The Madras High Court recently raised concern over practices followed by Isha Foundation, questioning the organization's founder and spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev for being an influence on young girls to renounce the worldly life and become hermitesses. Such a question has arisen based on a writ petition filed by retired professor S. Kamaraj in the high court. According to him, his two well-educated daughters had been "brainwashed" and were permanently staying at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. The court questioned on the contrast between how Sadhguru's own daughter is married and settled in life and encouraging other womens to become hermitesses.
Background
The case was filed by S. Kamaraj, a 69-year-old former professor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, who wanted his two daughters, aged respectively 42 years and 39 years to appear before the court. He claimed that his daughters were being held at the Isha Yoga Centre, where they were given medicines and food that had affected their minds, making them less sharp. Both the daughters came before the court and asserted that it was on their free volition that they were at the Isha Foundation. They denied being confined or detained to stay there. Even though women testified to this end, Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Sivagnanam raised some concern about the Isha Foundation's practices and said "he did arrange for his own daughter's marriage and ensured her a stable life, but was asking other women to shave their heads and lead ascetic lives".
We want to know why Jaggi Vasudev who had given his daughter in marriage and made her settle well in life is encouraging the daughters of others to tonsure their heads and live the life of a hermitess: Madras High Court
Read full story: https://t.co/flSojyqn4G pic.twitter.com/fKkv7koOVG— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) October 1, 2024
"We want to know why a person who had given his daughter in marriage and made her settle well in life is encouraging the daughters of others to tonsure their heads and live the life of a hermitess," added Justice Sivagnanam. The court has directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to file a status report on or before the 4th of October with all cases pertaining to Isha Foundation. This investigation will delve deeper into the allegations against the foundation over charges of "brainwashing".
Response from Isha Foundation
The Isha Foundation responded through Advocate K. Rajendra Kumar, stating that the women are here voluntarily and of their free choice. The foundation stated that it respects individual freedom and does not indulge in matrimonial or monk-hood imposition on the members."We believe that adult individuals have the freedom and wisdom to choose their paths. We do not impose marriage or monkhood, as these are personal choices," the foundation said in a statement.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
Ⓒ Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media
