Madras High Court Questions Sadhguru’s Encouragement of Women Choosing Hermit Life

The Madras High Court has raised concerns over spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s encouragement of young women to shave their heads and adopt a monastic lifestyle. The court questioned why Sadhguru, who arranged his own daughter’s marriage, promotes renunciation for others’ daughters.

Father Alleges Daughters “Brainwashed” by Isha Foundation

This came after retired professor S. Kamaraj, who previously taught at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, claimed that his two educated daughters had been “brainwashed” into staying at the Isha Yoga Centre. He filed a petition asking for his daughters, aged 42 and 39, to appear in court.

Daughters Testify Their Stay is Voluntary

Both women appeared in court and confirmed they were staying at the Isha Foundation by choice, not under duress. They had given similar statements in earlier hearings over the decade-old case, following their parents’ claims that their daughters’ decision to live at the center had caused their lives to become miserable.

Court to Investigate Further

Despite their testimonies, the court decided to investigate deeper and instructed the police to collect information on all cases linked to the Isha Foundation. Justice V. Sivagnanam questioned, “Why is a man who got his own daughter married and settled encouraging others’ daughters to live as hermits?”

Isha Foundation’s Defense

The Isha Foundation responded, emphasizing that the women’s decision to stay was voluntary. “We believe that adults have the right to choose their own paths. We do not enforce marriage or monkhood; these are personal decisions,” the foundation said. They added that the center accommodates both those pursuing normal lifestyles and those embracing Brahmacharya (monkhood).

The foundation also clarified that only one police case was active, with another case having been stayed by the court.