Anand Giri is a disciple of Narendra Giri, who has been accused for abetting him to commit suicide. Know about his famimly, life and non-ascetic lifestyle…
Yog guru Anand Giri, known as “Chhote Maharaj” at the famous Bade Hanuman Temple in Prayagraj, has been allegedly accused for abetting the suicide of his mentor Mahant Narendra Giri, and has previously seen having a non-ascetic lifestyle.
Anand Giri: How he became a seer
Mahant Narendra Giri brought Anand, now 38, from Haridwar Ashram to Praygraj’s Baghambari Math when he was only 12-years-old. He was formally taken into Shri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani, the ancient monastic order to which Narendra Giri belonged, in 2007. He hails from Bhilwara in Rajasthan and has left his home at the age of 12. His father and brothers are still residing in Bhilwara village and his mother passed away five years back.
Anand Giri’s qualifications
Anand Giri claims to have formally studied Sanskrit, Ayurveda and Vedas and graduated from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi before completing his Ph.D in Yoga Tantra. He amassed a great following teaching yoga, and started teaching as a guest lecturer in universities in India and abroad.
Anand Giri and controversies surrounded him
He has been known for his flashy lifestyle and his escapades when his photographs surfaced on the social media that showed him in luxury cars on foreign locations, which brought him severe criticism.
The controversy escalated when, during one of his travels, he was seen travelling business class with a glass of liquor next to him, which he later dismissed as apple juice.
Anand Giri arrested by Australian Police
Anand Giri was arrested by the Sydney police in May 2019 and produced before the Australian court in connection with the cases lodged against him by two women in 2016 and 2018 for inappropriate behaviour. However, he was later acquitted by the court. Mahant Narendra Giri had supported his disciple at that time.
After their fallout in May 2021, and Anand’s expulsion from the temple, he started accusing his guru of selling math’s land, which caused an onslaught on Narendra Giri from his followers. Within a few days, he formally sought forgiveness from Narendra Giri and the Panch Parmeshwar of the Shri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani. He was forgiven and his ban was also lifted.