It is generally expected that spiritual gurus and seers of various mutts follow an ascetic life, keeping themselves away from all celebrations. They are expected to be simple and above all worldly pleasures and luxuries.
But there are some seers who look spiritual, but enjoy a luxurious life, travelling in latest model cars, living in mansions and celebrate their birthdays in a pompous way. Nobody would question them, as they enjoy political patronage.
Swamy Swaroopanandendra of Visakhapatnam Sharada Peetham is one such spiritual guru, who loves to flaunt his influence and his proximity to political power.
It is an open secret that he enjoys the patronage of YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Taking advantage of his proximity to Jagan, the Vizag seer often tries to dictate terms to the government officials, which sometimes land the chief minister in an embarrassing situation.
He cannot ask the officials to stop extending privileges to the seer and at the same time have control over the seer.
A latest circular issued by state endowments commissioner to all the 23 prominent temples in the state to conduct special prayers in the temples on the occasion of Sarada Peetham Swamiji’s birthday on November 18 kicked up a controversy.
The circular also asked all these temples to send gifts and other formalities to Sarada Peetham Swamy on his birthday. Naturally, it triggered protests from other seers and opposition parties.
First of all, one wonders whether spiritual gurus need to celebrate their birthdays in such a grand manner. Even if they do, it is their personal affair and they have to restrict the same to their respective ashrams, but should not make them as state celebrations.
“Apparently, the Swamy is taking advantage of his patronage from the chief minister. He is calling the shots in the endowments department and the officials are forced to extend privileges to him as he is a guru of the chief minister,” an official said.
