The 600 crore Shakti Amma
I have absolutely zero tolerance for the new age gurus who claim themselves and/or everybody to be God. Thirty-one year old Mr. Shakti Amma seems to be the latest addition to the list.
Claiming himself to be an ‘avatar’ (divine incarnation) of the ‘Narayani’ aspect, he has built a Rs.600 crore ($153 million) temple for Mahalakshmi (the consort of Lord Vishnu) and gilded the outside and insides of the temple with gold. The website of this new kid on the ‘I am a God’ block describes him as being capable of exhibiting mystical powers (siddhis) and that has done so many miracles.
*Sigh* As long as gullible people are around, these ‘avatars’ will never cease to manifest every now and then.
Categories: Commercial Religion, General, Hall of Shame
My wife and I recently attended a meditation in NYC using the chants of Shakti Amma. Though not divine…it was nevertheless a very positive, peaceful and subconscious-pleasing experience.
“Avatar” or not, he definitely has something “good” to offer. Just sayin’.
RDG
Mr. Gold,
What you have stated is the root cause of the problem. The meditation and yoga and what not is no something exclusively taught by people like S.A (and many, many more new age ‘gurus’).
Many people think that because they experience a good feeling when following certain meditation or chanting, they should ignore the outrageous claims made by the person ‘marketing’ such stuff.
Yoga in itself is just the means. And I have a problem when some people put themselves or their assumed aspects as the “End” to be reached.
Hi,
I have recently visited this GOLDEN TEMPLE of this self proclaimed God.
Initially it was really a good feeling being there. It looked well organised(not sure if it could handle as many people as many other piligrim centres do). The temple was also very beautifully build. I thought it was a great feeling.
But, as I spent more time there, I slowly started getting irritated by the presence of MR. S.A, on everything, the banners, songs, the souvenirs, and what not.. literally everything. His presence there was so very overwhelming, that I was left wondering if I’d actually been to Goddess’ Lakshmi’s temple or this fellow’s.
To summarize, the visit felt anything but like a visit to temple. The only concession is perhaps that I could see nice building with good architectural value.. not sure if the spiritual value is also that good.
Mr. Raghu,
Even though I haven’t been to the place, I can understand your feelings.
This is exactly how the modern ’swamis’ (male and female) live… a life of self-cheating, believing themselves to be God, or his incarnation. And those who believe in these new age swamis commit what is the equivalent of spiritual suicide.
I am sorry if this comes across as being harsh to ’some’ people… this is the truth folks, whether you like it or not.
Hi,
I have recently visited this temple.
At the very begining they started their collection to protect our shoes, cellphones.
Then, they collect Rs.100 for non waiting visit.. If you refuse to use this option.. you have to wait in a ‘cell’ for half an hour.
In that ‘cell’ they sell coffee, pop corn, ice cream, biscuts etc.. I confused is it temple or cinema theater.
After they finish their sales, they open the door and put us in a loooong path.
The path have a lot of shops. They not allow you to refuse any one of the shop. They divert the path towards the shops near by.. ie, you must visit all the shops in the campus and view all the things they show which you never wanted in your life.
The path is really so long. I suggests them to keep our childern also in a bag and collect Rs. 100 to protect them.
After a long walk we enter the inner circle. The golden temple surrounded by water with lot of coins in the basement.
We can see the statue of the main goddess in main temple only.. But you can see the person called “amma’s” statue, images, holy words, videos, speech, song about him – in the entire temple.
Who is he.. what his message.. we never know.
You can see Money, welth and the human power in the temple.
Not god or divine power.
They spent lots of space, energy and manpower.
Lots of money in the form of coin, sunk in the water.
They have only three thing.. Money , Money and More Money.. Thats all.
I am sorry that you had to go this experience. You should have done what I did.
When my parents sort of planned a visit there, I flatly refused to even go near that place.
The ‘amma’ is no different from so many popular personalities who claim themselves to be incarnations of Gods or Goddesses… they all finally end up becoming rich and flaunt it everywhere.