Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Mahesh Yogi ashram to host its global heads during Kumbh-2019

- K Sandeep Kumar ksandeep.kumar@livehindus­tan.com

PRAYAGRAJ:The ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcende­ntal Meditation technique, at Arail will extend a royal welcome to its ‘maharajadh­iraj’ and 35 ‘rajas’ (ashram’s global heads) during Kumbh-2019.

The Maharishi’s organisati­on has ashrams and centres in 148 countries. Thirty-five global heads of this organisati­on are referred to as ‘rajas’ who look after the activities of the organisati­on in their respective regions and countries. In February 2008, these ‘rajas’ had gathered at the ashram in Arail in Prayagraj to attend the last rites of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and formally crowned Tony Nader of Lebanon as his successor. Since then, Nader heads this organisati­on and is called ‘maharajadh­iraj Raja Ram’.

During his lifetime, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had nominated Nader as his successor on October 7, 2000 and later named rest of the 35 ‘rajas’ and 12 ‘ministers’.

In his last days, Maharishi also decided to consolidat­e his organisati­on so that it could spread meditation around the world without him. Founded in 2000, he named it the ‘Global Country of World Peace’. During ceremonial gatherings, the ‘rajas’ and ‘maharajadh­iraj’ sport white robes and wear gold crowns and lockets with ‘Maharishi Vishwa Shanti Rashtra’ and ‘Vijyante Taram’ engraved on it.

In-charge of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram at Arail Basant Das said the 35 ‘rajas’ and the ‘maharajadh­iraj’ would visit ashram during Kumbh-2019 and camp here during the entire period of the mega fair.

“They are expected to reach Prayagraj by January 12, 2019 well before the formal start of Kumbh fair,” he said. He said Kumbh preparatio­ns of the organisati­on were well on schedule and the entire work was being undertaken under the supervisio­n of ashram’s trustee Girish Chandra Verma.An internatio­nal guest house is also being built for the followers and members of the organisati­on who are expected to participat­e in Kumbh. Having two blocks, the guest house will have 30 and 44 rooms respective­ly to accommodat­e over 100 people at a time.

 ?? HT ?? The internatio­nal guest house being constructe­d at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram at Arail.
HT The internatio­nal guest house being constructe­d at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram at Arail.

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