Bollywood actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut has come to the defense of spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru, following allegations made by a retired professor, S. Kamaraj. The professor claimed that his two educated daughters were “brainwashed” into staying at Sadhguru’s Isha Yoga Centre, accusing the foundation of encouraging women to renounce worldly life by tonsuring their heads.
Kamaraj’s accusations led to scrutiny from the Madras High Court, which questioned why Sadhguru, who has successfully married off his own daughter, would encourage other women’s renunciation. In response to this inquiry, Kangana took to Instagram to express her views. She described the allegations as “bizarre,” emphasizing that Sadhguru has never been against marriage.
“What bizarre accusation. @sadhguru ji has never been against marriages. There are proper marriage rituals in the Aashram temples; many people get married there. Most volunteers who live in the Aashram prefer to marry,” she stated, defending the spiritual leader.
The situation escalated on October 1, when a police team of 150 personnel visited the Isha Foundation as part of an investigation initiated by the Madras High Court. This inquiry followed Kamaraj’s petition, which alleged that his daughters were prohibited from maintaining contact with their family while residing at the center.
In her defense of Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation, Kangana shared a YouTube video featuring the two women in question. She remarked on the government’s actions, stating, “These are the two Brahmacharinis who decided to renounce worldly life and dedicate their lives to Sadhana more than a decade ago. Their father had filed a criminal case on Sadhguru ji for kidnapping his daughters, but when the girls were asked to go back home, they refused to go back and are happily living in the Aashram. Now suddenly, the DMK government is harassing the foundation on this case as if it’s something new. Shame.”
The Isha Foundation has categorically denied the allegations, asserting that it promotes personal freedom and spirituality. “Isha Foundation was founded by Sadhguru to impart yoga and spirituality to people. We believe that adult individuals have the freedom and wisdom to choose their path. The complainant’s daughters have clearly stated that they are staying in Isha Yoga Center on their own volition. Now that the matter is in court, we hope that truth will prevail and there is an end to all unnecessary controversies,” the foundation stated.
As the investigation unfolds, Kangana’s vocal support for Sadhguru highlights the ongoing tensions between the Isha Foundation and the Tamil Nadu government, with implications for the future of spiritual organizations in the region.
