Hiranyaka at 16:35, 18 May 2024

2024-05-18T16:35:04Z

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{{short description|Spiritual teacher}}

</noinclude>{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sri Bhagawan
| image = Sri_Bhagavan.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Vijaykumar Naidu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1949|03|07}}
| birth_place = [[Natham]], [[Madras State]], India (present-day [[Tamil Nadu]])
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| education =
| alma_mater = DG Vaishnav College, Chennai
| nationality = Indian
| other_names = Sri Bhagavan, Amma Bhagwan (as a couple)
| occupation =
| years_active =
| known_for = Oneness
| spouse = {{marriage|Padmavathi|1977}}
| website =
}}

'''Sri Bhagawan''' (born 7 March 1949 as '''Vijay Kumar Naidu'''), popularly known as '''Kalki Bhagavan''', is a spiritual teacher from India.<ref name="ET2">{{Cite news |last=Nadkarni |first=Vithal C. |year=2008 |title=Oneness to the rescue of a world in peril |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/oneness-to-the-rescue-of-a-world-in-peril/articleshow/2732690.cms}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated132">{{cite web |title=Oneness Movement – WRSP |url=https://wrldrels.org/2018/08/17/oneness-movement/ |language=en}}</ref> He is the founder of a spiritual organization called Oneness.<ref name="autogenerated42">{{Cite book |last1=Preethaji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uUaBDwAAQBAJ&q=preetha+krishna |title=The Four Sacred Secrets: For Love and Prosperity, A Guide to Living in a Beautiful State |last2=Krishnaji |date=6 August 2019 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-5011-7379-0 |language=en}}</ref> which has its headquarters in [[Varadaiahpalem]], [[Tirupati]] district in [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="english.religion.info2">{{Cite web |date=2008-07-13 |title=India: a visit to the Oneness Temple of Amma-Bhagwan |url=https://english.religion.info/2008/07/13/india-a-visit-to-the-oneness-temple-of-amma-bhagwan/ |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=Religioscope |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Spiritual programs ==

===Programs in India===

[[Jeev]] [[ashram]] School located in [[Chittoor]] District, [[Andhra Pradesh]] was founded by Sri Bhagavan, in July 1984 to provide an alternative form of education. The school's early benefactor was Dr. N. Sivakamu, a close associate of [[J. Krishnamurti]].<ref name="maka">{{cite news | last = Paranjape | first = Makarand | work = Life Positive | date = July 1997 | title = Bhagwan Kalki }} https://www.lifepositive.com/bhagwan-kalki/</ref> The land for the school was taken on a lease, with the support provided by Hari Khoday, an Indian philanthropist. As director of the school, Sri Bhagavan's focus was to develop an environment for children to truly flower and discover themselves. The school had 180 residential students and 200 day students from nearby villages.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 1,2}} It was at this school that his spiritual work began. In the summer of 1989, one of the students reported a mystical experience of divine silence. Soon, many other students reported similar experiences, and they were also able to pass their experiences to one another. During these experiences, children had vision of various Gods and would converse with them. Sri Bhagavan explained that the children had got in touch with [[Antaryamin]], ''the inner guide who dwells in your heart'' that guides all beings towards greater truth.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 1,2}} In 1991, Sri Bhagawan decided to close the school and start the spiritual work for the larger community. The school was closed a few years later in 1994, after the senior students had all graduated from high school and the remaining students were moved to other schools.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 1,2}}

Once the decision was made to close Jeevashram School, work started in developing the spiritual programs for the public.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 1,2}} The principal of the Jeevashram School with a small group of teachers started the spiritual programs for public. The workshops were conducted as residential retreat programs conducted over 7 days or 21 days. The workshop focused on helping the participant ''accept themselves as they are'',<ref name="auto">{{cite news | last = Varughese | first = Suma | work = Life Positive | title = Sri Bhagawan Kalki – The School of Enlightenment }} http://lifepositive.com/the-school-for-enlightenment/</ref> and connect with their ''own inner divine self'' the [[Antaryamin]].<ref name="auto"/> Students also reported various spiritual experiences including mystical visions of their own personal God riding a white horse, similar to the [[Kalki]] form of [[Vishnu]] from traditional [[Hindu eschatology|Hindu beliefs]].<ref name="RA">{{cite web |title=India: a visit to the Oneness Temple of Amma-Bhagwan |url=https://english.religion.info/2008/07/13/india-a-visit-to-the-oneness-temple-of-amma-bhagwan/ |website=Religioscope |date=13 July 2008}}</ref><ref name="etymologically2003">[[Monier Monier-Williams]]: Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages, 1889, reprinted 2003, Nataraj Books, Asian Educational Services, {{ISBN|81-206-0369-9}}</ref> Based on this shared spiritual experiences, the students and public would address Sri Bhagavan with the title "Kalki".<ref name="RA"/>

A second campus was set up in 1992 near [[Chennai]] city a place called Somangalam. In 1994, the campus of Jeevashram School was renamed as [[Satyaloka]]. Advance retreat programs for public were conducted at this campus. By 1995, Sri Bhagavan's workshops were being conducted in all major cities in India. In 1995, the first major public event was held at Chennai city, attracting more than 100,000 students from across India. In 1999, the work on building the Oneness University{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 2}} at [[Varadaiahpalem]], [[Chittoor district|Chittoor]] district [[Andhra Pradesh]] India started. Oneness University, located 70 km from [[Chennai]], is accessible by the National Highway 5 and is on Tirupati Road leading to the ancient temple town of [[Kalahasthi]]. In 2000, the first campus was completed and Sri Bhagavan and his team of teachers moved to the campus. Over the next few years, various campuses, including the Oneness Temple in 2008<ref>{{cite news | last = Avadhani | first = Ramesh | work = Religiscope | title = India: A visit to the Oneness Temple of Amma-Bhagawan}} http://english.religion.info/2008/07/13/india-a-visit-to-the-oneness-temple-of-amma-bhagwan/</ref> were built.

===International programs===
In 1998, the first course specifically made for Westerners were held, with 40 participants from Russia, USA and Scandinavia.<ref name = "gupea_2077">https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/33618/1/gupea_2077_33618_1.pdf</ref> In January 2004, the first 3 weeks courses<ref name = "gupea_2077"/> for international students was started.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 2}} Starting from these courses, the participants were initiated to give deeksha to others.<ref name = "gupea_2077"/>

The headquarters and main campus for the movement is in [[Varadaiahpalem]], Andhra Pradesh, [[India]], which houses the [[Oneness Temple]]. The movement aimed "To create oneness for all for lasting spiritual transformation"<ref name="ET_Mumbai">{{cite news|last=TNN|title=Mumbai Inc learns about 'Oneness'|date=2 February 2008|work=The Economic Times}}[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-02-02/news/27736762_1_jagdish-capoor-bse-top-guns (economictimes.com)]</ref> using the [[rite]] of deeksha.

[[Anna Hazare]] the Indian social reformer, states ''"All over India, oneness is the only University providing the values which have not been provided by any other University"''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vamsigrandhi.blogspot.com/2011/08/anna-hazare-visited-oneness-university.html|title=Anna Hazare Visited Oneness University|work=Vamsi, Amazed With Challenges And Incidents In Life|date=21 August 2011|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moZ2AwfDU6Q|title=Anna Hazare Comments on Youth Course of Oneness University|via=YouTube|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> [[Ervin Laszlo]] of the Budapest Club, avers that the 'Oneness experience' are as real as any human sense perceptions of light, colour and sound, but conveyed via different neural process within the brain.<ref>{{cite news | last = Nadkarni | first = Vithal | work = The Economic Times | title = Oneness to the rescue of a world in peril }} http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/oneness-to-the-rescue-of-a-world-in-peril/articleshow/2732690.cms</ref>

In 2006, [[Tony Robbins]], the well known American businessman and coach, discovered meditation through his visit to Oneness University, and has since incorporated teachings of Sri Bhagavan as part of his own programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2014/10/30/tony-robbins-best-advice-executive-coach/|title=Tony Robbins, The CEO Whisperer|website=Fortune|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> In 2009, about 600 delegates from India and 36 others converged at Sri Bhagavan's Oneness University campus for the international convention of the [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]]. This program was attended by various well-known figures, such as [[Ashok Singhal]], [[Praveen Togadia]], and [[Giriraj Kishore]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Correspondent | first = Special | work = The Hindu | title = world convention | date = 2 January 2009}} [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article366033.ece?textsize=small&test=2]</ref><ref>''VHP condemns terrorism'' [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/vhp-condemns-terrorism/article368356.ece (The Hindu)]</ref> Well-known visitors to Sri Bhagavan's Oneness University campus include [[Bollywood]] stars [[Shilpa Shetty]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/shilpa-shetty-in-silent-mode/article13726.ece|title=Shilpa Shetty in silent mode | The Hindu|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> [[Manisha Koirala]],<ref>{{cite news| last = Varma | first = Lipika | work = Deccan Chronicle | title = On her trip to Chennai, Manisha}}</ref> [[Manisha Koirala]] states, "I go away to Oneness University in Chennai – I gain clarity and get a sense of bliss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/290517/on-her-trip-to-chennai-manisha-will-catch-up-with-kamal-haasan-and-mani-ratnam.html |title=On her trip to Chennai, Manisha will catch up with Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=29 May 2017 |access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/manisha-koirala-prays-at-kalki-ashram/article2654685.ece|title=Manisha Koirala prays at Kalki Ashram|date=24 November 2011|work=The Hindu|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> [[Hrithik Roshan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/hrithik-off-to-a-wellness-course-with-his-family-55962-2009-09-07|title=Hrithik off to a wellness course with his family|first1=Mail Today|last1=MumbaiSeptember 7|first2=2009UPDATED|last2=September 7|first3=2009 09:05|last3=Ist|website=India Today|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> [[Rakesh Roshan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Hrithik-family-get-spiritual-on-dads-bday/articleshow/4974833.cms|title=Hrithik & family get spiritual on dad's b'day|website=The Times of India}}</ref> designer [[Donna Karan]],<ref name="Spiritual">{{cite news | last = TNN | work = The Times of India | title = So, who's spiritual | date = 2008-06-08 }} ''"The Oneness University in Chennai set up by the couple Amma and Bhagwan, which has attracted international celebs like designer Donna Karan, Def Leppard musician Rick Allen and NBA coach Pat Riley"''[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/stoi/So-whos-spiritual/articleshow/3110974.cms]</ref> [[Deff Leppard]] musician [[Rick Allen (drummer)|Rick Allen]],<ref name="Spiritual"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ4rzDR2N-c|title=ONENESS CHANT by Lauren Monroe Allen and Rick Allen|via=YouTube|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> [[NBA]] coach [[Pat Riley]],<ref name="Spiritual"/> spiritual leader [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Sri Sri Ravi Shankar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFf9tF5geas|title=RAVI SHANKAR with ONENESS.MPG|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/vijaykumar-from-humble-beginning-to-godman-kalki/1643581 |title=Vijaykumar: From humble beginning to Godman Kalki |publisher=Outlookindia.com |date=18 October 2019 |access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref> In 2011 he was included in ''Watkins Mind Body Spirit'' list of influential spiritual leaders for that year.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = Watkins Review: Mind Body Spirit 1893 UK London | title = 100 Spiritual Power List by Watkins, 2011 | author = Watkins Books | publisher = Watkins Books | issue = 26 | url = http://www.watkinsbooks.com/review/watkins-spiritual-100-list | access-date = 21 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140720074011/http://www.watkinsbooks.com/review/watkins-spiritual-100-list | archive-date = 20 July 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===O&O Academy===
Over the years, Kalki Bhagavan's Oneness movement has called itself various names including the ''Foundation for World Awakening'', ''Golden Age Foundation'', ''Bhagavad Dharma'', ''Kalki Dharma'', ''Oneness University'' and ''Living in Joy Foundation''.<ref name="english.religion.info">{{Cite web|date=2008-07-13|title=India: a visit to the Oneness Temple of Amma-Bhagwan|url=https://english.religion.info/2008/07/13/india-a-visit-to-the-oneness-temple-of-amma-bhagwan/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Religioscope|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, the Oneness organization was handed over to Kalki Bhagavan's son, NKV Krishna and daughter-in-law [[Preetha Krishna]].<ref name=autogenerated4>{{Cite book|last1=Preethaji|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uUaBDwAAQBAJ&q=preetha+krishna|title=The Four Sacred Secrets: For Love and Prosperity, A Guide to Living in a Beautiful State|last2=Krishnaji|date=6 August 2019|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-5011-7379-0|language=en}}</ref> They have merged it with their own One World Academy to form 'O&O Academy'.<ref name=autogenerated4 /> During 2019, NKV Krishna and Preetha Krishna published a book together, called ''The Four Sacred Secrets'', writing under the names 'Krishnaji' and 'Preethaji'.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Publishers Weekly|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-50117-377-6|website=publishersweekly.com|access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref> In January 2020, NKV Krishna was interviewed by Nick Duerden of the British edition of GQ magazine.<ref name=autogenerated8>{{Cite web|title=Society once had religion to give it purpose. Now it has wellness coaches|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/wellness-coach|website=British GQ|date=12 January 2020|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref> In the interview, NKV Krishna claimed to be a guru with 10 million followers in India.<ref name=autogenerated8 /> Krishna told the interviewer that his father saw otherworldly visions, including “...a gigantic golden orb of light provoking him to chant and meditate for the liberation of humankind”, and that he has inherited those visions.<ref name=autogenerated8 />

== Early Life and Family ==
Bhagavan was born on 7 March 1949 in Natham Village, [[Gudiyatham]] Town, [[Vellore]] district, [[Tamil Nadu]], to Smt. Vaidarbhi Amma and Sri Varadarajulu. His father was the head of the accounts department of [[Indian Railways]] and his mother was a simple village woman. In 1955, when Bhagavan was six years of age, the family moved to [[Madras|Chennai]]. There, he attended [[Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai|Don Bosco School]] in [[Chennai]]. Later, he graduated from [[DG Vaishnav College]] in [[Chennai]], majoring in mathematics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Narayanan, Dr. Vasudha, "A 'White Paper' on Kalki Bhagavan, 29 September 2002", University of Florida, Gainesville, Montclair. |url=https://msuweb.montclair.edu/~adarkara/d-kalki.html |website=msuweb.montclair.edu}}</ref> After completing college, he began working as an office clerk for [[Life Insurance Corporation of India]] (LIC).<ref name="gupea_2077" />

Bhagavan married Smt. Padmavathi on 9 June 1977. This was an arranged marriage following the prevalent customary practice in India for marriages decided by elders in the family.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 1,2}} Padmavathi, who is addressed as Amma by their students, takes an interest and participation in building the spiritual organization Oneness.{{sfn|Ardagh|2008|loc=Chapter 1,2}}. Kalki Bhagavan's wife 'Padmavathi' is also addressed 'Amma' (meaning 'mother'). Kalki Bhagavan and his wife together are known by their followers as ''Amma Bhagavan''.<ref name="english.religion.info" />

At an early age, Bhagavan was introduced to the philosophy of [[Jiddu Krishnamurti]] by his childhood friend R. Sankar. This drew him to the [[Theosophical Society]] in Chennai, to which he was a frequent visitor.<ref name="gupea_2077" />

Bhagavan's immediate family includes his wife Padmavati, his son NKV Krishna, and daughter-in-law Preetha.

== See also ==
* [[Diksha]]

==External links==
* [http://www.sri-ammabhagavan.org Official Website]
* [https://www.lifepositive.com/the-school-for-enlightenment/ The School for Enlightenment]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/WorldOnenessTV/featured World Oneness TV]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhagavan, Kalki}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Hindu revivalists]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:New Age spiritual leaders]]
[[Category:People considered avatars by their followers]]
[[Category:2012 phenomenon]]
[[Category:Self-declared messiahs]]
[[Category:Supernatural healing]]

Kalki Bhagawan - Revision history

Hiranyaka at 16:35, 18 May 2024