News

Super-Rich Spiritual Gurus of India

By SiliconIndia | Tuesday, 27 March 2012, 07:42 Hrs | 12 Comments

Asaram Bapu

Sant Shri Asharam Ji Bapu is endearingly known as Bapu among all the godmen and self proclaimed saints mentioned above Asaram Bapu is one of the most controversial. He is accused of land grabbing in Gujarat and various other cities and is busy settling the string of cases charged against him. There have also been rumors of "sinister activities" at his ashrams, after four children were found dead at his ashrams a couple of months ago and though it turned out that a student had killed them, it was bad publicity for the Godman nonetheless.

His most popular and well established asharam Motera in Ahmedabad, is also said to be built on land acquired illegally. The trust headed by the controversial godman owns more than 350 ashrams in the country and abroad, besides 17,000 Bal Sanskar Kendras.

Asaram Bapu’s trust is said to have turnover Rs 350 crore according to official announcement (figures may vary) which includes the multicrore controversial ashram in Delhi’s Ridge area.

Don't Miss ( 1-5 of 15 )

8 Big Fat Indian Business Weddings

Indian Sportsmen Who Turned Politic...

10 Most Bizarrely Rewarding Startups

5 CEOs Who Get Paid 400 Times More ...

10 Bollywood Celebrities Slapped Wi...

Experts on SiliconIndia

Mithun Ekbote

General Manager

PalmShell

Marketing

Bhupesh Wasmatkar

Cofounder

MakeMyJob

Startup

Rajdip C Gupta

Founder

RouteSms

Startup

Garima Mishra

Escalation Engineer

Cisco

Women

Prakash Kumar

Director IT

Delta Electronics In

Anushri Verma

HR Manager

Virtuos Solutions

Amit Gupta

Regional Manager

Intellicon

Marketing

Guruprasad Hegde

Founder and CEO

RealGuruu

Write your comment now

Reader's comments(12)

1: It is incorrect to say that Sathya Sai Baba has so much wealth. Unlike other gurus, he did not travel around the world and was mostly travelling to his residences around India. The properties belong to the organisation and I would say ultimately the devotees are the "shareholders" of this big organisation.

Posted by:darren - 05 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

2: Dear Guruji,

My name is R.Balachander staying in Bangalore working for a construction company as an office assistant. I depend on your kindness and generosity. My mother gave me a chit fund of Rs.395000/- to deposit in the bank for the construction of house. One fine day one of my colleague told me please give this money to our friends who are in trouble. As per his instructions i have given to 5 persons as a friendly.

First, two EMI they paid. After that they vanished away without informing. I am not able to trace them. Please kinldy contribute some little amount of money.

I will ever remain grateful to you for your help and support.

I DO HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ME IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.

I FURTHER DECLARE THAT THE AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED SHALL BE GIVEN TO MY MOTHER FOR CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSE.

I SHALL BE LIABLE FOR CRIMINAL ACTION IF THE CONTRIBUTION IS MISUSED.

Thanks & regards
R.Balachander
9880946094

Posted by:Balachander - 02 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

3: The declared assets by the so called saints are just a tip of the iceberg. The fees and capitation fees they charge are exorbitant.
God save us.

Posted by:vinod - 01 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

4: Yog teaches you to live a simple life and not lavishly as this gentleman who wants to enter in all spheres of life.

Posted by:Sandeep Kandhari - 01 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

wrong!Do you know Yoga?A lavishly living person may also practise Yoga.Baba Ramdev has the courage to take on the corrupt of this country.We have found a voice...Nothing wrong if his talents and management skills brought him money!

Amk Replied to: Sandeep Kandhari - 02 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

6: Hello,everybody http://www.iloveushopping.com Cheapest Air

Max
Shoes,Tiffany Jewelry Company,Wholesale AF Clothing

offer High Quality, Low Price, we are sincerely

looking forward to cooperating with partners

from all over the world, establishing a mutual benefit

and long term business relationship between us and moving

ahead with all of my dear friends!

you can copy or cut the link on your web,you will find the

amazing

suprise,thanks!

Posted by:chilaiwodeua - 28 Mar, 2012

Report abuse

7: Sir request you to show if they enjoyed with wealth and misused it did they spoil the lives of any people or did they preach and teach good and led very simple public all the time in front of public. The politicians are supposed to look after constituency this concept is almost forgotten today. They are like badicoots in my backyard come with 5 year plan to loot country why should we pay tax our colony is BDA approved Govt joined hands with goondas and gave approval we believed Govt and took a site now there is not water no electricity no sewerage etc govt gave them BDA stamp to fool people our life since we beleived Govt are pathetic and the life of developer is great he goes on international trips and uses only imported cars and govt servants who helped in get BDA approval are also enjoying in nice cars and bungalows. they have given him more approvals and he is a sesoned looter beware of these crooks.

Posted by:Dennis - 28 Mar, 2012

Report abuse

8: With all the generous donations they are seeded with, these Gurus for sure turn out to be millionaires beyond any shadows of doubts.

Posted by:Niha Mallik - 27 Mar, 2012

Report abuse

hmm ..all muslim community will be happy now ...no wonder

naks Replied to: Niha Mallik - 28 Mar, 2012

Report abuse

10:

All the money is not from donation. The BJP is the most corrupt party and they have kept all the money with the trust being run by these Babas, Gurus and Maths.

kulwant Replied to: naks - 03 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

11:

Why there is no name of any Christian, Muslim, Jew, Parsi religious leader? This list can go upto 10 and some of the said religious leaders might come. Or do they have their assets hidden unlike Hindu Gurus. Where all the money goes coming from Middle East to Mosques and Islamic institutions? Where all money goes coming from Vetican to Churches and Christian organizations? Is it a West sponsored article to defame Hindu Gurus?

Rakesh Replied to: naks - 01 Apr, 2012

Report abuse

12:

Bravo!!! let them loot your house also! pakhand everywhere! so called babas also in other sects also! shia sect dawoodi bohra's leader is also millionaire & open looter too! when we teaches our children that miracles happens instead of human efforts & their collective will means miraculous results, this society will continue to be robbed! May our creator save our blind peoples!

lapaaz Replied to: Rakesh - 18 Apr, 2012

Report abuse