Indian guru in the limelight for ‘miracle’ cures
India has long been the home to thousands of religious gurus. But in the last 15 days, a controversial new “godman” has been making headlines.
Supporters of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, claim that he has divine powers and that he can cure people possessed by ghosts, heal the sick, and help people effectively address business and financial problems.
The 26-year-old priest from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has become a TV and social media sensation and counts powerful government ministers and politicians among his followers. His social media following has seen a rapid increment in recent days, rising to 7.5 million, while some of his most popular videos have been watched between three and 10 million times.
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Shastri made headlines in January when well-known rationalist Shyam Manav offered to pay $36,500 if the priest correctly read the minds of ten people selected by him.
The challenge was made when Shastri was holding a camp in Maharashtra, the state where Manav is based. But the guru left the region without taking the challenge. In the following days, he gave a number of TV interviews where he denied running away. He expressed his willingness to take on the challenge, but not in Maharashtra. Instead, he proposed the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh, a “neutral” venue.
But the rationalist says that since he made the claims about his powers in Maharashtra, he must prove them there.
Manav has reportedly been receiving death threats since the controversy started. A few days back, Shastri revealed he too had received a death threat over the phone, causing him to file a complaint with the police.
The priest’s supporters claim that “he has a third eye, and can peep inside your heart, mind, and soul.” But Shastri has been accused of practicing witchcraft and spreading superstition. Moreover, a number of magicians and mentalists say it’s just an art and not some divine gift.
