Adi Shankaracharya(788-820 AD) in his book Bhaja Govindam wrote,
“Jatilo Mundi Lunchitakeshah,Kaashaayaambara bahukritaveshsh,
Pashyannapi Cha Na Pashyati Moodho,Hi-udaranimitam Bahukritaveshah
“One ascetic with matted-locks, one with shaven-head, one with hairs pulled out one by one, another parading in his ochre-robes-these are fools who, though seeing, do not see. Indeed these different disguises or apparels are only for their belly’s sake.”(Commentary: Swami Chinmayananda)
Chandraswami- who created a political storm during early 1990's in Indian politics
They are liabilities to humankind…..These spiritually half-baked pots masquerading as saints in ochre robes are a common sight in the present times. To cheat and do fraudulent activities in any field is bad; to do it in the name of spirituality is worst. These lazy drones wish to do minimum work; they use their clever vocabulary and the cover of ochre robes for profiteering ventures and cheat the gullible devotees. When ultimately they are exposed, one wonders at the level of their selfishness, immoral acts, uncultured disposition, and sometimes bordering barbarity.
Spirituality has been taken for granted as the money-spinning industry by these shams. They were there at all times of the history, and taking the undue advantage of this internet culture and revolution in the communications, through the print media and TV Channels, many individuals with ochre robes and flowing beards claim themselves to be God-incarnates. A couple of brilliant, lectures, lavishly arranged spiritual discourses get them following in plenty. One wonders how the people are willing to accept their logic.
How does this emotional blackmail work? I know one famous individual who attaches the suffix of Maharaj after his name, has married thrice and has a good crop of children! Strangely, his followers have no objection for it and he has the following running into millions ‘Hasn’t Lord Krishna married sixteen thousand times?’ –he convinces his followers by such crude arguments.
The Christian missionaries, during their treacherous conversion campaigns in tribal areas of India used to tell the uneducated, simple tribal folks similar stories. If Lord Krishna ‘has married sixteen thousand times’, he has also lifted the Goverdhan mountain with his one finger and danced on the hoods of Kaliya, the giant of the serpents with enormous power of his venom. Can this so-called Maharaj lift a stone of three kilogram weight (@ one kilogram per wife) with his one finger? How this story of having sixteen thousand wives has been concocted by such interpreters, who do not possess true knowledge of the scriptures and wish to misguide the followers for selfish aggrandizement, intentionally!
Why did Lord Krishna marry 16108 women? Bhaumasura, a demon, had kidnapped and took as captives over sixteen thousand princesses from various kingdoms. When Lord Krishna killed Bhaumasura, the princesses looked forward to him for mercy and protection. They offered their hearts at the lotus feet of the Lord, their protector. Their desire was totally uncontaminated. He agreed to accept them. As per the social traditions prevailing then, if a girl remains with the other man, no one will marry that girl. From secular considerations, that was the reason for Lord Krishna showing benevolence on them. This is an example of Godhead manifestation into 16,108 forms, which ordinary, suspicious and wicked minds like that of the missionaries and those frauds in holy grabs cannot comprehend. Lord Krishna’s disposition with his 16,108 wives should not be interpreted as mundane sex relation. It is transcendental. The attitude of those women is also transcendental ecstasy.
Do not follow fake Gurus in holy garbs blindly. One needs a Guru who has the power to kindle Divine Light within.
This is the ultimate test, as prescribed by the scriptures. This is what Swami Vivekananda saw and experienced thorough his Guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. We need a Guru who can take us beyond verbal descriptions—shabdic gyan. One who can enable us to see the metaphysical form of God, the Light with super-sensuous divine experience instantly at the time of initiation is the True Guru. That is known as Brahma Gyan. Others are just frauds in holy garbs.
