A controversial Indian spiritual leader embroiled in legal scandals and convicted of sexual assault.
Religion: Hinduism
Founder: Asaram Bapu (Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani)
Founded: 1971
Location: India (originally based in Gujarat, now with centers across the country)
Size: Had millions of followers at its peak
Offshoots: Various splinter groups and organizations associated with Asaram Bapu’s teachings
Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, better known as Asaram Bapu, established a vast spiritual empire across India, attracting followers and controversy. Born on April 17, 1941, in the Berani village of British India (now Pakistan), Asaram’s journey from a humble beginning to a self-styled godman is a tale of spirituality intertwined with allegations of serious criminal activities, including sexual assault and involvement in deaths.
Asaram’s journey to spiritual leadership began in the early 1970s, when he started preaching and conducting spiritual retreats. He founded his first ashram in 1972 in Gujarat, India. His teachings, which drew from Hindu traditions, focused on self-realization, yoga, and meditation. Asaram’s charismatic personality and his interpretation of Hindu scriptures helped him gain a significant number of followers, leading to the establishment of over 400 ashrams in India and abroad. His teachings and gatherings drew significant attention, not only from the masses but also from political leaders across party lines.
However, Asaram’s spiritual empire began to unravel following allegations of sexual misconduct and other crimes. In 2013, he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor at his ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This case led to his conviction and a life sentence in 2018, unveiling a series of allegations that ranged from sexual assault on other women to the mysterious deaths of children at his educational institutions. These incidents prompted investigations into his and his son Narayan Sai’s activities, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse and exploitation masked by their spiritual facade.
The allegations against Asaram and his son included not only sexual violence but also accusations of land grabbing, money laundering, and involvement in the deaths of students under mysterious circumstances in their ashrams. Witnesses and former devotees painted a picture of a cult-like following where dissent was silenced with threats or violence, and Asaram’s word was law. His empire, which was once a beacon for spiritual seekers, became a subject of national outrage as more victims came forward with their stories.
Despite his conviction, Asaram continues to have a loyal base of followers who support him and believe in his teachings. This support base has been instrumental in sustaining the activities of his ashrams and in maintaining his organization’s presence in the public domain.
image via Wikimedia Commons
