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'''Ashutosh''', born as '''Mahesh Kumar Jha''' and also known as '''Ashutosh Maharaj Ji''' (1946–2014), was an Indian [[spiritual leader]], preacher, [[satguru]], and founder head of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS), a non-profit spiritual organisation. On 29 January 2014, he was declared [[Clinical death|clinically dead]] by a team of doctors. His followers believe him to be alive and in a state of [[samadhi]] or deep [[meditation]]. Since January 2014, his body has been kept in a freezer by the management of DJJS, with a firm belief that he will come out of meditation.

==Early life==
Ashutosh was born as Mahesh Kumar Jha in 1946 at [[Lakhnaur]] in [[Madhubani district]], Bihar into a [[Hindu]] [[Brahmin]] family.<ref name=tri>{{cite news|title=The curious case of Ashutosh Maharaj|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140727/pers.htm|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Tribune|date=27 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=hta>{{cite news|title=Bihar-born Ashutosh had face-offs with radical Sikhs|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jalandhar/bihar-born-ashutosh-had-face-offs-with-radical-sikhs/article1-1178132.aspx|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=ind>{{cite news|title=Is Guru Ashutosh Maharaj dead or just meditating? Indian holy man with a £100m legacy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/is-guru-ashutosh-maharaj-dead-or-just-meditating-indian-holy-man-with-a-100m-legacy-9553045.html|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=[[The Independent]]|date=20 June 2014}}</ref> There are claims that he married Anandi Devi and that the couple had a son, although this is disputed.<ref>{{cite news|title=The curious case of Ashutosh Maharaj|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140727/pers.htm|accessdate=19 December 2014|work=The Tribune|date=27 July 2014}}</ref> Ashutosh left his family post completing masters from Germany in search of a satguru or perfect master so as to attain self realisation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bihar JD (U) MLC writes to Punjab CM, wants seer's body back|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jalandhar/bihar-jd-u-mlc-writes-to-punjab-cm-wants-seer-s-body-back/article1-1182384.aspx|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=Hindustan Times|date=10 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ashutosh Maharaj: A dead seer kept alive by blind faithfuls in Punjab village|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ashutosh-maharaj-a-dead-seer-kept-alive-by-blind-faithfuls-in-punjab-village/1/341909.html|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=India Today|date=5 February 2014}}</ref> He was believed to have visited many gurus in Himalayas, Varanasi.
<ref>{{cite news|title=Police guards Ashutosh dera|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020830/punjab1.htm|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Tribune|date=30 August 2002}}</ref>
{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

== Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan ==

Ashutosh founded Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan as a non-profit spiritual organisation in [[Nurmahal]], [[Punjab, India]] in 1983.<ref name="ht1">{{cite news|title=Dead or alive? Mystery shrouds sect head Ashutosh's health|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jalandhar/dead-or-alive-mystery-shrouds-sect-head-ashutosh-s-health/article1-1177818.aspx|accessdate=8 August 2014|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=29 January 2014}}</ref> It was registered as a socio-spiritual society/non-governmental organisation in 1991 under the [[Indian Societies Registration Act|Societies Registration Act]] with its head office in New Delhi.<ref name="tri" /> The organisation claims to have about 30 million followers. It has 350 branches spread across 15 countries and the value of its property has been estimated to be above 10 billion [[Indian rupee|rupees]] (160 million USD).<ref name="ind" /><ref name="bbchindi">{{cite news|title=मरने के बाद गुरु को शिष्यों ने फ़्रीजर में डाला|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/india/2014/03/140313_dead_guru_body_preserved_sr.shtml|accessdate=8 August 2014|publisher=BBC|date=13 March 2014 |language=Hindi}}</ref> According to the organisation's website, their mission is "To usher into a world wherein every individual becomes an embodiment of truth, fraternity, and justice through the eternal science of self-realization – 'Brahm Gyan', uprooting in its wake all social evils and threat".<ref name="web">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.djjs.org/about-djjs|publisher=DJJS|accessdate=8 August 2014}}</ref>

As the head of the organisation, Ashutosh is seen as a controversial figure among the Sikh community, who have alleged him to be hurting Sikh religious sentiments.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ready for dialogue, even at Akal Takht: DJJS chief|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/punjab/ready-for-dialogue-even-at-akal-takht-djjs-chief/article1-484240.aspx|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=Hindustan Times|date=8 December 2009}}</ref> He has been accused of distorting Sikh teachings, called [[Gurbani|Banis]], and making negative comments about Sikhism and the Sikh gurus.<ref>{{cite news|title=Khalsa panchayat to confront Ashutosh followers|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020805/punjab1.htm|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Tribune|date=5 August 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Deciphering dera politics|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Deciphering-dera-politics/articleshow/10849962.cms|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Times of India|date=24 November 2011}}</ref> Various Sikh bodies demanded a ban on his activities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sikh bodies want ban on Ashutosh|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021006/punjab1.htm|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Tribune|date=6 October 2002}}</ref> There have been several violent clashes between his followers and some Sikh groups, including one in Ludhiana in December 2009 that resulted in a death.<ref>{{cite news|title=Punjab orders probe into Ludhiana violence, 1 dead|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/punjab-orders-probe-into-ludhiana-violence-1-dead_584790.html|accessdate=8 August 2014|publisher=Zee News|date=5 December 2009}}</ref> He was provided "Z+" security by the Indian government, which was later lowered to "Z" class.<ref name="hta" />

==Death==
On 29 January 2014, Ashutosh suffered a heart attack and was declared clinically dead by a team of doctors. His followers believe him to be still alive and in a state of deep meditation called [[samadhi]].<ref name=ht2>{{cite news|title=Submit report on Nurmahal Dera head by Feb 5: HC to Punjab govt|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/hc-directs-punjab-govt-to-submit-report-on-nurmahal-dera-head-by-feb-5/article1-1179915.aspx|accessdate=8 August 2014|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=3 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=toi1>{{cite news|title=Ashutosh Maharaj's 'samadhi': Senior officials visit Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan headquarters|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ashutosh-Maharajs-samadhi-Senior-officials-visit-Divya-Jyoti-Jagriti-Sansthan-headquarters/articleshow/29874589.cms|accessdate=8 August 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=5 February 2014}}</ref> {{As of|2014|12|01|alt=Since then}}, his body has been kept in a freezer by the management to create a "Himalayan-like environment" suitable for meditation.<ref name=tri/><ref name=bbc>{{cite news|title=Dead Indian guru frozen by devotees|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26556395|accessdate=8 August 2014|publisher=BBC|date=13 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ashutosh's body in 'freezer'|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140204/main4.htm|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Tribune|date=4 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=आशुतोष महाराज की मौत और समाधी को लेकर सस्पैंस बरकरार|url=http://www.punjabkesari.in/news/article-267485|accessdate=8 August 2014|agency=Hind Samachar Group|publisher=Punjab Kesari|date=24 July 2014 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

Pooran Singh filed a [[habeas corpus]] writ, seeking the release of Ashutosh's body. After the writ was rejected, he petitioned the court for a [[Autopsy|post-mortem]] examination of the corpse.<ref name=mm>{{cite news|title=Sleeping Booty|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sunday-read/Sleeping-booty/articleshow/38278749.cms|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=Mumbai Mirror|date=13 July 2014}}</ref> A person named as Dilip Kumar Jha, who claims to be the son of Ashutosh, also appealed to court, demanding that the body be brought to his home town in Bihar for cremation according to local rituals. The DJJS management have claimed that Ashutosh was single and had no family.<ref>{{cite news|title=Villagers join Ashutosh family's fast|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140209/main3.htm|accessdate=8 August 2014|work=The Tribune|date=9 February 2014}}</ref> On 1 December 2014 the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered that the last rites for Ashutosh be performed in 15 days. The ruling was later suspended, with further hearings postponed to 9 February 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=HC directs Punjab govt to conduct last rites of Ashutosh Maharaj|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/hc-directs-punjab-govt-to-conduct-last-rites-of-ashutosh-maharaj_1507650.html|accessdate=5 December 2014|publisher=Zee News|date=1 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ashutosh Maharaj's body to remain in freezer till Feb 9|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ashutosh-maharajs-body-to-remain-in-freezer-till-feb-9/|accessdate=16 December 2014|work=The Indian Express|date=16 December 2014}}</ref> Almost three years later, in July 2017, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted permission for the followers to preserve his body in a freezer, although it was unclear whether the court had agreed with the sect's argument that its founder was still alive.<ref name="BBC05072017">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40509494|title=Followers win fight to keep guru in freezer|date=5 July 2017|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=5 July 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashutosh (spiritual leader)}}
[[Category:Indian Hindu spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:People from Bihar]]
[[Category:People from Jalandhar district]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:21st-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:1946 births]]

[[Category:2014 deaths]]

Ashutosh spiritual leader - Revision history

Delinker at 12:03, 31 July 2023