Devotees demand tight security for art of living founder Sri Sri Ravi shankar after Sunday’s firing at the sprawling Kanakapura ashram, in which a man sustained minor injuries.
The followers of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar were in a state of shock as the news of an unidentified man opening fire at the ashram spread across the globe.
Though the authorities were maintaining that the incident was not an attempt on the life of Art of Living founder, his followers were seeing it as a bid to harm their leader.
“I am in a state of shock. How could someone think of harming Sri Sri Ravi Shankar? His message is peace and non-violence. It’s an attack on peace,” said Ujval Shankar, a devotee, employed with the HR wing of an MNC in the city.
Shankar said that he has been attending Sri Sri’s discourses every weekend. “The entire ashram is an epitome of peace and harmony and any kind of violence is intolerable,” he added, while condemning the incident.
Echoing similar sentiments, JP Nagar resident Anupama Raghavan, another disciple of the spiritual guru, said the episode saddened and shocked her. “His vision is of a violence-free and stress-free world. I feel the very idea of peace and non-violence was attacked, as the gunman tried to kill our spiritual leader,” said Raghavan, working with an educational institution.
“People come to the ashram to seek spiritual solace and our guru teaches us lessons on peace and humanity. I am saddened at the incident,” she added.
All the disciples of the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar felt that special security should be provided to the spiritual leader, as the incident had proved that his life was under threat.
“The security issue of our guru should not be taken lightly. An attempt on his life has already been made. The government should ensure special security to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,” said Anand Mahanta, a disciple.
Retired government employee R Shastri said the incident pointed at the fact that no one was safe in the world. “Incidents of violence have become so common in today’s world. Almost everyday, there are terrorist attacks in the country. I am saddened to learn that my guru has been attacked. I pray for his safety and long life,” he said.
Shastri’s friend, Sukumar P said that such attack should be prevented in future. “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar spreads the message of peace across the world. I feel depressed to learn that such a peace-loving person could be attacked too. Let the culprit be booked, so that such incidents are not repeated,” he said.
AoL has been running 82 follow-up centres in Bangalore, a city with thousands of disciples.
According to a press statement issued by the Art of Living (AOL) International Centre, a gunman opened fire as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar left the venue after a discourse. The guru was in the car when the shot was fired.
“While leaving after the public satsang (discourse) this (Sunday) evening in Bangalore, an unidentified gunman shot at Sri Sri’s convoy. It hit one of the devotees’ thigh, causing a minor injury,” the statement said.
The spiritual guru was unhurt and later addressed another discourse on Sunday.
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