Nirad C. Chaudhuri, the well-known iconoclast of Bengal, has described India as “A continent of Circe” meaning it to be “A Land of Sorcerers” or “A Land of Lunatics”. This judgement of his could never be questioned as long as our guardians of “Secularism” and champions of “Hindutva” bow their heads before the idols of mud, wood, stone, cowdung etc., and fall at the feet of saffron - robed Sadhus, sex-manic Sanyasis, mafia - linked Mahans and power - mongering Babas for their own personal gains and fool - proof protection from evil stars, ominous planets and scheming opponents.
All steeped deep in selfish motives and self - centred interests seek help starting from the opium - smoking Sadhus and Sanyasis up to the Babas and Sankaracharyas leaving no stone unturned. They are ready to sacrifice every thing from hair to self - respect to get their wishes gratified. Tonsuring heads is no longer a shame nor receiving Kicks from the Sanyasis a disgrace provided it brings them power and fortune.
The seeds of such a culture is to be seen in the barbaric Aryan literature called “The Vedas” which are nothing but a compilation of prayer songs sung by the Aryans beseeching blessings from their gods and cursing their sworn - enemies, the Dasyus. Even though hundreds of years have elapsed and modern scientific and technological revolutions have touched new heights, the Indian Circe remains so powerful in religion, culture and tradition that the picture of India as a “Lunatic Asylum” remains unperturbed to date.
The newly created “Kalki Cult” in Tamilnadu is an outstanding example of this demoralising trait of Indian culture. This cult is the second of its kind to take root in Tamilnadu in the recent past. Some years ago one `Bangaru’ a non - descript school teacher at Melmaruvathur village near Chennai started his “Om Shakthi cult” as a soothsayer. He called himself “Amma” (Shakthi), a curious metamorphosis of a female deity with male genitals! His “Amma cult” was systematically spread as an organization blessed by men in power and pampered by doctors, lawyers, judges, officials, businessmen and their wives. Thousands of dim - witted women fell an easy prey to the cult making it a mega success in Tamilnadu. A poor teacher turned into a multi - millionaire in ho time.
Mass gatherings at various poojas, colourful processions of women in red sarees and blouses, congregational rituals like ‘homas’ and ‘Yagnas’, periodical’ ‘pada yatras’ of ‘Amma’ to various places threw a spell over the fancy - loving and weak - willed women who became ardent devotees of the hermaphrodite ‘Amma’ in ‘Bangaru Adigalar.
A similar myth - making note struck the mind of one Mr. Vijayakumar, a B.Sc. Maths graduate from Vaishnava college, Chennai, who after graduation worked in the LIC and other establishments in Chennai and Coimbatore. In 1982 when he was 34 years old, he joined hands, with his old friend Mr. Sankar, a Physics graduate from Loyala college, Chennai Who had just then returned from Germany after a research study. Now both of them started a Matriculation School at Sathyalokam in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. Vijayakumar became the Director and Sankar the Principal of the school. Vijayakumar settled on the school campus with his wife Padmavathy and only son Krishna.
From now onwards Vijayakumar in collusion with his friend Sankar started to play his gimmicks to make himself ‘Kalki Bagwan’ the tenth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu in Kali Yug, the current era. The school was named ‘Jeevashram’. The blind belief of the Hindus as that of the Christians in Jesus Christ’s Second Coming was deftly handled by Vijayakumar & co to fool the gullible Indians both educated and uneducated. Vijayakumar attired in yellow robe covering his body and head. He called himself ‘Kalki Bagwan’ and started speaking mystically. Bewildered by his babblings and bewitched by his hypnotizing eyes behind a bushy moustache and beard, people began to throng round him begging for boons and gratification of their multi - faceted desires.
The school at Sathyalokam was closed down in 1993 and a posh ‘Kalki Ashram’ was built at Nemam village near Poonamallee. Vijayakumar’s accomplice Sankar become Bagwan’s prime disciple and was re-named ‘Sri Sankara Bagawathpade; Like Goebells he did a wonderful job in the propaganda and spread of the cult. Sri Kalki Bagwan went underground making his physical dharsan a rare commodity. Rumours of Bagwan’s omnipresence and omniscience were set afloat stories of Bagwan’s miracles were meticulously fabricated and systematically spread with authentic versions of the devotees One claimed he had a face to face talk with the Bagwan, another said his kidneys failed but with the grace of the Bagwan he got completely cured without any operation or transplantation. The third one said he lost everything in his business and became a pauper. He sent a fervent prayer to the Bagwan and all that was lost was restored to him in no time. Reports from Bangalore say that Bagwan Kalki offers his devotees ghee, milk and honey from his consecrated portraits hung in their homes. The cult caught fancy of the people like a wild - fire and Bagwan’s ashram grew rich by leaps and bounds.
Sri Kalki & co wanted to cast a wider net to catch the international market. With this idea they started to wean smart young middle - class graduates from their families, convert them into Sanyasis and send them out for propaganda work. The parents of the missing youth started complaining to the police about the whereabouts of their sons and daughters. The police have started probing the bona - fides of the ashram. However their efforts are being forestalled mainly because it is a matter of religion which our Constitution guarantees to the individuals and the youths claim they have attained majority and there is no question of kidnapping or mesmerising them.
They claim that their Cult has spread not only in the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Andhrapradesh but also in some of the northern states. They say they have their branches abroad in the U.S.A., Sweeden, Russia, Argentina and Japan.
What are the reasons behind the formidable growth of such swamis and how can we counteract their influence on the gullible public? The following are some of the techniques followed by the godmen to fleece the ignorant and keep themselves in luxury.
(1) They create an impressive look by donning colourful robes and choosing a calm place with a sylvan back ground as their ashram.
(2) They set afloat rumours about their miraculous heading powers through their agents in the garl of devotees.
(3) In the name of Dyana, Yoga, etc they offer a psychological relaxation to the stressful minds of the devotees and create an illusion of seeing God, Atman etc. in the form of light or a shock.
(4) They seek the patronage of the politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, judges etc to add credibility to their stature.
(5) They expand their clientele with the creation of a powerful band of followers, and with fraud and trickery, if need be.
Vested interests never dare to harm themselves by going against the religious sentiments of people. At times they may exhibit a preference in favour of Swamis of their own caste or creed For instance the Brahmins would invariably glorify the Sankarachariya whether he is a nitwit, stud or a deserter. The politicians would not touch Swamijis because without the blessings and support of the latter they could not remain in power for long The bureaucracy and judiciary are the puppets in the hands of the ruling party and their constancy is like that of a weathercock. The press are for sensational news to boost the sales of their papers. They play a vital role in projecting the Kumbabishekas, Aradhanas and Dharshanas and “What the stars foretell”. They keep the erring Sankaracharya in the dark and bring the anonymous non - Brahmin swamis to lime-light for criticism and condemnation.
As such it becomes the primary duty of the rationalist’s fora and social organisations like the Dravidar Kazhagam to take up cudgels against the frauds and cheats under the aegis of religion, tradition and culture. Even their endeavours would not be of much use unless people, as Periyar Ramasamy exhorted, should make use of their sixth sense of reasoning and get themselves rid of their shackles of religion, rituals, scriptures and shastras, pujas and purohits to live a pest - free life of discipline, decency and decorum.
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