0.16 Satsang (company of true people)

April 14, 2011 (Monday) : Satsang (company of true people)

Housewives in many middle class households fought morning battle to tune TV channels devoted to religious sermon, preaching or satsang (effectively company of Guru). A religious Guru plays a very important role in middle class families. The recent participation of Gurus or their establishments in the crusade against corruption has put spotlight on them. The discourses by various Gurus, punctuated with religious interpretations and bhakti geet (religious songs), have mass following. Gurus are enlightened people preaching disciples about life and its various facets. Generally, their teachings underlined equality of all religions and avoided political overtones. In recent times, however, there is a clear shift in their professed religious roles. Social awakening of one or other kind is a cherished cause now.

Baba Ram Deo, a popular yogi, has single handedly spread yoga and its methods to common men and women using the power of Television. He has a nationwide following. Since yoga comprised of exercises of internal parts of human body and was very effective in keeping illness and diseases away, his skillful display of various yogic postures has helped millions. Along the way, however, he has started talking about nationalism during his discourses, which is fast becoming a fight against corruption in public life. By the passage of time, he has grown in stature. His establishment is now an enterprise of considerable economic value worth nearly Rs. 1100 crores (about 250 million dollars). In one of TV shows, he said that there are about 5000 people including chartered accounts carrying out various activities at his establishment in scientific manner.

Political overtones of Ram Deo Baba has raised eyebrows in the power corridors of New Delhi. When he announced that he would lead his followers to submit multi-million signatures (about 3 millions) against corruption at Ram Lila Maidan (field) in Delhi on February 27, 2011, the establishment responded with a long list of checks on his credentials. One political leader cautioned him to be careful while accepting donations and pay taxes according to the rules of the land. Yet another leader advised him to lead the life of a sadhu (religious leader) not that of a bhogi (material person). He was also queried about his wealth. His crusade against corruption, however, remained relatively limited in effect till Anna Hazare came on the scene. Ram Deo Baba promptly joined him with his usual flamboyance and passion.

Another popular cultural and religious school, in this context, is “Art of living”. Shri Shri Ravisankar is a social and religious interpreter with extensive network across the globe. Founder of “Art of living”, he is a very learned person having extraordinary skill of managing human resource. His “Art of living” centers are very popular particularly for local artists – singers, musicians and painters. People visit these centers to be immersed in selfless devotion to God through melodious songs and meditation. Shri Shri Ravi Shankar believes in large scale events attended by thousands of people. He has organized mega-events at various places across the world patronizing Indian culture and art. Curiously, graffiti displaying “Arts of living” were visible at the places where Anna Hazare supporters had organized protest in support of his "fast unto death" crusade for the formation of Joint Committee for Lok – Pal (Ombudsman) bill. “Art of living” is taking up various other social causes as well, like healing and rehabilitation of Tamil population in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of civil war, bringing north eastern people in national mainstream of India and such other numerous causes.