Godman

Colloquial name for a particular type of
charismatic Hindu ascetic. As religious
figures, godmen are generally characterized by a high-profile presence, by their
ability to attract attention and support
from the larger Indian society, and by
their claims to advanced spiritual
attainments. They sometimes claim to
possess magic powers—such as the
ability to heal, read minds, foretell the
future, or to influence future events—
which are exhibited to prove the godman’s spiritual attainments. Godmen
often come from outside the established
ascetic orders and may have never even
taken formal ascetic initiation. They are
able to flourish in the Indian religious
“free market,” which recognizes and
rewards religious charisma. Godmen
typically dwell in their own ashrams
rather than one belonging to an order.
Although most of them acknowledge a
guru or religious preceptor, their success stems more from their personal
qualities than the strength of their spiritual lineage. In recent years a number of
these godmen have cultivated large
numbers of foreign disciples, which can
bring both wealth and enhanced prestige. One contemporary example of
such a godman is Sathya Sai Baba,
whose ashram is in Puttaparthi in the
southern state of Andhra Pradesh. For
an example of one person’s encounters
with a variety of these figures, see Peter
Ludwig Brent, Godmen of India, 1972.