Ashutosh Noormahal
Ashutosh Noormahal is a Contoversial, Fake spiritual Leader, a Crook, an anti Sikh personality who runs an organization called Divya Jyoti Jagaran Sansthan at Noor Mahal so also called also called Noormahaliya.
Noormahal was the second cult to have physical clash with the Sikhs After Narakdharis. The cult was started by a Bihari “bhaeeya” named Ashutosh soon after the decline of the Sikh movement. Ashutosh was a servant at “Delhi Manav Dharam” from which he was kicked out due to his immoral activities. He left Delhi and came to Patiala where he became the puppet of the government and decided to mislead people of Punjab. He established his center in Noormahal and called it “Diveya Jyoti” or light of God. His misleading propaganda involves some new and different scamming techniques than many of the other cults.
To mislead the people, Ashutosh has his pictures taken wearing different dresses. He is wearing turban in one picture and has hair open in the other. He wears orange dress to pose off as a Hindu saint and green clothes to look like a Muslim ‘pir’. Gurbani line “ਕਿਆ ਨਾਗੇ ਕਿਆ ਬਾਧੇ ਚਾਮ” is displayed on the pictures to justify his different appearances.
Followers of the controversial at Noormahal run by Ashutosh Maharaj have had several serious run-ins with Sikh groups who object to the 'samagams' held by the dera all over Punjab, where besides projecting himself as a reincarnation of the Sikh gurus, Ashutosh is allegedly also critical of mainstream Sikhism.
Ashutosh is critical of mainstream Sikhism. In the rising din against deras, the Sikh clergy, represented by the five Sikh head priests as well as the SGPC, is being squarely blamed for "letting down the faithful". "Our religious leadership has submitted to politicians, and devotes more time to politicking than propagating the religion. Their grip over the people has loosened, and deras and babas have just stepped in to fill the gap," says Prof Darshan Singh, professor emeritus, Guru Nanak Studies, Punjab University.
In 2005, around 100 Sikh organisations gathered at the Akal Takht to find ways to check the rising dera cult in Punjab. But due to lack of unanimity over the deras against which action was being contemplated, the campaign fizzled out.
Recruitment
This cult has hired many clever agents to bring in new followers. These agents always seek new targets especially Amritdharis. They engage them in ordinary conversation and slowly make transition to religious discussion. Their common question is “Have you seen Diveya Jyoti”? Those who say no are urged to attend the program of Ashutosh which they call “Satsang” and claim that there anyone can see God in physical form and experience higher level of spirituality. Use of the word ‘Satsang’ misleads people into thinking that it is another form of Sikh congregation where Gurbani is sung and explained.
Any agent initially would hold a program at his house to attract new followers. All expenses are paid by the head office. During the program, everyone sits on the floor and stage is setup for the preacher. Picture of Ashutosh is placed at a higher level giving him the status of ‘guru’. People stand in line, bow to the picture and donate money. This is an exact copy of Sikh Gurdwara. Many uneducated and unemployed people are hired as preachers and then trained by the cult. They are required to memorize certain lines from every religious scripture and taught to recite these at every program. Since the program is attended by people from different religions, the preacher speaks in a respectful manner and extensively quotes from their respective scriptures. However, main emphasis is put on the misconception that without obtaining mantra (naam) from Ashutosh, no one can see ‘diveya jyoti’. No preacher has the right to give out mantra. Only Ashutosh has this right. Once an agent gets handful of people to attend the programs on regular basis, he is appointed as ‘head’ of his local area. New attendees are required to attend at least 5-10 programs and then sent to headquarter to receive mantra.
Brainwashing - Obtaining Mantra
Process of obtaining naam is a complete rip off. New followers are required to arrive at headquarter in the early morning. When new followers get there, they are given a form to fill in their personal information such as their name, address etc. This is done to select candidates for different jobs to serve the cult. An educated person who can fill out the form on his own is trained to become a preacher and an uneducated one is trained to become an agent to bring in new followers. After people are done filling out the form, they are required to pay the admission fee. Each person is charged minimum of 50 rupee. They are also required to bring ‘parsad’ (fruit) to offer to Ashutosh. Since the dera is at a distance from the city, people are told to buy it from the dera. So a large sum of money is collected by agents and in return they provide ‘parsad’ to the new devotees.
Everyone is kept there all day with no food and water. They are told that food and water will be provided after everyone has obtained mantra and seen the ‘diveya jyoti’. After the sunset, around 8pm new recruits are taken to a room. Men stand on one side and women on the other. After taking back the ‘parsad’ sold to devotees they are asked to offer money before getting mantra. Then one preacher comes in a room and starts giving lecture on ‘naam’ and what they will experience when they receive it. People are persuaded to believe that if they are pure souls and good hearted they will have revelation of ‘diveya jyoti’. It is also told that those who do not experience anything are sinful people and will burn in hell till eternity. After the lecture the preacher leaves in an expensive car and rest of the work is given to the agents dressed in light orange clothes with open hair.
First the devotees are asked to sit down and keep their eyes closed. They sit crossed legged crossing their hands and raising their arms perpendicular to the body. They are given one word “Sohan(g)” and taught how to recite it. After a while, eyes of a devotee are pressed hard by an agent and after few seconds he is told to open them. When the light suddenly enters their eyes, it seems very bright. The devotee testifies that he has seen a bright light which he is told is the ‘diveya jyoti’ or light of God. Then an agent presses his hands on devotee’s ears and keeps them closed for few seconds. Then he is asked if he has heard any sound. It is very common to hear a buzzing sound after pressing your ears closed. This sound is what they call “Anhad Shabad” and quote Gurbani to justify it. Those who say they did not see or hear anything the same procedure is repeated until they say yes. Many say yes just to get over with the process so that they can get something to eat and drink. Some say yes to keep themselves from being branded as “sinful” people.
