Asaram: Difference between revisions
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He converted this hut into a small ashram in 1973, and started with 5–10 followers. With successive local governments from across the political divide, paying economic patronage to him including by grant of lands for expansion of his ashrams, Asaram<ref name="IE_rise_2013" /><ref name="open_dark_2013" /> and a growing Hinduisation of the Gujarati society in the wake of [[Hindutva]] centered politics, Asaram gained widespread popularity, practicing a simplified [[Tantra|tantric]] version of Hinduism and attracting the unprivileged sections of the society, ''[[Glossary of French expressions in English|en masse]]''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3 |
He converted this hut into a small ashram in 1973, and started with 5–10 followers. With successive local governments from across the political divide, paying economic patronage to him including by grant of lands for expansion of his ashrams, Asaram<ref name="IE_rise_2013" /><ref name="open_dark_2013" /> and a growing Hinduisation of the Gujarati society in the wake of [[Hindutva]] centered politics, Asaram gained widespread popularity, practicing a simplified [[Tantra|tantric]] version of Hinduism and attracting the unprivileged sections of the society, ''[[Glossary of French expressions in English|en masse]]''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> |
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Numerous political leaders went on to swore allegiance to him through the decades; primarily in lieu of commanding the votes of his followers.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/political-patrons/article5137394.ece|title=Political patrons|last=TRIPATHI|first=PURNIMA S.|website=Frontline|language=en|access-date=2019-12-14}}</ref> By 2013, Asaram claimed to have four hundred major and minor ashrams in India and abroad, with over forty million followers.<ref name="open_dark_2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-dark-side-of-asaram-bapu|title=The Dark Side of Asaram Bapu|work=OPEN Magazine|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821093928/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-dark-side-of-asaram-bapu|archive-date=21 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20150817-asarams-empire-of-deceit-820220-2015-08-06|title=FROM THE ARCHIVES {{!}} Asaram's empire of deceit|last=August 6|first=UDAY MAHURKAR|last2=August 17|first2=2015 ISSUE DATE:|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-11|last3=April 25|first3=2015UPDATED:|last4=Ist|first4=2018 11:37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211093316/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20150817-asarams-empire-of-deceit-820220-2015-08-06|archive-date=11 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Numerous political leaders went on to swore allegiance to him through the decades; primarily in lieu of commanding the votes of his followers.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/political-patrons/article5137394.ece|title=Political patrons|last=TRIPATHI|first=PURNIMA S.|website=Frontline|language=en|access-date=2019-12-14}}</ref> By 2013, Asaram claimed to have four hundred major and minor ashrams in India and abroad, with over forty million followers.<ref name="open_dark_2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-dark-side-of-asaram-bapu|title=The Dark Side of Asaram Bapu|work=OPEN Magazine|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821093928/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-dark-side-of-asaram-bapu|archive-date=21 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20150817-asarams-empire-of-deceit-820220-2015-08-06|title=FROM THE ARCHIVES {{!}} Asaram's empire of deceit|last=August 6|first=UDAY MAHURKAR|last2=August 17|first2=2015 ISSUE DATE:|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-11|last3=April 25|first3=2015UPDATED:|last4=Ist|first4=2018 11:37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211093316/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20150817-asarams-empire-of-deceit-820220-2015-08-06|archive-date=11 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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On 3 July 2008, two boys went missing from Asaram's residential school ([[Gurukula|gurukul]]) in [[Motera]] ([[Gujarat]]).<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> The parents alleged that the ashram administration initially tried to restrain them from lodging a complaint with the police and that the police harassed them on receiving cues from ashram heavyweights.<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> On 5 July 2013, the boys' mutilated bodies were found on the banks of the [[Sabarmati river]] near the Ashram, after the ashram having conducted several futile religious efforts in locating them.<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> The incident led to public agitations, with allegations that the boys had been sacrificed by Asaram and his followers for [[black magic]].<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> Around same time, two more boys were found dead at a sister-gurukul in Chiindwara, Madhya Pradesh.<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> |
On 3 July 2008, two boys went missing from Asaram's residential school ([[Gurukula|gurukul]]) in [[Motera]] ([[Gujarat]]).<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> The parents alleged that the ashram administration initially tried to restrain them from lodging a complaint with the police and that the police harassed them on receiving cues from ashram heavyweights.<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> On 5 July 2013, the boys' mutilated bodies were found on the banks of the [[Sabarmati river]] near the Ashram, after the ashram having conducted several futile religious efforts in locating them.<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> The incident led to public agitations, with allegations that the boys had been sacrificed by Asaram and his followers for [[black magic]].<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> Around same time, two more boys were found dead at a sister-gurukul in Chiindwara, Madhya Pradesh.<ref name="open_dark_2013" /> |
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The [[Narendra Modi]]-led Gujarat state government set up the Justice D.K. Trivedi Commission to probe the deaths in the Motera ashram.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/parents-of-boys-demand-cbi-probe/article5212003.ece|title=Parents of boys demand CBI probe|date=7 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=12 July 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830200807/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/parents-of-boys-demand-cbi-probe/article5212003.ece|archive-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> The commission had been criticized by the High Court for its procedural biases towards Asaram<ref name="open_dark_2013" />; the final report was submitted in 2013, but were only disclosed in 2019 by the state legislature, essentially exonerating Asaram of all charges but holding the ashram authorities responsible for negligence.<ref |
The [[Narendra Modi]]-led Gujarat state government set up the Justice D.K. Trivedi Commission to probe the deaths in the Motera ashram.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/parents-of-boys-demand-cbi-probe/article5212003.ece|title=Parents of boys demand CBI probe|date=7 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=12 July 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830200807/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/parents-of-boys-demand-cbi-probe/article5212003.ece|archive-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> The commission had been criticized by the High Court for its procedural biases towards Asaram<ref name="open_dark_2013" />; the final report was submitted in 2013, but were only disclosed in 2019 by the state legislature, essentially exonerating Asaram of all charges but holding the ashram authorities responsible for negligence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/death-of-two-school-children-asaram-son-get-clean-chit-from-commission/articleshow/70399390.cms|title=Death of two school-children: Asaram, son get clean chit from commission|date=2019-07-26|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> A concurrent [[Crime Investigation Department (India)|CID]] probe, ordered on the behest of the [[High Court of Gujarat]] had already rejected the claims of practice of black magic, in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/cid-finds-no-proof-of-black-magic-in-asaram-ashram/|title=CID finds no proof of black magic in Asaram ashram|date=8 April 2010|work=The Indian Express|access-date=30 September 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930115926/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/cid-finds-no-proof-of-black-magic-in-asaram-ashram/|archive-date=30 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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=== Delhi gang rape comments === |
=== Delhi gang rape comments === |
Revision as of 14:56, 17 December 2019
Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani (1941-), popularly known as Asaram, is a controversial Godman, based in India and a convicted child rapist.[1][2]
Starting to come in the limelight in the early 1970s, he had established over 400 ashrams in India and abroad by 2013, and commanded immense popularity among politicians and common people.
Multiple legal proceedings have been initiated against him, as to illegal encroachment, rape, and tampering of witness. In April 2018, Asaram was found guilty of the rape of a minor girl and is currently serving life imprisonment in Jodhpur. In December 2017, Asaram was declared as a fake baba by Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the apex organisation of Hindu Sants (saints) and Sadhus (ascetics) in India.[3]
Early life
Asaram was born on 17 April 1941, in the Berani village of the Nawabshah District in British India (present-day Berani Town is located in Jam Nawaz Ali Tehsil of Sanghar district Sindh Pakistan), to Menhgiba and Thaumal Sirumalani[4], in the Bania caste.[5] His birthname was Asumal Thaumal Harpalani[6][7] or Asumal Sirumalani.[8][9]
Following the partition of India in 1947, he and his family moved to Ahmedabad, then part of the former Bombay State in India (now Gujarat), leaving behind their immovable assets in Sindh, where Asaram's father founded a coal and wood selling business.[10] Asumal had ran this business for a short time, after his father's death.[11] He received his formal education at Jai Hind High School, up-till class III, when his father died.
Introduction into Spirituality
Asumal had a long history of escapades to ashrams, which commenced at the age of 15, eight days before his eventual wedding to Laxmi Devi.[9] In one such event, Lilashah, a local religio-spiritual figure had allegedly[12] ordained him as her disciple, over an ashram at Gandhidham[5], and named him Asaram on 7 October 1964.[9]
Sources mention him to have been involved in a variety of professions ranging from selling liquors[6] and tea[8] to repairing cycles[7] and trading sugar[13], prior to his establishment as a religious leader.
Personal life
Asaram and Laxmi Devi have two children, son Narayan Sai and daughter Bharti Devi. Their son Narayan Sai works with Asaram.[14][15]
Activities
Rise to prominence
According to his official biography, Asaram returned to Ahmedabad on 8 July 1971 and on 29 January 1972, built a hut at Motera, then a village on the banks of the Sabarmati.[9] Although his official biography doesn't mention it, Asaram had lived in Motera's Sadashiv Ashram for two years, before setting up his own hut adjacent to it.[16]
It was my great opportunity to have met him at a point in my life when nobody knew me ... From that time I have been receiving Bapu’s blessings, have continued to receive his affection... Asaram’s words had a yogic strength, and with trust in that yogic strength, the dream of crores of us in Gujarat will come true... I pray on Bapu’s blessed steps, I bow to him. Sacred Bapu’s love, his blessings, his best wishes will give me new strength. With that belief, I got the chance to come here, I consider myself lucky for it. I prostate myself before blessed Bapu...
Narendra Modi — then general secretary of Gujarat BJP — speaking at a gathering of Asaram's devotees at Motera Ashram (2000).[5]
Beginning 2001, he will serve two consecutive five-year-terms as Chief Minister of Gujarat and from 2014 till date, as the Prime Minister of India. Scholars note Asaram to have played an important role in Modi's rise to power.[17][18]
He converted this hut into a small ashram in 1973, and started with 5–10 followers. With successive local governments from across the political divide, paying economic patronage to him including by grant of lands for expansion of his ashrams, Asaram[9][19] and a growing Hinduisation of the Gujarati society in the wake of Hindutva centered politics, Asaram gained widespread popularity, practicing a simplified tantric version of Hinduism and attracting the unprivileged sections of the society, en masse.[5][13]
Numerous political leaders went on to swore allegiance to him through the decades; primarily in lieu of commanding the votes of his followers.[5][20] By 2013, Asaram claimed to have four hundred major and minor ashrams in India and abroad, with over forty million followers.[19][5][21]
Teachings and views
Asaram’s core teachings emphasize upon the prominence of Brahmcharya.[22][23] It was also instilled among the devotees, to accept Asaram (and his son) as infallible, be blindly obedient to them and not to question them about anything, whatsoever.[5][12] Physical violence is advocated for against any dissident.[12] Ram Puniyani notes overt Brahminical tones in his teachings.[24]
The teachings are typically pre-recorded and broadcast through mass-media.[19]
Asaram has also organized spiritual discourses all over India, whence his disciples are accorded diksha (initiation by a guru) by him. Around 20,000 students visited his satsang in Ahmedabad on December 2001.[25][26][27] He has also participated in shuddhi movements, and advocated against conversion to Christianity.[28]
Economic activities
Two magazines -- Rushiprasad, a monthly and Lok Kalyan Setu, a fortnightly -- sold about 14 lakh copies every month, incurring a net annual earning of around INR 7.50 crore, in 2008.[12] Around three to four Gurupurnima functions, held per year, staked in donations ranging into crores of rupees.[12]
Gross economic mismanagement has been documented.[29]
Parents' Worship day
Asaram's Yogi Vedanta Seva Samiti (YVSS), organizes a Matri Pitri Poojan Divas ("mother-father worship day") on 14 February, as a form of protest against Valentine's Day, which is supposedly symbolic of a Western cultural invasion.[30][31][32] Asaram's proposal was supported by many prominent Indian politicians including union ministers and President Pranab Mukherjee.[33]
In 2015, the Government of the Chhattisgarh state institutionalized the practice, and directed all schools to observe Matru-Pitru Diwas ("mother-father day") every year on 14 February.[34]
Controversies
Land Encroachment
Asaram had a modus operandi of occupying vacant plots of land, occupying it through illegal means including forgery of records[12] and unleashing a throng of devotees, when resisted by the state machinery.[5] A number of his ashrams have faced legal challenges, on grounds of illegal encroachment. Multiple state governments has razed ashrams to reclaim lands, that was illegally encroached upon (including by forgery of documents)[9][35][16][9] and there are multiple pending cases and investigations.[36] In February 2009, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly had accepted of Asaram illegally encroaching upon net land of 67,099 sq. m, in Ahmedabad alone.[19]
Gurukul Deaths
By 2008, 40 of Asaram's ashrams had gurukuls (residential schools) attached to them. The death of four boys at two of these Ashrams in 2008 had led to allegations of black magic being practiced there.[9]
On 3 July 2008, two boys went missing from Asaram's residential school (gurukul) in Motera (Gujarat).[19] The parents alleged that the ashram administration initially tried to restrain them from lodging a complaint with the police and that the police harassed them on receiving cues from ashram heavyweights.[19] On 5 July 2013, the boys' mutilated bodies were found on the banks of the Sabarmati river near the Ashram, after the ashram having conducted several futile religious efforts in locating them.[19] The incident led to public agitations, with allegations that the boys had been sacrificed by Asaram and his followers for black magic.[19] Around same time, two more boys were found dead at a sister-gurukul in Chiindwara, Madhya Pradesh.[19]
The Narendra Modi-led Gujarat state government set up the Justice D.K. Trivedi Commission to probe the deaths in the Motera ashram.[37] The commission had been criticized by the High Court for its procedural biases towards Asaram[19]; the final report was submitted in 2013, but were only disclosed in 2019 by the state legislature, essentially exonerating Asaram of all charges but holding the ashram authorities responsible for negligence.[38] A concurrent CID probe, ordered on the behest of the High Court of Gujarat had already rejected the claims of practice of black magic, in 2010.[39]
Delhi gang rape comments
In January 2013, while addressing a gathering of his followers, Asaram commented of the 2012 Delhi gang rape victim to be as guilty as her rapists: "The victim is as guilty as her rapists… She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop… This could have saved her dignity and life. Can one hand clap? I don't think so."[40][41] He went on to opine against harsher punishments for the accused in the Delhi rape victim case (under retrospective provisions), as he felt that the law had the potential to be misused.[42]
The comments were widely criticized.[43][44] Asaram states that his statements were distorted and misrepresented.[45]
Jodhpur rape convictions and imprisonment
In August 2013, a 16-year-old girl accused Asaram of sexually assaulting her on the night of 15 August at his Manai ashram in Jodhpur on the pretext of exorcising her from evil spirits.[46][47] The girl's parents, who were disciples of Asaram, filed a complaint with the police in Delhi, and a case was registered after the medical examination of the girl confirmed sexual assault.[48] The issue was discussed in Indian Parliament and a strict action was demanded.[47]
When Asaram did not appear for interrogation by 31 August, Delhi Police booked him under multiple non-bailable sections of IPC.[49] Asaram was in one of his ashram(s) in Indore when clashes broke out between his disciples and the journalists and policemen.[50] Eventually, the Jodhpur police arrested him on 1 September 2013 from his ashram,[46][51] and flew him to Jodhpur, where he was imprisoned.[52] Before his arrest he got wide-scale support from the ruling party in the state of Madhya Pradesh including local MLA Ramesh Mendola[53] Asaram was charged under Sections 342, 376, 506 and 509 of the IPC, as well as under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.[52]
Asaram dismissed the girl's allegations[54][55] and went on to claim impotency, which was subsequently proved to be untrue, after he passed the potency test.[56][57] He has since been in jail and was denied bail 12 times.[58][59][60][61] The family of the victim alleged that they received threats from Asaram's followers wanting the charges against him dropped.[52]
On 25 April 2018, Jodhpur Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Court convicted him guilty of the rape charges and pronounced a verdict of life imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹500,000 which was to be paid to the victim.[61] Two of his associates were awarded 20 years imprisonment.[62][1][63]
Asaram and other co-accused went on to appeal for a suspension of the sentence in the Rajasthan High Court.[64] On 29 September 2018, the Court suspended the sentence of one of the co-accused[65][66]; however, on 23 September 2019, the entire plea for suspension was rejected.[67] A separate appeal on the premises of the merits of the judgement, is ongoing.[68]
Surat rape case
In December 2013, Asaram's son Narayan was arrested on charges of rape, after two sisters from Surat alleged that he and his father had raped them in Asaram's ashram during the mid-2000s.[69] The elder sister accused Asaram of repeated sexual assaults during 1997–2006 at the Motera ashram, whilst the younger sister accused Narayan of sexually assault during 2002–2005 at the Surat ashram. One of the sisters also alleged that Asaram's wife and daughter helped the two men exploit the girls.[70][71]
On April 26, 2019, Narayan Sai was convicted under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 323 (assault), 506-2 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (conspiracy) by Surat Court and sentenced to life imprisonment.[72]
Attacks against witnesses
From 2014–15, there have been numerous attacks against various witnesses and relatives of victims, in the Asaram case.[5][16][73][74][75][76][77][78]
Another witness Rakesh Patel, a former devotee and Asaram's videographer was fired at by vehicle born assailants in March 2014.[5] Less than a week later, another witness Dinesh Bhagchandani, who was earlier thrown out of the ashram on spurious charges[12], was subject to an acid-attack but he managed to overpower one of his attackers; subsequent grilling revealed that the group were instructed by a devout follower of Asaram to assassinate witnesses in the case.[5] Raju Chandak, an erstwhile ashram secretary was shot at, after his deposition before Trivedi Commission.[19] Amrut Prajapati, a former aide of Asaram, who had turned against him, was shot and killed on 23 May 2014, after multiple prior attempts.[9][19][79][80][81] Narendra Yadav, a vernacular journalist who profiled multiple stories on Asaram's exploits was hacked on September 2014; he survived.[5] A former cook— Akhil Gupta, who was the prime witness in the Surat rape case, was shot and killed on 11 January 2015.[82][83][84] Rahul Sachan, another of Asaram's ex-personal-assistants, who turned witness in the Jodhpur as well as Surat case, was subject to a stabbing by one of Asaram's follower after a court-session in February 2015; Sachan alleged the act to have been gestured by Asaram, himself.[5] Months later, Sachan went missing and police have failed to find any trace, till date; he had filed a plea at the Supreme Court for police protection, after being subject to a bevy of death threats by Asaram's followers, having mentioned about bringing more victims to the limelight.[5][13] Mahindra Chawla, Asaram's ex-personal-assistant and witness in both the cases, narrowly missed an attempted murder on May 2015 and now resides under state protection.[71]
References
- ^ a b Desk, The Hindu Net (25 April 2018). "Live | Asaram convicted for raping minor girl". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
{{cite news}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Self-styled godman Asaram found guilty of rape of teenager in 2013 – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Apex body of sadhus releases 2nd list of fake godmen – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Asaram worked at a tea stall before he became a 'godman'". IBNLive. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Dubey, Priyanka (1 April 2017). "The nightmarish struggle to bring Asaram to justice". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Controversial godman: Can Asaram come clean on the rape allegations?". Hindustan Times. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b "The Politics of Sex". India Today. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b Preeti Panwar. "Asaram Bapu's life journey from a tea seller to the spiritual guru". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Exclusive: The rise and fall of the guru". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ^ "Coal-seller Harpalani turned Asaram 'bapu' faces new allegations". Daily Bhaskar. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
- ^ "How much are Asaram's assets worth?". Yahoo News India. 2 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g July 24, UDAY MAHURKAR; August 4, 2008 ISSUE DATE:; July 26, 2008UPDATED:; Ist, 2008 12:28. "Clouded in controversy". India Today. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
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has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c KATAKAM, ANUPAMA. "Tainted guru". Frontline. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Asaram, Son Asked To Appear Before Commission By 6 June". IndiaTV. 8 May 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2005.
- ^ "Asaram, Ram Rahim, Rampal: The 14 fake babas put on boycott list". Hindustan Times, New Delhi. HT Correspondent. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b c "The saint and his taint". Tehelka.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ^ Banaji, Jairus, ed. (2013). "Postscript" (PDF). Fascism: essays on Europe and India. ISBN 978-81-88789-94-8. OCLC 840408180.
- ^ Sinha, Subir (2017). "Mediatized Populisms| Fragile Hegemony: Social Media and Competitive Electoral Populism in India". International Journal of Communication. 11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "The Dark Side of Asaram Bapu". OPEN Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ TRIPATHI, PURNIMA S. "Political patrons". Frontline. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ August 6, UDAY MAHURKAR; August 17, 2015 ISSUE DATE:; April 25, 2015UPDATED:; Ist, 2018 11:37. "FROM THE ARCHIVES | Asaram's empire of deceit". India Today. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
{{cite web}}
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has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Apr 27, Dishank Purohit | TNN | Updated:; 2018; Ist, 14:09. "Asaram Bapu news: Miracles, supernatural tales kept Asaram's cult going | Jodhpur News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
{{cite web}}
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has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Asaram's empire". Frontline. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ Puniyani, Ram (21 July 2005). Religion, Power and Violence: Expression of Politics in Contemporary Times. SAGE Publications. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-7619-3338-0.
- ^ "Students throng at Asaram Bapu's discourse". The Times of India. 2 December 2001. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2001.
- ^ "Many to take 'diksha' today". The Times of India. 8 May 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2005. Many to take 'diksha' today
- ^ "Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu survives chopper crash". The Times of India. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ Kanungo, Pralay; Joshi, Satyakam (1 December 2009). "Carving out a White Marble Deity from a Rugged Black Stone?: Hindutva Rehabilitates Ramayan's Shabari in a Temple". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 13 (3): 279–299. doi:10.1007/s11407-010-9080-5. ISSN 1574-9282. JSTOR 40608066.
- ^ Majumdar, Ushinor (5 December 2018). God of Sin: The Cult, Clout and Downfall of Asaram Bapu. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5305-365-9.
- ^ "Indianisation of Valentine's Day". New Indian Express. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ "Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu". India Today. 29 January 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ Day, Parents Worship (29 January 2012). "Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ Prerna Koul Mishra (22 August 2013). "Commoner vs Asaram: Her word against the 'Gospel'!". India Today. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
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{{cite web}}
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