have many jokes also about their priest/s to confidentially tell. In many respects these priests are the equivalent of our temple priests.

Godmen/Godwomen, on the contrary, need not have any religious training, nor even full formal school education, and are not "appointed" by any centralized authority as such godman/godwoman, etc. They are self-appointed or "Swayambhoos" and appear like shooting stars, one fine day, to the public. Once they are accepted by a certain 'critical mass' of devout believers there is nothing to stop these godmen/godwomen in their eternal journey to fame, riches and what not. Even if these are caught and prosecuted under law and jailed, on completion of their jail term these godmen/godwomen will be accepted and revered by their gullible followers (devotees) with double their original zeal.

Sri Sangom Ji,

Do you justify the acts of such priests committing all sorts of offences?
Cheating the public who approach with all good faith?

 

[yesmohan]

Sangom Ji,

How do you distinguish a Godmen/Godwomen from Priest or Bishop. Where do you draw the line?

Priest/Bishop are employed/self employed in established temples/churches. They never pose as they themselves are avthars of God. Hindu priests and christian Bishops should also maintain decorum.
But these Godman / Godwoman are self imposed avthars of Gods and establishing ashrams to cheat the ignorants, loot the money,indulge in flush and drug trading.

 

[vgane]

There are more atrocities committed by the Christian priests...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...rdering-her-daughter/articleshow/47690632.cms

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Priest/Bishop are employed/self employed in established temples/churches. They never pose as they themselves are avthars of God. Hindu priests and christian Bishops should also maintain decorum.
But these Godman / Godwoman are self imposed avthars of Gods and establishing ashrams to cheat the ignorants, loot the money,indulge in flush and drug trading.

On the whole, whether he is a Priest, appointed, trained etc etc or a self styled Godmen/Godwomen, some of them do have the motive to cheat the general public who approach them with good faith and few go to extent of committing offences taking advantage of the faith, at timesl under the cover of religion.

One fine morning, the law enforcing agencies will take action against such cheats/criminals against receipt of complaints like Sant Rampal of Satlok Ashram, Ashram Babu of U.P., etc

A Guru is supposed to preach detachment, enlightenment, etc among other virtues, whereas these alleged self styled Godmen/Godwomen who are mostly self-centered attach more importance to their own growth and strive hard to enrich their own establishments.

What I can see is that the tendency of most of general public that they liberally donate for such alleged Ashrams, but not come forward to help real good causes like feeding the poor and have nots.

While there are children starving without milk, one can see milk being poured abundantly on the cut-out of Hero by fans on the date of release of Movies in theaters.

It all happens!!

 

[sangom]

BTW, there is a lady, godwoman in Chennai whose name started with Amma or something like that. She used to have a large following, mainly from tabras and she also appointed a young man as her successor. I forget her name; any body knows?

 

[Vaagmi]

I see a problem here.

Among human beings there are some who have meditated for long enough to reach the sidhdhies. It is said there are 8 such sidhdhies to be achieved. They are anima etc., Once you have done this kind of tapas, you get these sidhdhies and you can travel back and forth in time, you can walk over water, you can enter in to another body etc., etc.,

Those who achieve these sidhdhies are called sidhdhas. Some people achieve all the eight and some achieve one or two of these.

So you have a Godman who materialises a vinayak idol from no where and gives it to you to impress you and bless you.

There is another Godman who enquires you about your wife's recurring head ache. You wonder how this man came to know of this. He will tell you in a month's time the head ache will disappear. He has travelled in time to tell you that. And you believe he is God walking with you.

In Sri Vaishnava sampradhaya these sidhdhies are called kaivalya and are dismissed as distractions which a bhakta has to be wary of. There are other sampradhayas in which these are considered achievement mile stones.

Coming to our hapless and harassed middle class mama, he has problems plenty. A salary which is just adequate to keep the body and soul of his and his dependents together, a wife who is sick and who is complaining always, children who are indifferent to their studies, a working girl child who has firmly declared her intention to marry the colleague Abdul Rehman, a boss who is ever demanding etc., etc., He yearns for respite from all these. When he hears about our Godman/Godwoman, he is thrilled. He is sold on him/her. So he goes to this godman/godwoman who invariably gives him goodnews. Our mama has fallen for this guy and he is an ardant sishya of him/her.

So this guru-sishya relationship is a peculiar one. In this no philosophic or religious knowledge is sought or transferred. The guru need not be learned or knowledgeable. It is just soothing words that are dispensed and avidly taken in. When they hear horrible things about their gurus these sishyas will not believe it first. When it ultimately sinks in, they go and look for another baba/godman/godwoman.

The best course is to keep away from every baba/godman/godwoman. If you want knowledge about God, scriptures, philosophy approach a learned guru who can teach you the subject. And after learning internalize by ruminating and meditating on what you learnt. That is the best way to keep yourself in tact. LOL.