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{{Short description|Guru who claims paranormal powers}}
{{Other uses|Godman (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

'''Godman''' is a term used in [[India]] for a type of [[Con artist|healer]] or spiritual leader who is often raised to a [[demigod]]-like figure by his [[cult]] following. They generally claim to possess [[paranormal]] powers, such as [[faith healing|the ability to heal]], [[clairvoyance|the ability to see or influence future events]], and [[Telepathy|the ability to read minds]].<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&q=253&pg=PA253|access-date=26 March 2014|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|page=253}}</ref> Godmen usually have a high-profile presence, and attract support from large sections of Indian society.<ref name=Mehta>Mehta, Uday (1993), Modern Godmen in India: A Sociological Appraisal, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN|81-7154-708-7}}.</ref>

==Overview==
Godmen are revered as special human beings and often worshipped by their followers.<ref name="Woodhead2002">{{cite book|author=Linda Woodhead|title=Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwqFGUKUb58C&pg=PP5|access-date=26 March 2014|date=January 2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-21783-5|page=35|quote=By far the most famous Godman of today is Sathya Sai Baba.}}</ref> Some godmen come from established schools of spirituality, but often they do not belong to any religious order. In recent years, many godmen have gained followers outside of India, which has increased their fame and wealth.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/>

[[Sathya Sai Baba]] (1926–2011) was a notable godman with a very large following.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/><ref name="Woodhead2002"/><ref name="Quack2011">{{cite book|author=Johannes Quack|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNbxUwhS5RUC&pg=PR14|access-date=26 March 2014|date=22 November 2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-981260-8|page=96}}</ref> He was known for alleged miracles like materialising sacred ash ([[vibhuti|''vibhuti'']]), and other objects like watches and jewels. He was also involved in [[philanthropy]], which include hospitals, schools and universities.<ref name="Woodhead2002"/>

[[Neem Karoli Baba]] (c. 1900–1973) is another well-known godman revered by many in the United States, a guru to whom innumerable miracles have been attributed.

There are also female gurus who are considered divine and are revered by their followers, some having been spouses and collaborators of noted male gurus. Female gurus who are considered to be divine or saintly by their followers include [[Mirra Alfassa]] (1878–1973), [[Anandamayi Ma]] (1896–1982), [[Mata Amritanandamayi]] (born 1953), and [[Mother Meera]] (born 1960).<ref name="Woodhead2002"/>

Although few godmen have allowed their powers to be examined scientifically, [[Swami Rama]] became famous by participating in the [[biofeedback]] research conducted by Elmer Green at the [[Menninger Foundation]] around 1970.<ref name="AnkerbergWeldon1996">{{cite book|author1=John Ankerberg|author2=John Weldon|title=Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SghdYBbMds0C&pg=PA598|year=1996|publisher=Harvest House Publishers|isbn=978-1-56507-160-5|pages=598–}}</ref><ref name="Swingle2008">{{cite book|author=Paul G. Swingle|title=Biofeedback for the Brain: How Neurotherapy Effectively Treats Depression, ADHD, Autism, and More|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rcz9j4qALxkC&pg=PA45|access-date=1 April 2014|year=2008|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=978-0-8135-4287-4|page=45}}</ref>

==Political patronage==
Several godmen have found patronage among politicians and other high-ranking officials. Sathya Sai Baba had several devotees in the political field. They include [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) politician [[L. K. Advani]].<ref name=hocus/><ref>{{cite news|title=Political leaders condole Sai Baba's death|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/political-leaders-condole-sai-babas-death-132655-2011-04-23|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=[[India Today]]|date=24 April 2011|quote=I first came in contact with him shortly after my incarceration in the Bangalore Central Jail during the 1975–77 Emergency. After that I have been meeting him frequently.}}</ref> In 2001, an official letter was issued that defended [[Sathya Sai Baba]] against accusations, the signatories included then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], former [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justices]] [[P. N. Bhagwati]] and [[Ranganath Misra]], and former [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]] [[Shivraj Patil]].<ref name=miracle_man>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Miracle man|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fline/fl2810/stories/20110520281002600.htm|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|date=7 May 2011|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055326/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fline/fl2810/stories/20110520281002600.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2006, [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Ravi Shankar]] was nominated for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] by [[US Congressman|U.S. Congressman]] [[Joseph Crowley]].<ref name="Farndon2009">{{cite book|author=John Farndon|title=India Booms: The Breathtaking Development and Influence of Modern India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-rvogRuj1_0C&pg=PA68|access-date=1 April 2014|date=27 May 2009|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=978-0-7535-2074-1|page=68}}</ref> In June 2007, former [[President of India]] [[Pratibha Patil]] claimed to have had a visitation from [[Dada Lekhraj]] (1876–1969) giving her the premonition of her nomination as the President.<ref name=hocus>{{cite news|title=Hocus focus: Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil is not the only one to believe in spirits and premonitions.|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070701/asp/7days/story_7999408.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827181357/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070701/asp/7days/story_7999408.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2007|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (India)]]|date=1 July 2007|author=Padmaparna Ghosh}}</ref><ref name=patil_ghost>{{cite news|title=Pratibha claims divine premonition of greater responsibility|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/pratibha-claims-divine-premonition-of-greater-responsibility/article1862552.ece|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=28 June 2007}}</ref>

In September 2013, [[Unnao gold treasure incident|Shobhan Sarkar]] claimed to have dreamt of gold buried under the palace of [[Rao Ram Baksh Singh]], a 19th-century king.<ref name=shoban>{{cite news|title=Shobhan Sarkar: The truth behind gold digging baba of Unnao |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/truth-behind-gold-digging-baba-shobhan-sarkar-222312-2013-12-28|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=[[India Today]]|date=29 December 2013}}</ref> One of his disciples contacted [[Charan Das Mahant]], then the Union Minister of State in the [[Ministry of Food Processing Industries]], who in turn convinced various other officials. Later, [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) conducted surveys of the site on 12 October and announced an excavation on 15 October. On 18 November 2013, after finding no signs of gold ASI stopped the excavation and began filling up the trenches.<ref name=ASI_stops>{{cite news|title=No sign of gold, ASI stops Unnao digging|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/no-sign-of-gold-asi-stops-unnao-digging/1196575/|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=19 November 2013}}</ref>

==Debunking of alleged miracles==
The [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations]] (FIRA) has organised seminars to expose how alleged miracles are actually performed by [[sleight of hand]].<ref name=TricksRevealed>{{cite news|title=Tricks revealed|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/05/31/stories/2003053100110300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030621060708/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/05/31/stories/2003053100110300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 June 2003|access-date=24 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 May 2003}}</ref> Members of the [[Indian Rationalist Association]] travel to villages across India and perform shows to debunk miracles, educating villagers to keep them from giving money to godmen.<ref name=ExposeMiracle>{{cite news|title=Rationalists expose miracle men to villagers|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10584228|access-date=24 January 2015|work=[[New Zealand Herald]]|date=14 July 2009}}</ref> [[Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti]] (MANS) and the [[Maharashtra Rationalist Association]] are also actively engaged in exposing false claims of spiritual gurus.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

===Common miracles and explanations===
[[File:SanalEdamaruku training students at National Science Centre in New Delhi India.jpg|thumb|[[Sanal Edamaruku]] debunking a "levitation trick"]]
[[File:Naatriumi reaktsioon veega purustab klaasist anuma.jpg|thumb|A popular trick often shown by godmen is simply a [[chemical reaction]] of [[sodium]] and [[water]]. ]]
* [[Levitation (paranormal)|Levitation]] of a person under a blanket: The trick is done by lying on the floor covered by a blanket and slowly sitting up while holding out two [[hockey stick]]s to mimic the rising of the legs and feet.<ref name=GuruFraudsters>{{cite news|title=Exposed: the tricks of India's 'guru' fraudsters|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/exposed-the-tricks-of-india-s-guru-fraudsters-1.482741/|access-date=24 January 2015|work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |location=Abu Dhabi |date=31 May 2010}}</ref>
* Levitation of a person holding a stick: In this trick, the person appears to be floating above a mat supported only by bamboo stick held in his hand. The hollow bamboo stick and performer's robes contain a [[bracket (architecture)|bracket]] which supports the person's weight and a rod runs through the bamboo and is anchored hidden under the mat.<ref name=TwilightZone/>
* Making rocks explode by sprinkling holy water: The rocks have sodium crystals embedded in them, which reacts to ordinary water and expands rapidly.<ref name=GuruFraudsters/>
* Creating fire by pouring [[ghee]] on wood: The wood pile contains potassium permanganate. It reacts to the glycerine, which is passed off as ghee and catches fire.<ref name=GuruFraudsters/><ref name=TwilightZone/>
* [[Fire eating]] or carrying flames on palm: A cube of burning [[camphor]] can be held safely for a few seconds, by practice. It can also be held on the tongue. If the camphor becomes too hot, the performer exhales and closes the mouth, putting out the flame.<ref name=TwilightZone>{{cite news|title=Confrontation in the Twilight zone|url=http://www.sify.com/finance/confrontation-in-the-twilight-zone-news-default-ni5bUiigeagsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529001530/http://www.sify.com/finance/confrontation-in-the-twilight-zone-news-default-ni5bUiigeagsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 May 2015|access-date=24 January 2015|website=[[Sify]]|date=30 August 2013}}</ref>
* [[Fire walking|Walking on burning coals]]: There is salt sprinkled on the coal which draws moisture; or the performer has wet his feet, forming a layer of dirt on them. If the performer walks quickly, he will not get burned.<ref name=TwilightZone/>

==See also==
* [[Aghori]]
* ''[[Global Baba]]'', a 2016 movie
* [[Superstition in India]]
* [[Theios aner]]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Brent |first=Peter Ludwig |title=Godmen of India |publisher=Allen Lane |location=London |year=1972 |isbn=9780140034608 |oclc=899490216 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/godmenofindia0000bren }}
*{{cite book |last=Kovoor |first=Abraham T. |author-link=A. T. Kovoor |title=Begone Godmen |year=2014 |orig-date=1976 |isbn=9788172243319 |oclc=899490216 |location=Mumbai |publisher=Jaico Publishing House}}
*{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Khushwant |author-link=Khushwant Singh |title=Gurus, godmen, and good people |publisher=Orient Longman |location=Bombay |year=1975 |isbn=9780318366722 |oclc=2119212 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Godman (Hindu Ascetic)}}
[[Category:Hindu miracles]]
[[Category:Miracle workers]]
[[Category:Spiritual teachers| ]]
[[Category:Gurus]]

Godman India - Revision history

LavernRuss601 at 16:24, 4 May 2026