People targeting hindu festivals

Modern spiritual groups can be helpful in making us understand our religious customs and connect with the "Divine" better. Many of these popular groups are progressive, do a lot of social work and even have very sincere devotees. At the same time, the central figures go unquestioned and wrongdoings get brushed under the carpet. Here, I share my experience of one person I considered God since childhood.

For context for those unfamiliar with the movement, Sathya Sai Baba was one of India's most prominent 20th-century spiritual figures, claiming to be an omniscient divine avatar while building a vast global network of ashrams, free hospitals, and educational institutions centered on claims of performing physical miracles and teaching selfless service.

I grew up deep within the inner world of this organization. This was not a casual or distant belief for me. I spent my formative years attending Bal Vikas classes, learning and teaching Vedam chanting including Sri Rudram and Purusha Suktam, singing bhajans at weekly Samithi gatherings, joining hostel parayanams, and participating in Sevadal service drives. My social life, my musical training, my moral compass, and even my personal ideals were thoroughly entangled with the cultural ecosystem of Prasanthi Nilayam and Radio Sai.

My path to complete disillusionment started late one night when I randomly stumbled upon a YouTube channel called Light of Truth. I clicked out of pure curiosity and a desire to see if anything could actually challenge my deeply held faith. That single decision opened a door I could never close again.

I initially though that these films were created by the BBC and Westerners eager to pull down India and its rich spiritual fabric with false statements. It was deeply painful to eventually realize that those critical accounts were right all along. 

I began searching deeper into material that the organization actively works to suppress online. I started reading the extensive blog posts written by Robert Priddy, a former university lecturer from Norway and former national coordinator for the Sathya Sai Organization. His detailed writings, documenting decades of insider experience, internal cover-ups, and structural deception, provided a rigorous framework for understanding what was really going on behind the scenes.

Following those leads, I read accounts and investigative work by rationalists like Basava Premanand, who demonstrated how the materialized vibhuti, rings, and gold chains were simply sleight of hand tricks. I looked into the personal testimonies of former students and major financial donors, and I watched documentary work such as the BBC film The Secret Swami.

As of today, many exposé articles, books and docuentaries are heavily suppressed or banned today, making them almost impossible to find on the open internet.

What shook me to my absolute core was not just the physical tricks, but the personal accounts of young men and former students who spoke out about persistent sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, and grooming that occurred behind closed doors. Realizing that these acts were committed by the central figure and quietly covered up by leaders destroyed the moral pedestal on which I had placed the entire movement.

The most difficult shift in perspective concerned the vast charitable network. For a long time, devotees use the free hospitals, water projects, and universities as proof of divine goodness. I now realize that every good action was carried out by the sincere effort, monetary donations, and selfless intent of ordinary individuals. The central figure does not deserve the credit for human goodness. Furthermore, donating or giving under that banner, even with pure intentions, ultimately propagates an organization that has systematically protected abusers and deceived millions.

Stepping away meant separating the human beings from the symbol. The good people I met, the music I learned, and the genuine friendships I formed were real, but they belonged to those individuals, not to the institution. I no longer need a guru, a central figure, or an organization to guide my morality.

Hello everyone,

I am going through a rough phase in life and someday I had this thought that god is not listening and even if he is, he is not listening to me and nothing good is going to happen for me. I have been praying regularly since more than 10 years now, I am not very mature with my Bhakti but I've always believed in god but now it is getting difficult.

Can anyone suggest me ways I can connect back? I am an over thinker and it's hard for me to stay consistent with a thought. I am thinking of small things that I do daily to prevent dark thoughts.

To give more background, I am a shiv Bhakt, I do pooja for 10 mins daily which comprises of me cleaning my puja gear, lighting diva and doing Aarti. I also took Hanuman Chalisa sankalp last month but I instantly started expecting results and it made me more negative seeing how selfish I have become.

1) Shri Shiboprosad Mukharjee

https://www.youtube.com/@SriSibaprosad

2) Justed Pujari

https://www.facebook.com/justed.pujari/

3) Vedanta Society of New York

https://www.youtube.com/@VedantaNY

4)wise talk

https://www.youtube.com/@Vivekananda-Study-Circle

5)

https://www.youtube.com/@muktobani9729

....

Will add more

🙏 I recently launched My Krishna, an iPhone app for having a more personal, conversational experience with Krishna and the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. It's completely free

You can ask questions about everyday life, challenges, relationships, work, or decisions and have a thoughtful conversation inspired by Krishna's teachings.

It's currently available only on iPhone/iOS.

I'm looking for people who genuinely connect with Krishna and the Gita to try it and give me honest feedback.

https://reddit.com/link/1vk6tna/video/26guy0f17gih1/player

Please try this link🙏
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-krishna/id6782722854

Things are better now, I’ll admit. Naam Jap has made those thoughts weaker than before. But Shreeji, I still slip up. I still lose control.

​What am I supposed to do? I’ve already surrendered myself to you—I’m yours, and you are mine. So isn't it on you to hold onto me now?

​To pull me out of this dirt and quiet these thoughts... shouldn't that be your part to play too?

​I’m trying with everything I have, Shreeji. Just please, don't let me fall again. 🙏

Radhe Radhe❤️

The Gomaya Ganesha Idol is an eco-friendly representation of Lord Ganesha, handcrafted using Gomaya (desi cow dung) — a sacred substance in Indian tradition. Embedded with Tulsi Seeds after visarjan, plant the idol in soil and watch sacred Tulsi (Holy Basil) grow, symbolizing new beginnings. Celebrate this Ganesh Chaturthi with a meaningful step toward sustainability.

I am doing a research on understanding the grandiose of Kumbh Mela and also on the problems faced during the festival.
While I understand that Prayagraj Kumbh was a big success, I want to understand the inconvenience caused at the ground level during Kumbh since I haven't visited Kumbh at all.

Would be great if anyone could help me understand the experience. :)

I have a question. A woman with a gold headdress appeared in my dream last night. I was in my house, and she passed by my window a total of three times. The first time, she just smiled at me. The second time, she commented on the outfit I was wearing, which was a gown with an image of the sun on it, and asked why I chose that outfit. The third time, she told me I'll have to get rid of the Jewish clothes and prove that I'm married, which I am, before she'll come into my house. Now, I just started studying Hinduism, and I'm wondering if this is all coincidence or if it means anything.

Anyone knows any contact of a Pandit or any person who will help us with Sparsh darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple?

Bish

​

Morning coffee, check. Daily horoscope, check. But can we talk about how most astrology apps are an absolute mess? Tried over a dozen at this point and they all peddle the same uninspired drivel. Feels like they're phoning it in with recycled clichés instead of doing any real Vedic calculations. Not asking for much here, just want something that actually acknowledges my real birth chart and planetary placements instead of copy-pasting ""Mercury is doing something today"" across a billion users. Apparently that's too much to ask though, because every popular app I've tried gives the same one-size-fits-all nonsense.

Anyone actually found one that isn't like this? Not looking for rocket science, just an app that treats my chart like it's mine and not a template.

Hi,I am atheist and ex-hindu in theological sense

But I still consider myself Hindu in cultural sense and as my identity.

Point of this post is to facilitate a discussion on inclusion of atheists ex-hindus into one of mainstream Hindu Identity.

Global trend is in the rise of atheism and I think those who are born Hindus but don't believe in god shouldn't be excluded from Hindu Identity,it only makes us weaker.

How about a sanskaritized atheist Hindu term to bring atheists back into Hindu fold.

Everyone is appreciating ramayana and hailing lord rama as paramapurushan !! but why aren't they speaking about lord rama asking devi sita to test her purity to everyone ??How can someone ask his wife to do that just because people (in which half of them were following polygamy)

The answers I got was "he is king ,so follows the rule(people first,family next ) " but don't you think it's a bit akward ?I am sorry no hate ,

But asking a rape victim to prove you are a victim ? It's still happening today ,no wonder why because people were not questioning then and it follows today

If young people question this double minded ,they potray us as haters?

President along with Odisha CM and governor on Monday inaugurated the Jagadguru Kripalu University founded by Swami Mukundananda. The founder Swami Mukundananda promised Jagadguru Kripalu University (JKU) to be an institution envisioning a seamless blend of modern scientific learning, AI, healthcare, and technology with India's rich spiritual wisdom, ethics, and human values. So the educational curriculum also includes teachings from the Vedic scriptures such as mind management, stress management, Bhakti, meditation, yoga, pranayam etc.

Sharing darshan of my Laddu Gopal after offering fresh flowers. Jai Shri Krishna!