Spiritualism, a multi-crore rupees industry in India

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Spiritualism, a multi-crore rupees industry in India

Rachel Arora, Merinews

12 November 2007

 

The blessed land of gods and saints is seeing a new surge

of spiritualism. The gurus market is catching up. In this

fast paced life, people are turning to spirituality for

solace. Foreigners too are flocking to the land of Buddha

and Gandhi.

 

India is known as the holy land where Buddha attained Nirvana.

Here, Lord Krishna explained the mysteries of life and death

in the battlefield of Kurukshetra to Arjuna, the great

Bhagvata Gita, when the war of Mahabharata was fought. Holy

rivers, cradling spiritual cities on its shores, dissect the

landscape.

 

Many foreigners associate India with yoga, tantra,

meditation and spiritualism. If one talks of spiritual

channels alone, the market is huge in India. Everybody is

looking for redemption in this fast paced life in some form

or other. The highly esteemed spiritual gurus and ashrams

have become the need of the hour. Never before was

spiritualism such a sought after industry in India.

 

Maitri Ghosh, interior decorator says, " People are seeking

divine intervention in all spheres of life today.

Contemporary lifestyle and accelerated stress levels are

inviting people to participate in yoga and meditation camps

organized for over all health benefits. "

 

Karthik Srinivasan, project manager with a Bangalore based

MNC says, " More and more people are drifting towards

spiritualism and related studies. Life has become fast paced

for Indians since the past few years. The boon in economy

and radical changes in lifestyle has paved way for several

lifestyle diseases as well as psychological disorders. One

feels compelled to rejuvenate his spiritual side in order to

balance all the different aspects of personal as well as

professional life. "

 

The spiritual gurus market is around Rs 2000 crores,

according to a recent survey. It consists of CDs, VCDs,

audiocassettes and books. In India, the sale of spiritual audio

cassettes is next only to that of Bollywood cassettes and

CDs. Medicines, periodicals and therapies also form an

essential part of the spiritual industry in India.

 

Megna Kapur, counselor says, " Spiritualism is the latest

craze these days. Being spiritual is considered to be

sophisticated and elite. It has become a fashion statement

with people these days. Yoga, meditation and pranic healing

have become a style quotient. "

 

Hundreds of spas and resorts offering yoga and meditation

packages along with reiki, massage and other therapies have

opened all over the country. The spiritual industry is

synonymous with India and those who are part of it have a

bright future. Most spas located in the Himalayas focus on

ayurveda and alternate healing methods. Yoga and tantra are

part of the ancient life-disciplines that have been practiced

in India for ages. They have been mentioned in the

scriptures and Upanishads and are based on scientific facts.

They lay utmost stress on the science of the union with the

divine. Spiritual gurus are held in high esteem as they act as

the bridge between people and God.

 

Gayatri Mehra, media manager with a religious channel

says, " Religion has been commercialized in a big way.

People are always eager to watch religious serials or listen

to sermons on various channels. Senior citizens as well as

devotees lay a lot of emphasis on religion and the arena of

spiritualism. There are several gurus, swamis and saints who

have followers in India as well as all across the globe. "

 

It is not only the teachings and yoga that attracts people to

spiritualism. Most ashrams and temples these days have

their own shops where one can find all kinds of essential

oils, ayurvedic medicines, beauty products, books, cassettes,

CDs, accessories and candles.

 

Radhika Mittal, environmentalist says, " Since ages people

have believed in getting divine remedies for everything.

They seek assistance from astrologers and numerologists

before commencing anything auspicious. Pundits and

pujaris have always been part of all major rituals in India.

One cannot differentiate between a quack and genuine

practitioner these days. Spiritualism is being sold openly

and it definitely has a huge market on the global scale. "

 

Several institutes have opened that teach yoga, meditation as

well as alternate healing procedures. One doesn't have to be

a saint to practice spiritualism anymore. You can easily get

yourself enrolled in one of these institutes and become a

certified practitioner. Spiritualism, as an industry is all

powerful and conventional. What's controversial are the

ways of mankind, the sale of divine matters and minting

money in the name of religion.

 

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