In the state of Madhya Pradesh, the upcoming elections were causing a stir among the people, but not just because of the politicians. It was the Hindu gurus who were taking center stage in the political arena. With their large followings, these gurus had the power to sway votes and influence the government. The most prominent among them were Pandit Pradeep Mishra, Pandokhar Sarkar, and Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
It was March 2022, and the government was in turmoil. Home Minister Narottam Mishra had come to talk to Pandit Pradeep Mishra, who was known for his close association with the gurus. Mishra had said that the government was running because of the grace of the gurus, and the whole government belonged to them. This statement had caused a political uproar in Madhya Pradesh, with everyone trying to show their affinity with the gurus.
The collector and SP of Sehore district had even bowed down at the feet of Pandit Pradeep Mishra. People were questioning how a Baba with only a few lakh followers had more power than the eight crore population of Madhya Pradesh.
Pandit Pradeep Mishra was in news because of the chaos on Mahashivratri function at Kubereshwar Dham Sehore. He himself expressed his sorrow upon witnessing the chaos and apprehension regarding the business being conducted in his name in 2023 Mahashivratri function. Atleast 6 lakh people may have attended the ceremony and the traffic to Indore was blocked for several hours.
In a viral video, narrator Pt. Pradeep Mishra shares a remedy for achieving desired marriage. He suggests that by applying 7 dots of turmeric on Ashok Sundari's spot on Monday's Ashtami, the girl should also apply the same dot on her palm and in her living space. If a boy eats food in the same location, their marriage will be confirmed in 3-4 months. In case of any defect, offering bel patra at the Ashok Sundari spot can create Mangal Yoga. This video has sparked intense comments on social media.
It is worth mentioning that a large number of devotees visit Kubereshwar Dham to acquire Rudraksh from Pandit Pradeep Mishra. However, this Dham has been under discussion lately due to the deaths that have occurred there. Four devotees and two policemen have lost their lives at this Kubereshwar Dham in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. Furthermore, a video depicting the throwing and snatching of Rudraksh among Pandit Pradeep Mishra's devotees has also surfaced.
During the closing ceremony on February 22nd, Pradeep Mishra divulged
that he was selling water bottles for Rs. 150 while people were trading
Kubereshwar's soil for Rs. 250 with his photo on the packet, stating
that it could cure illnesses if used to create a Shivling at home. He
was also distraught that devotees were being charged Rs. 300 to be taken
to the station. Mishra added that he never expected this behavior in
his life, despite shops selling his merchandise nationwide. He promised
that during the next Rudraksh Mahotsav, Kubereshwar Dham would offer
free RO water, washrooms, and the largest tents.
Among the gurus, Pandokhar Sarkar was becoming increasingly viral on social media. He had been conducting Divya Darbar for the last 32 years, and people were curious to know who he was and whether he worked miracles. Pandokhar Sarkar was originally from Bhind, born in 1983 in a Brahmin family in Barha village of Lahar. He was associated with Pandokhar Dham since his childhood, and his abode was in Pandokhar village of Bhander tehsil of Datia district.
The Pandokhar Dham had a temple of Hanumanji, and Pandokhar Sarkar said that he had been blessed by him. He had been sitting on the throne of Pandokhar Dham since 1992. His real name was Gursharan Sharma, but he was known as Pandokhar Sarkar to his followers.
Another guru who was in the headlines was Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, Acharya of Bageshwar Dham. His younger brother, Shaligram Garg, had released a video that had gone viral, claiming that Baba did not stay at his village Garha's house, and there was a dispute between the brothers. The police had registered a case in this matter, and the Bageshwar Dham government had distanced itself from the controversy.
An FIR has been registered against Shaligram Garg, the brother of the head priest of Bagheshwar Dham, Pandit Dhirendra Shastri, by the Madhya Pradesh Police. He has been accused of carrying a pistol and threatening and assaulting people at a wedding ceremony. A video of Shaligram Garg brandishing a gun had gone viral on social media, which led to action being taken against him.
Several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been invoked against Shaligram Garg, including Sections 294, 323, 506, and 427. In addition, a case has also been registered against him under the SC/ST Act. The police took action against Shaligram Garg following the circulation of the video.
Despite the controversies, the gurus continued to wield significant influence in Madhya Pradesh. People looked up to them for guidance, and their words carried weight. As the elections approached, the gurus became even more vocal, urging people to vote for the candidates they supported. It remained to be seen how much of an impact they would have on the election results.