Bollywood celebrities and their spiritual gurus

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai recently ruffled a few feathers after his picture with controversial godwoman Radhe Maa went viral on social media Many criticised his association with the selfstyled spiritual leader as she was booked for her alleged involvement in a dowry harassment case a couple of weeks agoSubhash Ghai and his wife Mukta with controversial godwoman Radhe MaaThe filmmaker however maintained My wife Mukta and I have been visiting Radhe Maa to take her blessings She had been very affectionate to both of us and treats us like her parentsLike Ghai many Bollywood celebs seek solace in spiritual gurus many of whom have courted controversies from time to timeSpiritual guidanceShilpa Shetty used to swear by The Art of Living before becoming a firm believer in the philosophy of Oneness University She frequently goes to Chennai for the guidance of Kalki Bhagavan her guru and founder of the spiritual schoolShilpa Shetty left believes in the philosophy of the Oneness University founded by Kalki Bhagavan inset controversial godwoman Radhe MaaIn one of her interviews she had stated that she happened to come across Amma and Bhagavan through a family friend She labelled her first experience as fantastic and that oneness teachings are sound and practical as they have a scientific basisHrithik Roshan also visits the Oneness University and has reportedly said that after following the philosophy he has become much calmer and happier in lifeHrithik Roshan follows the philosophy of Kalki Bhagavan insetI am not so concerned about making an impression anymore I am not better than the other guy I am not better than the maid who sweeps the floor in my house And I am not lesser than anyone either We all are the same he was quoted as sayingThe university however had come under scanner a few years ago for misuse of public funds and illegal occupation of land for an ashram in ChittoorThe Madras High Court had restrained TV channels from showing clippings of the spiritual guru as it violated human rights The court also demanded affidavits to confirm that they were not supporting activities shown in the footageFamiliar groundShahid Kapoor and his father Pankaj Kapur are followers of the Radha Soami movement It is said that Shahid and his wife Mira Rajput met through the spiritual order and their wedding was then fixed Mira Rajput and Shahid Kapoor are followers of the Radha Saomi Satsang BeasHowever the Radha Soami Satsang Beas has had its share of controversies In 2012 it was alleged that the organisation demolished the Sikh Gurudwara Sahib to expand the Dera land and was illegally grabbing land from defenseless villagesTheir lifes mantraDia Mirza is an ardent follower of Art Of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar She practices Sudarshan Kriya regularly and her testimonial on the Art of Living website reads Sangeeta Jani meditation instructors voice her kindness her gentle yet firm guidance helped me embrace the Art of Living thereby changing my life foreverLara Dutta and Dia Mirza follow inset Sri Sri Ravi Shankars Art of LivingLara Dutta not only attends the spiritual discoures of Ravi Shankar but also turned instructor for the foundation in 2008 She launched youth service projects in different countries courtesy her association with the organisationFor big decisionsAishwarya Rai Bachchan is amongst the celeb followers of Sathya Sai Baba a spiritual guru who claimed to a reincarnation of Sai Baba of ShirdiAishwarya Rai Bachchan is an ardent follower of Sathya Sai Baba insetBuzz had it that before her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan her family and the Bachchans had sought Babas advice on the alliance Many well known politicians and cricketers are also known to be his devotees but his life too was surrounded by many controversies He was accused of sexual abuse committing financial frauds and performing fake miracles even after his death But no allegation was proved and his devotees still stand by himAt their feetVinod Khanna was a regular at the Osho ashram in US In the early 80s he turned a sanyasi and also took up gardening at Rajneeshpuram and got a new identity mdash as Swami Vinod BhartiShree Rajneesh aka Osho Vinod Khanna and Parveen BabiParveen Babi and director Mahesh Bhatt had also joined the ashram of Shree Rajneesh who got into trouble for his opinions ideas on sex marriage homosexuality etc contradicted traditional views arousing anger and opposition around the world He was also known as a sex guru at one point of timeHowever eventually he changed his views He drew criticism for irregular activities at the Pune ashram mdash allegations of drug use amongst sannyasins marred the ashrams imageHe flew to the US but was charged with immigration violation Twenty one countries denied him entry causing him to travel the world before returning to Pune where he died in 1990