Sudhir hosts hindu spiritual leader
Businessman Sudhir Ruparelia bows in respect for Pujya Gurudev.
Pope Francis is expected in the country this November, but another religious leader was in the country last week, though without the fanfare that the pontiff’s visit will be characterised by. There were no government committees and huge budgets for this religious leader, but why draw a budget when the host is Sudhir Ruparelia, the richest man in the country, valued at $1.1b by Forbes?
The religious leader in question was Pujya Gurudev Sri Guruvanand Swamiji, a spiritual master of the Sanatan Hindu religious sect that has been in existence for over 5,000 years. He was hosted at the tycoon’s palatial Kololo mansion that had devotees and Sudhir’s business associates flocking in for his blessings and he also prayed at the Hindu temple in Nakasero.
According to Prabha Bhandari, a devotee who was part of Gurudev’s entourage, the 76-year-old spiritual leader sometimes spends up to four months, in meditation, without eating or drinking! “He has spent a total of 48 years of his life in meditation,” she said.
Gurudev is also a scholar, with a Master of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and a Phd in astrology. “He also has immense knowledge of other religions and can recite the Bible and Koran,” she added.
His devotees had to wait for much of Friday afternoon for his spiritual message and he only emerged at 8.30pm after a mediation session. His sermon was more on human virtues. “It doesn’t matter what you leave for your children. What matters is what you leave in your children. Please leave values in your children,” he told the gathering that had a couple of wealthy fellows. “Your life will either serve as a warning as an example. Leave an example for the next generation,” he preached.
Gurudev also gave nuggets of wisdom for happy living, pointing out faith, love, peace, forgiveness and truth. “Arguing is a bad thing. Discuss and find out what is right and what is wrong, not who is right and who is wrong,” he said.
And while praying for and blessing people, he would fold his empty palms and open them with talismans like necklaces and diamond stones in ways akin magic tricks.
Naturally, Sudhir is a man who knows how to throw a party, so as guests waited for the guru and after the prayers, there was a lot to drink and eat. Only that this time there were only soft drinks and the menu was strictly vegetarian.
