The unfaithful: Analysing the new 'Godmen' of India

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.

Radhe, whose claim to fame is holding extremely popular jagarans (late night prayers) and chowkis (prayers) in bridal attire, seems to have a long-standing affair with controversies.A video purportedly showing her dancing to Bollywood tunes is much less of a crime, compared to what she has been charged with in a FIR lodged by a homemaker in Mumbai, who has accused her husband, in-laws and Radhe of dowry harassment.

Also Read: Controversies and Godmen of India

Earlier in July 2002, Radhe allegedly paid a huge bribe to bag the post of mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara, from which she was removed shortly after the bribery scandal came to light. In an act of cleansing, both Sachidanand and Radhe have been prohibited from participating in the ongoing Kumbha Mela celebrations in Nashik by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad. But, that’s hardly a deterrent for other notorious purveyors of spirituality.  

Spirituality and crime, the gateways to heaven and hell, have often elided into the quest for power and authority. It is not difficult to imagine why key witnesses against Asaram Bapu, who has been accused of rape, have been killed or injured by unknown assailants. Rampal, whose fan-following ran into lakhs, had turned his ashram in Haryana into a fortress as the police tried to arrest him on charges of murder and attempt to murder. Only after a series of violent clashes, which also led to the deaths of six devotees, could he be finally arrested. Rampal enjoyed immense respect in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi.

All these so-called spiritual gurus have amassed huge wealth by exploiting the vulnerabilities of the rich and poor devotees. They lead a lavish lifestyle, some of them are affluent enough to travel around the globe in private jets and count among their friends politicians and industrialists. Intoxicated on power, it is but natural for them to believe that they are above the laws of the land. 

The other dangerous aspect of this skin-deep spirituality is its brush with terror. The champions of Hindu extremism come from the saffron brigade — some sadhus and sadhvis who are dedicated to the cause of the so-called Hindu nation, which they aim to achieve by shedding blood of innocent Muslims. The deep polarisation in society is as much their handiwork as that of radical Muslims. Today, secularism is much ridiculed and vilified in the country because sane voices who speak up against these self-styled godmen and terrorists are drowned by the rants of the so-called patriotic voices of Hindutva. 

Ironically, in the age of modernity and modernisation, blind faith has trounced rationality. India today shows more signs of regression than progress. How else does one explain the tremendous faith so many people repose in men and women who claim to have supernatural powers, but are the proverbial wolves in saint’s clothing?