Article on Indian godmen. About India's most iconic godmen who have millions of followers around the globe. Includes how India is besotted by these godmen and mentions godmen like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi or Amma, Baba Ramdev and Sathya Sai Baba.
According to Wikipedia, a godman "is a colloquial name for a particular type of charismatic guru who has a high-profile presence, is capable of attracting attention and support from Indian society, and makes claims of spiritual attainments.
Godmen sometimes claim to possess paranormal powers, such as clairvoyance, or healing abilities."
We're sure this definition would ring many bells in your head, as India abounds in such kinds of godmen who command a huge following for themselves.
Sathya Sai Baba, who died very recently was a self-proclaimed godman. Though his life was riddled with controversies, he touched the lives of millions of devotees around the world. There are many such godmen in India who have influenced people to change their way of life.
Here are some of the most iconic godmen of India.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
According to Shankar, his Art of Living and meditation techniques are open to all which is how he defends his conducts workshops for opposing parties around the world.
Putting his international fame to good use, Shankar has initiated a number of humanitarian projects which help people in need. His techniques are unique and apparently provide 'individual healing' to all.
Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Better known as 'Amma' or 'the hugging saint', Mata Amritanandamayi Devi has pledged her entire life for making the world a better place by wiping away all sorrow and stressfulness. This, she does by hugging people all around the world, which she spontaneously started doing since she was fourteen.
Unlike other godmen, she doesn't make tall claims of having done a lot of things for people's welfare. She has received people almost every day since she started out and there are times when she gives her 'darshan' (ritual of receiving a hug from Amma) for more than 20 hours.
It is this relentless urge to ease the suffering of others that draws her so close to the hearts of her devotees.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's main claim to fame, apart from his teaching of the Transcendental meditation(TM) technique, had been his association with the Beatles. He became their Guru and guided them through their public and spiritual growth.However, he had a fall out with the Beatles after he was rumoured to have made sexual advances towards actress Mia Farrow and other women.Following this, the Maharishi stopped all his public activities and began training TM teachers at his global headquarters. He ran various campaigns in different countries before giving it all up in 2008 and going into 'mauna' or spiritual silence for three weeks until his death.
SWAMI RAMA
Supposedly born in 1925, Swami Rama was an orphan who was reportedly adopted by "one of the greatest masters of the Himalayas," Bengali Baba. After holding the position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham for two years, Swami Rama moved West where he spent a major part of his life teaching, especially in the United States and Europe.
Swami Rama allowed himself to be examined by scientists who studied his miraculous ability to control various aspects of his autonomic nervous system like heartbeat, blood pressure etc.
Though he successfully established his teachings of yoga in the western community, his 'holiness' was put to question by charges of sexual assault against him.
Baba Ramdev
Well, he is the main man who has redirected our focus to the many God men in our country following his recent debacle of his fast-unto-death stand. The fact that so many people are standing up in his support, stands proof of his stronghold in the country.
The man who made a fortune of over Rs.1,100 crores from his famous teachings of various asanas and pranayama, has also been criticised by many for his political aspirations.
He is one of the most influential godmen of India
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