Biography:Kalki Bhagawan

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Short description: 21st-century Indian spiritual teacher

Kalki Bhagawan
Sri Bhagavan.jpg
Born
Vijay Kumar Naidu

(1949-03-07) 7 March 1949 (age 75)
Natham, Madras State, India (present-day Tamil Nadu)
NationalityIndian
Other namesSri Bhagavan, Amma Bhagwan (as a couple)
Alma materDG Vaishnav College, Chennai
Known forSpiritual teacher from India
Spouse(s)
Padmavathi (m. 1977)

Kalki Bhagawan (born 7 March 1949 as Vijay Kumar Naidu), also known as Sri Bhagavan, is a spiritual teacher from India.[1][2][3][4] He is the founder of a spiritual organization called Oneness.[3][5]

Early life

Kalki Bhagavan (front row center) with his son NKV Krishna (back row left) and wife Padmavathi (back row center). Circa 1990

Kalki Bhagavan was born as Vijay Kumar Naidu on 7 March 1949 in Natham village, Vellore district in Tamil Nadu, to Smt. Vaidarbhi Amma and Sri Varadarajulu. His father was the head of the accounts department of Indian Railways. In 1955 his family moved to Chennai where he attended Don Bosco School. He graduated from DG Vaishnav College in Chennai, majoring in Mathematics.[6] After completing college, he worked as an office clerk for Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).[7]

He married Smt. Padmavathi on 9 June 1977, following the customary practice in India where marriages are decided by elders in the family.[5] Padmavathi, also known as “Amma” by the followers, participated in building the Oneness spiritual organization.[5]

In his childhood he was introduced to the philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti by his friend R. Sankar. He was a visitor to the Theosophical Society in Chennai.[7] In 1983, he was released from the Rishi Valley School by the Krishnamurthy foundation "for undisclosed reasons" where he used to work as an administrator with R. Sankar.[8]

In 1984, Sri Bhagavan established a residential school called Jeevashram in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh to provide an alternative form of education with the goal of “developing an environment for children to discover themselves and reach their full potential”.[9]

Oneness / Ekam Organization

Over the years, the Oneness movement is known by various names including the Foundation for World Awakening, Golden Age Foundation, Bhagavad Dharma, Kalki Dharma, Oneness University and Oneness Organization.[10][11]

Its stated mission is to "create oneness for all for lasting spiritual transformation". The headquarters is in Varadaiahpalem, Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.[11]

In 2017, the Oneness organization was handed over to Kalki Bhagavan's son, NKV Krishna and daughter-in-law Preetha Krishna[12] and was renamed to Ekam.[12]

Teachings

According to Sri Bhagavan, the work of this organization seeks to alleviate human suffering “at its roots by awakening humanity into Oneness and transforming the world into a better place”.[13][14]

His stated belief is that the cause for human suffering is the sense of a separate self that each individual experiences that gives each the feeling of "me and a not-me”. According to him, this is what causes conflicts in families, relationships and wars between nations.[15]

There are no required set of texts or doctrines in the Oneness movement.[3] Though the founder Bhagavan’s writings or sayings are used as teachings, the movement’s emphasis is for followers to acquire direct personal experience.[3] It does not foretell the end of the world.[16] It seeks to bring about “alternative possibilities of peace and harmony”.[16] It does not dictate conversion[1]. It is open to people of all faiths and does not require any particular belief or belonging, example "Religion is personal. Choose your own religion"[16]

The moola mantra (Sanskrit chant of the organization - Om Sat Chit Ananda Parabrahma, Purushottama Paramatma) is chanted by adherents with the belief that it aids to "connect with the supreme power of the divine, the creator of the universe."[16][17]

Claims and Predictions

Raja Ravi Varma's portrayal of Kalki

In the 1990s, Kalki Bhagavan claimed to be Kalki, the tenth Avatar of Vishnu.[7] Kalki Bhagavan's wife, otherwise known as “Amma”, is considered by their followers as the “incarnation of Vishnu's consort, Padmavati”.[18]

According to Hindu Puranic tradition, Kalki rides a white horse and carries a sword. Prophesies written in the Vishnu Purana describe Kalki as marrying princess Padmavati of Simhala.[19] Kalki Bhagavan and Padmavati provide public darshan, described as a “divine glimpse” for their followers.[16]

The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements says that Kalki Bhagavan is currently the most famous of the spiritual leaders laying claim to being the final and future avatar of Kalki.[20] Other claimants to being Kalki such as Baháʼu'lláh are listed here.

He called himself a “spiritual supermarket” where “if one is a Christian, one can discover Christ. If one is a Hindu, one can see Rama”. [8]

He is quoted of having said: "If you ask me whether you will own an Opel Astra, I will visualize and try to see you in one. If I see the image, I'll tell you that you will own it within a given period. If I don't see anything, I will ask you to help the poor so that you can move closer to the goal."[8] and also "I can help people get rid of their miseries."[8]

Many of these claims have been criticized in the Indian media where he has been referred to as a Godman.[8][7]

In 2002, Kalki Bhagavan claimed that miracle of honey flowing from his picture was witnessed by Indian Rationalist Hosur Narasimhaiah, who in turn claims not to have witnessed the said miracle.[8]

He has also claimed that the Oneness movement, being inclusive will survive even though organized religions will die between 2005 and 2012.[8] In 2019, writer DP Satish observed that the opposite is happening.[21]

Kalki Bhagavan predicted that when enough people have received “deeksha”, a type of Oneness “blessing”, a critical mass will be reached, affecting the collective DNA of humanity.[22] He states that enlightenment is a neurobiological process, and that overactive parietal lobes are the "biological seat of the ego".[22] He maintained that many psychochosomatic ailments are healed by deeksha.[5] After initially supporting these claims in 2006,[23] author Arjuna Ardagh wrote in 2010 that "At the time of writing there is little indication that deeksha has any effect on the brain different from meditation or other kinds of relaxation."[24] [unreliable source?] He however, notes that a pilot study was conducted at the Indian Medical Research Institute that showed some increased blood flow during the administration of deeksha.

Kalki Bhagavan had claimed that by 2012, he would enlighten 64,000 people to high states of consciousness who will in turn 'enlighten' the rest of humanity.[25] In 2002, he announced that in the coming decade, humanity would be entering a new “Golden Age”, and he was going to facilitate the transition.[20] In 2004, Mayanist Carl Johan Calleman based on interpretations of the Mayan calendar, collaborated with Sri Bhagavan to initiate a worldwide festival called Oneness Celebration on the occasion of the Venus Transit of June 3, 2004.[26] During that period, it was maintained that by the year 2012, there would be between 5,000 and 8,000 people meditating at all times inside the Oneness Temple.[13] On 21st December 2012, events were conducted by the Oneness organization worldwide.[3] There was disappointment when, after 2012, the anticipated Golden Age was not perceivable in people's lives.[3] It was reinterpreted by those who remained in the movement as a gradual process unfolding over a period of time.[3]

Business Activities

Kalki Bhagavan founded the White Lotus Conglomerate.[27] It is now owned by his son N.K.V. Krishna[27][28] The White Lotus is a conglomerate of businesses in various sectors like real estate, property development, energy, media and sport having names like White Lotus Group, Kosmik / Kosmic, Sacredbanyan, Transend, KPL, Bluewater, Golden Lotus, Goldenage, Chatrachaya, Yogi and Enlite.[29] Senior members of the former Oneness organization also sit on the boards of these companies.[29]

Kosmik Music,[30] is a music label with more than 1,200 titles ranging from classical, spiritual, fusion, new age, devotional and film. Its successful brand is "Sacred Chants" that was from traditional vedic hymns.[29] The Kalki trust is reported to have purchased "Studio N" in 2014 from Narne Srinivas Rao, father-in-law of film actor N. T. Rama Rao Jr.[31]

Criticisms

The Oneness movement is described as a new religion, with Kalki as a 'living god' served by the monastic order and with tales of miracles being performed. It is also noted that the monastic order was upheld without coercion, and anyone had the freedom to leave at anytime.[16]

R. Sankar, Sri Bhagavan's first disciple and childhood friend, left in 1998, after alleging that the Oneness movement was controlling. However, he stated that Sri Bhagavan did not harbour ambitions beyond the spiritual aspects. The two friends still meet every year.[29]

Freddy Nielsen, Sri Bhagavan's associate from Sweden, left him in 2005 after directing criticism against the Oneness movement.[32] In November 2009, 25 of the senior instructors, including NKV Krishna, Anandagiri and Vimalkirti, disengaged from the Oneness organization to form another named 'One World Academy'.[24]

In 2010, Arjuna Ardagh (Author of Awakening into Oneness) noted that more than 70 percent of the people he interviewed for the book had ceased their association with the Oneness organization due to disappointments and allegations. In particular, Erwin Laslow (writer of the book's foreword), Rani Kumra (ran the American movement) and scientist Christian Opitz (researched effects of deeksha on the brain). The '100 Village Project' (referred to in Chapter 10) was discontinued.[24] [unreliable source?] Ardagh also expressed gratitude for the opportunities and possibilities the Oneness movement opened up to him. [24] [unreliable source?]

Issues

In the 1990s, the workers of CPI and CPI(M) had organised protests against the organization for buying acres of land at nominal rates from local farmers and a few farmers had also got their land back.[2]

In 2002, a public interest litigation for income tax probe of the Kalki Trust was dismissed and rejected by the Madras High Court and subsequently by the Indian Supreme Court.[33]

In 2019, Income Tax department officials conducted raids on more than forty properties of the White Lotus Conglomerate owned by Bhagavan's son and seized cash and gold with total estimated seizure worth Rs 93 crore.[27]

A chinese anti-cult expert reported that the Oneness organization used '2012' philosophy to control its believers. The organization no longer includes such content on its recent website.[34][35]

Publications

Books

  • Bhagavan, Sri (2017). Love Begins with Accepting Yourself. Kuo-Lun-Fu. ISBN:978-9574350834
  • Bhagavan, Sri (2019). Activating Your Inner Success Codes. ISBN:978-9574368037

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nadkarni, Vithal C. (2008). "Oneness to the rescue of a world in peril". The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/oneness-to-the-rescue-of-a-world-in-peril/articleshow/2732690.cms. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mystic and the moolah". https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2019/11/09/mystic-and-the-moolah.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Oneness Movement – WRSP" (in en). https://wrldrels.org/2018/08/17/oneness-movement/. 
  4. ↑ "Kalki Bhagavan hospitalized" (in en). mytelangana.com. http://www.mytelangana.com/sports/3387/kalki-bhagavan-hospitalized. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Ardagh, Arjuna (2009-04-01). "Chapter 1,2" (in en). Awakening into Oneness: The Power of Blessing in the Evolution of Consciousness. Sounds True. ISBN 978-1-59179-864-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=W89LPKgMxxIC&q=Bhagavan+brain+research+ardagh&pg=PA64. 
  6. ↑ "Narayanan, Dr. Vasudha, "A 'White Paper' on Kalki Bhagavan, 29 September 2002", University of Florida, Gainesville, Montclair.". https://msuweb.montclair.edu/~adarkara/d-kalki.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 S, Jayaseelan K. (19 October 2019). "The rise of 'Kalki' Bhagwan: From an LIC agent to a self-proclaimed 'avatar'". https://thefederal.com/states/south/tamil-nadu/the-rise-of-kalki-bhagwan-from-an-lic-agent-to-a-self-proclaimed-avatar/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 site admin (17 June 2002). "Cult in crisis – RELIGION News – Issue Date: Jun 17, 2002". Indiatoday.in. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/religion/story/20020617-kalki-bhagwan-controversy-tamil-nadu-based-godman-encounters-spate-of-accusations-795060-2002-06-17. 
  9. ↑ "KALKI BHAGWAN-CREATOR OF SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT TO BRING ALL HUMANITY INTO GOLDEN AGE.". https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/kalki-bhagwancreator-of-spirital-movement-to-bring-all-humanity-into-golden-age. 
  10. ↑ "India: a visit to the Oneness Temple of Amma-Bhagwan" (in en-US). 2008-07-13. https://english.religion.info/2008/07/13/india-a-visit-to-the-oneness-temple-of-amma-bhagwan/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "KALKI BHAGWAN-CREATOR OF SPIRITAL MOVEMENT TO BRING ALL HUMANITY INTO GOLDEN AGE.". https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/kalki-bhagwancreator-of-spirital-movement-to-bring-all-humanity-into-golden-age. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Preethaji; Krishnaji (6 August 2019) (in en). The Four Sacred Secrets: For Love and Prosperity, A Guide to Living in a Beautiful State. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5011-7379-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=uUaBDwAAQBAJ&q=preetha+krishna. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Roth, Ron; Montgomery, Roger (2007) (in en). The Sacred Light of Healing: Teachings and Meditations on Divine Oneness. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-44896-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=SN9bX5gDtigC&q=sri+bhagavan&pg=PA18. 
  14. ↑ "Oneness of Different Kinds". https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/33618/gupea_2077_33618_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. 
  15. ↑ Nadkarni, Vithal C. (2008). "Oneness to the rescue of a world in peril". The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/oneness-to-the-rescue-of-a-world-in-peril/articleshow/2732690.cms. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 "Bhagwan Kalki | Life Positive". https://www.lifepositive.com/bhagwan-kalki/. 
  17. ↑ Editorial, Insight State's (2023-12-21). "Moola Mantra (oneness) - Lyrics, Meaning, Benefits" (in en-US). https://www.insightstate.com/video/moola-mantra/. 
  18. ↑ Swamy, Rohini (2019-10-22). "Kalki Bhagavan, guru who started as LIC clerk & now has 'undisclosed income' of Rs 500 cr" (in en-US). https://theprint.in/india/kalki-bhagavan-guru-started-as-lic-clerk-undisclosed-income-500-crore/309158/. 
  19. ↑ Ganguli, Aurijit (2020-05-30) (in en). The Shambala Sutras. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64892-982-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=NCjoDwAAQBAJ&q=Padmavati+kalki+purana&pg=PT45. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Cowan, Douglas E. (2009-09-02). Corrigan, John. ed. "New Religious Movements". Oxford Handbooks Online: 125–140. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195170214.003.0008. ISBN 978-0195170214. 
  21. ↑ https://www.news18.com/news/india/who-is-kalki-bhagwan-who-predicted-death-of-organised-religions-and-now-faces-i-t-heat-2356761.html
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Windrider, Kiara (2006) (in en). Deeksha: The Fire from Heaven. New World Library. ISBN 978-1-930722-70-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=muxPTNJJekkC&pg=PP5. 
  23. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=sDubhH9Pb40C&q=deeksha&source=gbs_word_cloud_r&cad=4#v=snippet&q=deeksha&f=false
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Ardagh, Arjuna. (2010). Ontwaken in eenheid : de kracht van de oneness blessing in de evolutie van ons bewustzijn. Wel, Anna van der.. Houten: Zwerk. ISBN 978-90-77478-32-5. OCLC 662568093. 
  25. ↑ https://english.religion.info/2008/07/13/india-a-visit-to-the-oneness-temple-of-amma-bhagwan/
  26. ↑ Calleman, Ph.D, Carl (16 July 2015). "The Mayan Calendar & The Transformation of Consciousness" (in en). A Better World. https://www.amazon.com/Carl-Calleman-Ph-D-Transformation-Consciousness/dp/B0006SL1RM. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-rs-44-cr-cash-90-kg-gold-rs-20-cr-worth-us-dollars-seized-in-i-t-raids-on-properties-linked-to-spiritual-guru-kalki-bhagwan-2798134
  28. ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kalki-bhagavans-daughter-in-law-moves-hc-against-look-out-circular/article30042861.ece
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "The Cult of Kalki Bhagavan" (in en-GB). 2019-11-01. https://openthemagazine.com/features/the-cult-of-kalki-bhagavan/. 
  30. ↑ Kosmik Music – YouTube
  31. ↑ . Suares, Coreena (2019-10-16). "IT Sleuths search Kalki Bhagavan's properties in Hyderabad" (in en-US). https://newsmeter.in/it-sleuths-search-kalki-bhagavans-properties-in-hyderabad/. 
  32. ↑ Thorsen, Elin. "Oneness of Different Kinds: A Comparative Study of Amma and Bhagavan's Oneness Movement in India and Sweden". https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/33618/1/gupea_2077_33618_1.pdf. 
  33. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040506191242/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/04/stories/2004020401191300.htm
  34. ↑ "Chinese Actress Deletes Her Weibo Post Promoting 'Controversial Indian Spiritual Courses'". News18. 17 January 2019. https://www.news18.com/news/world/chinese-actress-deletes-her-weibo-post-promoting-controversial-indian-spiritual-courses-2005837.html. 
  35. ↑ "After Taiwanese Actor's Post, China Warns About Indian 'Cults'" (in en). The Quint. 17 January 2019. https://www.thequint.com/news/hot-news/taiwan-actor-annie-yi-china-warning-indian-spiritual-course-ram-rahim. 

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