Godmen?

For ages when people of west were asked to imagine India the first few things which came to their mind would be the temples the snake charmers and indeed its very own indeginious GODMEN.Only for the recent past has this image been slowly changing.However even today there is a large influx of people from various parts of the world just to see these so called all powerfull GODMEN.They claim themself to be the chosen one by GOD.But this concept brings a question to my mind "CAN GOD BE SO PARTIAL?"Hence making me doubt the very bases of the power and ability of these so called CHOSEN ONE.Recently there has been a lot of contravercy over the crimes done by these people.They claim that they have an ability to do what no mortal can do and do small tricks lik magicians to prove this.Recently a case which took me by facination wsa that of ASARAM BABU.This is wat a report on the case says:
"Chhindwara, MP: After interrogating nearly 200 people in connection with the mysterious deaths of two minor boys in the Asaram Bapu-run school , Madhya Pradesh police on Sunday claimed they will soon crack the case.


“We hope to solve the mystery behind the death of the two boys (Ram Krishna Yadav and Vedant Manmode) at Asaram Bapu’s school very soon as suspects have been identified and their interrogation is complete,” Jabalpur range Inspector General, M R Krishna said.

Without divulging any further details, Krishna indicated that the “culprit is one of the hostel inmates”. Yadav and Manmode were found dead in their hostel toilets within a span of just 48 hours in almost similar conditions.

While Yadav died due to suffocation, Manmode had drowned, police said. Parents of nearly 200 wards have called back their children from the hostel. Police will reveal the name of the accused after getting the report, DIG Chhindwara, KT Vaife said."
But this is what wikipedia has 2 say:

"Asaram Bapu is a Hindu spiritual guru from India, who is a self realized saint of India and called as Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu (Hindi: संत श्री आसारामजी बापू),(Sindhi: سنت شري آسارام باپو) or Bapuji.

Travelling extensively in India & abroad, He preaches the message of Vedanta, Yoga, divine love, Bhakti (devotion) & Mukti (Salvation) through His teachings & Satsangs. In 1993, at the Parliament of the World's Religions, Bapu was elected as a committee member of the assembly of Global Religions.

Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Birth
1.2 Childhood
1.3 Young Asumal
1.4 Youth and Spiritual Quest
1.5 Marriage
1.6 Journey to Spirituality
1.7 Self Realisation
1.8 Life as a Householder
2 Foundations
2.1 Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram
2.2 Sri Yoga Vedant Seva Samiti
2.3 Bal-Sanskar Kendras
3 Literary Works
4 External links
5 References
6 Further reading



[edit] Biography
Asaramji Bapu is a self realized Saint from India. Bapu preaches the existence of One Supreme Conscious in every human being; be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh or anyone else. Bapu represents a Confluence of Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga & Karma Yoga.


[edit] Birth
Asaram Bapu was born to father Thaumal Sirumalani and mother Menhgiba. He was born in Berani village of the Nawab district in Sindh (Un-Partitioned India) on the sixth day of Chaitra month (Hindu Calendar), 17 April 1941 (Gregorian calendar), as Aasumal[2] His father was a wealthy businessman named Thaumal Sirumalani and his mother was Mehngeeba. He was named Asumal.[3]

Aasumal was the fourth child in the family. First brother to the three sisters.When Asumal was three years old the spiritual teacher of their family, Parasuram Maharaj, visited their house and professed that this boy Asumal is not an ordinary child & he will be a saint and show light of spiritualism to people living in ignorance.


[edit] Childhood
As a child, Asumal was quite inclined towards religious epics. Mother is always the very first teacher of a child. Asumal would listen to stories of Ramayana, Bhagwavata and other scriptures from his mother. The first seed of spiritual life was sown in his life during this period.


[edit] Young Asumal
Asumal, starded displaying glimpses of prodigious memory at the young age of three. He would often accompany his elder brother to school. Once the teacher asked the students to narrate the poem which was taught a day before, Asumal at such a young age stood up and narrated the complete poem without any mistake. Everyone was surprised.

Due to the unfortunate partition of India the whole family had to migrate from Sindh in Pakistan to Maninagar near Ahmedabad, in Gujarat.

Asumal started going to school again in Maninagar. Six year old Asumal was brilliant in studies. During the recess time, when other childeren used to play, Asumal would sit under a tree for meditaion. The teachers used to praise Asumal for being cheerful, pure-hearted and intelligent. Teachers used to to call him Hansmukh bhai (the one who keeps smiling always). While leaving for school, Thaumal used to fill Asumal's pocket with cashews, pistachios and almonds. Asumal would share these nuts with all other students. At home, Asumal would serve his father by massaging his feet at night. Mother is the first Guru of a child. Mother Mehgiba developed Asumal's interest in dhyaan-bhajan (meditation and prayers) right from his early childhood. Mehgiba would put makkhan-mishri (sweetened butter) in front of Asumal when he would be sitting for meditation with his eyes closed. She would tell Asumal to open his eyes and see what prasaad (blessed food) God had sent for him. Asumal would keep sitting in deep meditation for long hours in a small room. When the neighbours would come to meet Mehgiba, finding Asumal meditating so profoundly, they would attract Menhgiba's attention towards him. Inspired by the neighbours, Mehgiba would ask Asumal to do less of meditation, but nothing could move Asumal's determination.

When Asumal saw that school education could be used merely for the purpose of winning bread and fulfilling worldly enjoyment, he became disenchanted to education. Nevertheless he continued going to school. Whenever there was any time to spare, he would go to a lonely place and meditate.


[edit] Youth and Spiritual Quest
At a very young age Asumal lost his father and the family business started dwindling. Asumal had to discontinue his education and shoulder on the family's responsibility along with his elder brother. Asumal's presence in the business improved the profits, but his mind was far away from the business. He always yearned for spiritual knowledge.

After his father's demise Asumal's discrimination towards life intensified. He increased the time for mediation and realized that God alone is one reality & essence of life. His concentration increased greatly due to regular, pure meditation. No one could stop the fire of renunciation that was enveloping him completely. As Asumal grew into youth his meditation and search for Truth intensified. Asumal's growing detachment to the world worried his family and they decided to get him married. Asumal's family got him engaged.


[edit] Marriage
Aasumal kept postponing marriage for two and half years. Eventually, his family fixed a date of his marriage but he ran away from his home eight days before the day of marriage. His family started searching for him and found him in Ashok Ashram in Bharuch and took him back to home. After reaching home Aasumal was married to Lakshmi Devi.

Aasumal told his wife that his ultimate goal is to self realise. He made her understand that he'll come back to home for a normal life after getting the state of self realisation.

In order to understand the spiritual books properly he joined a Sanskrit school. Four days before the final exam he was influenced by a shloka which meant "The one who has disowned expectations & materialistic desires & has adopted the desireless state, the penances & worship of such a person has reached completion." His desire to attain God got intensified again. He made up his mind to break from family so as to realize God.


[edit] Journey to Spirituality
After leaving his dominions, Asumal went from place to place and at nights slept on the grass, homeless and alone. He did spiritual practices in deep forests, on hills, in deep caves, in various great temples. At Kedarnath, the priest blessed Asumal to become a millionaire, but Asumal did not appreciate this. He told the priest to do prayers again and bless him to attain God.

Asumal then went to Vrindavan, the land of Lord Krishna. Here he was inspired to goto the ashram of the Guru, Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. He had to wait for 40 days in the Ashram to get the glimpse of the Guru. There he stayed and served his Guru with devotion. He waged war with so many troubles. He used to take just boiled Mung as food, sleep in a small 4.5 feet room. Lilashahji made Asumal go through several hardships for another 30 days & then finally Asumal was blessed. Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj asked him to go back to home & continue his spiritual practices at home.

While coming back to his home, he left the train and went to Moti Koral (A place in Gujarat). His mind was attuned to only self-realization. No one can stop a man who is on his way to Paramapada (Ultimate Realization). He started doing dyaan at the bank or river Narmada. A local saint Shri Lalji Maharaj got impressed by Asumal's intense spiritual practices. Lalji Maharaj made arrangements for Asumal to stay in Datt Kutir of Ram Niwas (Lalji Maharaj's Ashram). Asumal started the 40 day Anushthan here.[2]

When Asumal's wife and mother came to know that he was staying at Moti Koral they visited him. They requested him to come back. But Asumal told them without completing the Anushthan he cannot come. He successfully completed the Anushthan. The whole village & Lalji Maharaj himself came to the railway station to see them off to Ahmedabad. As soon as the train started moving from Miyagaun junction, Asumal jumped out and boarded a train towards Bombay to meet Guru Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj.


[edit] Self Realisation
Asumal reached Bombay (Mumbai) and met Guru Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj was very happy to see his disciple's keen interest to attain the truth. Hence, on 2nd Day of Ashwin month in Samvat 2021 at 2.30pm in the afternoon Asumal was transformed into Asaram Bapu by the blessings of Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. After this Asaram Bapu went into samadhi for next two and a half days. [2] [3]

Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj instructed Asaram to serve the humanity by staying as a householder. After Self-Realization Asaram Bapu stayed in solitude for seven years.[3] Asaram Bapu used to give religious discourse to all those who came to meet & see Bapu. Bapu spent His solitude in various places like Disa, Naareshwar Dhaam, the Himalayas, Mount Abu & so on.


[edit] Life as a Householder
Asaram Bapu met Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj in Haridwar in Vikram Samvat 2028, & by the commands of Guru, in order to provide a good example to common householders, Bapu entered the life of a householder. It was the day of Guru Punam in Vikram Samvat 2028 when Asaram Bapu reached Ahmedabad after staying in solitude for seven years.[2]

Asaram chose a peaceful place in the Motera village on the banks of Sabarmati river. Later on some of the devotees constructed a small room for him which is known as "Moksha Kutir". Slowly, the number of devotees coming to Motera kept on increasing and in a very short time the place became a great spiritual centre. Today Motera is the main spiritual centre for the devotees coming to Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram.


[edit] Foundations

[edit] Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram
There are 200 ashram's working under the guidance of Asaramji Bapu.[4] These ashrams organise spiritual and social activities on a regular basis. Some of these activities include Weekly Satsang, Distribution and sale of Rishi Prasad and other spiritual publications. Read Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram for more information.

The aim of all Ashrams and Yoga Vedanta Samitis is to show the path of real peace and happiness to the masses. Their involvement in various activities are targeted towards the spiritual, moral, educational, and health related uplifting of the society. These organizations provide financial aid to the poverty-stricken as well as engage in many humanitarian relief efforts. All the Ashram and Samiti efforts are carefully scrutinized and diligently managed with Bapu at the helm.

Ashram Activities :

Temple for Spiritual Practices (Maun Mandir)
Charitable and Educational Activities
Mobile Ayurvedic Dispensary
Ashram's Publications which includes :Audio/Video Cassettes and CDs
Satsang and Shibirs (Meditation Intensives)including Special Programs for Youth/Students and Satsang For Prisoners
Spreading Universal Brotherhood "

All this will sound good if all this is true.But for the family of the victims this is a very cruel reality which they must face.I am not stating that all such institutions or ashrams as they refer are on the dark side.I belive that God is in everyting living and non living in you and me.This is a concept from "The Alchemist" by"Paulo Coelho".In a way I feel that it is true.God belives in equality we can see that from his creations every yin has an yang so I dont belive in the previlaged ones.I pity thoes who fall into the traps of the opportunistic people.