Bageshwar Dham & Dhirendra Shastri: Divine Power or Science of Mentalism?
Posted at 1-February-2023 / Written by Rohit Bhatt
Introduction
Religion has been a source of comfort and guidance for people throughout history. It has provided a moral compass and sense of community for individuals seeking a deeper connection to the divine. Throughout the ages, there have been many spiritual leaders who have inspired and guided people on their spiritual journeys, promoting truth, love, and compassion. These genuine spiritual leaders have dedicated their lives to serving others and have helped to create a world that is more harmonious & peaceful.
On the other hand, there are also some fake spiritual leaders who exploit people's faith and devotion for their own benefit. These individuals have often presented themselves as holy men or gurus, claiming to have divine powers and special connections to the divine. However, their true intentions have often been to manipulate and deceive others for personal gain, whether it be for power, wealth, or control.
These spiritual leaders are not limited to any one particular religion. Across all religions, there have been instances of individuals claiming to be spiritual gurus or holy men who use their positions of authority to manipulate and exploit others. Whether it is in the form of false healers or fraudulent preachers, these individuals have caused harm to both individuals and communities by spreading misinformation, promoting dangerous practices, and taking advantage of vulnerable people. Today, we will discuss Bageshwar Dham and Dhirendra Shastri and investigate if their methods stem from divine intervention or scientific explanation.
Controversy
Bageshwar Dham's current head Dhirendra Krishna Shastri is a spiritual leader who has supernatural powers and asserts that he can identify a person's issue without them mentioning it. He recently gained attention after being challenged to showcase the alleged miraculous abilities they claim to have at an event in Nagpur. He has been a topic of discussion in recent days because of his claims in the videos that he uploaded on youtube.
Bageshwar Baba has long been admired by lakhs of followers who believe in his ability to grasp a person's problems and solve them without any verbal communication. However, the baba has recently faced criticism from a Maharashtra-based anti-superstition group, who challenged him to demonstrate his claimed miraculous powers at an event in Nagpur. This has made him popular on social media and many videos of him have been shared on Twitter. He says that he writes what comes to his mind and it always turns out to be true. He also says that the people of Bageshwar Dham will fight back against those trying to harm his reputation.
Bageshwar Baba has received support from various leaders, including BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya, who says he is being attacked for speaking against love jihad. However, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, has challenged baba to fix the problem in Joshimath if he really has magical powers. He said, "If he's so powerful, he should solve the Joshimath problem." A video of the baba also has been shared on social media, and it shows him calling a journalist from the crowd and sharing information about the journalist's family members, which left the journalist shocked. In our research, we found that the information shared by Bageshwar baba about the journalist was already present in the journalist's Facebook profile. We have covered many other facts like this in our recent youtube video that what Bageshwar baba does is Social Engineering.
Suhani Shah, a 32-year-old magician, is a familiar face on Hindi and English news channels nowadays. She performs "mind-reading" on television, which many people believe is scripted. Interestingly, Shah claims that "mind-reading" is an art form and doesn't require any "divine powers," which is contrary to what Bageshwar Dham Trust Chief Dhirendra Shastri claims to possess.
Complaint file against Bageshwar Dham Baba
Shyam Manav, the founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, lodged a complaint on January 8th alleging that Dhirendra Krishna Shastri organised the "Shree Ram Katha" event in Nagpur from January 5th to 13th, which included "Divya Darbar" and "Pret Darbar" programs promoting superstition. Manav demanded action under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Manav addressed a press conference on January 9th, where he challenged the self-proclaimed godman to demonstrate his claimed "Divya Shakti" (divine power) and offered a cash reward of Rs 30 lakh for proof.
Nagpur CP Amitesh Kumar said, "Based on the complaint lodged against Bageshwar Maharaj by Manav and a video submitted by him as evidence, police conducted an inquiry into the matter. However, it was found that the programme held by Maharaj in Nagpur does not attract action under any of these laws."
Science of Mentalism
The science behind mind-reading, also known as Mentalism, is based on psychology, sociology, and perception principles. Mentalists use techniques such as cold reading, body language analysis, and suggestions to give the illusion of mind-reading. Cold reading involves using general statements to gather information about the subject, while body language analysis helps to detect subtle cues that can indicate thoughts and emotions. The suggestion is used to plant ideas in the subject's mind, making them think they are being read. While mind-reading may seem like magic, it is based on scientific principles and techniques that can be mastered with practice. However, it's important to note that mind-reading is not an actual psychic ability, and mentalists rely on their skills and knowledge to create the illusion.
Science Behind Pret-Atma
In the past, people believed that ghosts or supernatural forces caused the symptoms of hysteria. They thought spirits or demons controlled people who showed signs of hysteria. As a result, many treatments for hysteria involved religious rituals like exorcisms.
Hysteria is a term that was historically used to describe a wide range of symptoms that were believed to be caused by psychological or emotional distress. The term has largely fallen out of use in modern medicine, but it was once thought to be a common condition, particularly among women. Hysteria was characterised by symptoms such as fainting, trembling, and uncontrollable laughter or crying, and it was believed to be caused by a "wandering womb" or an overactive imagination.
In modern times, the science of psychology and psychiatry has advanced to the point where hysteria is no longer considered a valid medical diagnosis. The symptoms that were once attributed to hysteria are now understood to be the result of a variety of physical and psychological conditions, including neurological disorders, stress, and trauma.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's important to be cautious and not blindly follow anyone, especially those who claim to have supernatural powers or divine connections. While religion and spirituality can provide comfort and guidance, it's crucial to differentiate between genuine spiritual leaders and those who exploit people's faith for personal gain. The science of mentalism shows that mind-reading and other so-called miraculous abilities can be explained through psychological and sociological principles rather than divine intervention. Therefore, it's essential to question and critically examine such claims and to seek evidence and verification before placing trust in any individual. Blind faith can lead to harm, both to individuals and communities, and it's important to approach spiritual leaders and beliefs with a healthy dose of scepticism and critical thinking.
