Premanand Ji Maharaj, the spiritual guru of Vrindavan, remains to attract people from all over the country, including a number of popular celebrities. His popularity has resulted in an unprecedented demand for personal meetings, with a waiting list of almost a year. Why? Maharaj speaks to merely 50 to 60 devotees daily, making each visit a rare and highly coveted affair.
Celebrities Seeking Spiritual Guidance
Year after year, cricketer Virat Kohli and actress Anushka Sharma have been spotted visiting Vrindavan to receive the blessings of Maharaj. Their spiritual bent and devotion to naam sankirtan are usually attributed to his tutelage. Recently, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra too made the journey to meet him.
In a revealing interview, Raj Kundra called his audience with the guru “the best day of my life.” He remembered that whereas most people go there with individual questions, he was speechless standing before Maharaj. “When I stood before him, I could not say anything,” Kundra confessed.
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The Guru’s Inspiring Resilience
One of the guru’s attractions is his incredible fortitude. For 20 years, Premanand Ji Maharaj has existed on both kidneys in failure, on dialysis for five hours a day. And yet, he is always smiling and committed to sharing happiness and wisdom. “What a message!” Raj commented, going on to say that the realization touched him so deeply he automatically donated one of his kidneys to the guru.
While he was trolled online for his gesture, Raj stood by his action: “It’s my kidney, I can give it to whomever I want. People may call it PR, but for me it was pure bhakti.”
Increasing Influence Beyond Bollywood
The impact of Premanand Ji Maharaj extends beyond film celebrities. Badshah, a rapper, also recently came to Vrindavan with his brother, looking for advice on matters of personal relations. He said he listened quietly as Maharaj imparted lessons on life, peace, and the real essence of happiness.
Given such intense experiences being shared, it’s not surprising that it takes perseverance and patience to meet him. The waitlist of a year speaks to both the devotion of his followers and the amount of time Maharaj spends with each person. For others, that lack of frequency only serves to enhance the depth of the experience.
