A Youth Speaks Out About Abuse in JKP.
Originally Published: 21 February 2023
Updated and Republished: 16 November 2024
(Note to readers from the owner of RishikaXcult, Karen Jonson/Rishika): This blog post is one of the 10 blog posts on this site that Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat tried to remove from the internet by devious means. Why don’t they want you to know this information
“Many of You, After Hearing My Story, Might Be Shocked”
“I’m almost 17, so I’m finally free to express my true feelings about Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat out loud. I experienced mental abuse and sexual harassment in that organization. Here’s my story.”
YOUTH WHO WANTS TO STAY ANONYMOUS
Those are the words of a young woman who reached out to me because she wanted to share your experiences in Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat with the world.
I often receive emails and messages from youths who had negative experiences in that organization. Many want to tell me their stories, because I have told mine in my blog and book, Sex, Lies, and Two Hindu Gurus. (And I will be telling more in my upcoming new book: Sex God — The Making of a Dark, Dark Guru.)
This young woman was one of them. She wanted to tell her story to help others avoid the damaging impacts of this cult. Here is her story in her own words.
“I Experienced Sexual Harassment and Mental Abuse in JKP”
Hello everyone!
My whole family (except my father) are devotees of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat. They are currently satsangees in Braj Gopika Seva Mission (BGSM) in Orissa.
Many of you, after hearing my story, might be shocked. Some will even think that what I’m doing by exposing Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat is a bad thing. Whatever! I always believe “God is truth. Truth is God!”
Two years before my birth in 2006, my family members became Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat satsangees. So, you can say, I was born into this “satsanga tradition.” As I grew up, I liked the way the Kripalu’s preachers spoke about our soul’s connection to God. But for some reason I didn’t like their kirtans (so-called bhajans, in other words, chants). Whatever.
Slowly, slowly, I stared reciting the arti (light ceremony) and bhajans along with the other devotees. While I didn’t like most of the chants, I really loved the “Hari Rama” chant. At seven years old, in 2013, I decided to take a chance and go to the ashram with my parents to meet Kripalu in person. As far as I can remember, Kripalu at that time was literally talking like he was a deaf person.
Many Uncomfortable Experiences with Kripalu’s People
I had brought some packets of chocolate to offer to him. But his assistant said that he is not going to eat chocolate, because he has diabetics. However, he did touch the chocolate packets that I offered him. But when I touched his feet, his assistant scolded me very harshly. The whole experience made me feel like a bad person — and I was just a kid!
In February 2019, they held a Kirti Mandir Celebration in Barsana, India. The event included winter clothes (shawls) distribution. The so-called Bhardi didi (eldest daughter of Kripalu) was distributing them.
When it was my turn, as I reached out to take clothes, Bhardi didi touched my hand in a mean way. It felt uncomfortable. She was acting like I’m a bad person, as if I had done something wrong. From that point onward, I began to hate her.
Unsettling Behavior from a Male JKP Preacher
In 2022, at BGSM, I experienced some uncomfortable changes in the behavior of Swami Yugal Sharanji (a Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat preacher) during his tour in our city. It confused me.
I asked him a question. “How can I do my studies as a seva for Kripalu’s organization?”
At first, he pretended like he didn’t hear me. But later he answered me angrily, “Just do your studies.”
I had never seen this side of this preacher in my life. I thought it was my fault for asking him a dumb question.
During my first trip to Manghar (Kripalu’s hometown), I met one of his Babajis. He sweetly gave me his lap and served me a gulab jamun (sweet treat). But, still, for some reason, I didn’t like him.
When I was sitting on his lap, the way he touched me made me very uncomfortable. But, in 2023, I still met with him at his request. He asked me how many Iskcon temples there were in my city and where they are located.
I had discovered that there was just one temple in our area. I was going to tell him about it. But then he avoided me and said, “Call me later.” I was again pissed off by this man’s behavior for a second time.
These people are called preachers. Before preaching to the public, they should first learn how to behave properly with devotees.
If you are a devotee of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, you must know about Kripalu’s charan seva (ceremony of washing guru’s feet). My mom gave 1000 rupees ($12 US) to receive Kripalu’s dirty foot water after the ceremony. My father is anti-Kripalu. So he threw it away and my mother was not able to drink it.
On that visit, I ate some of the didis (three daughters of Kripalu) prasad (leftover food) while attending their sadhana shivin (spiritual practice). The only thing I can remember about that is it made me go pee several times.
“My Health Deteriorated While Following JKP’s Rules“
Leaders in Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat tell us that we must eat vegetarian food. I had recently started to become a vegetarian with my mom. My mom had been diagnosed with anemia (at that time she was non-vegetarian).
But to follow their rules, she consumed only kheer, curry, and some fruits. Her blood count suddenly dropped below 5.8 g/dl, which meant she had anemia again. Her health condition was getting worse on a vegetarian diet, not improving.
I also started to notice that my body was growing weaker on a vegetarian diet. I was unable to concentrate on my studies. I started to have irregular periods.
We are human beings. For generation after generation we have been eating all type of foods. What’s more, If you have even just a 2% understanding of science, you know that plants are living creatures.
So, from yesterday, I returned to a non-vegetarian diet. I’m already feeling better. My mom also became non-vegetarian with me because her doctor prescribed her to consume fish and meat on a regular basis.
Maybe that’s why everyone in their ashrams is sickly. Holy moly!! It seems to me like every ashram dweller has some complex disease. I’m not surprised because they all are required to work from 3 a.m. to midnight every day.
They are not all happy either. I have even heard that they always speak badly about each other. And there is always competition among them, particularly about who will get the greatest seva.
I know a little Odia language, even though I’m Bengali. They actually started talking in Odia because they thought I didn’t understand Odisha’s (formerly Orissa) mother tongue.
“Be Ready, Because Your Pocket Will Be Emptied Slowly, Slowly by this Trap”
When you enter into Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat’s ashrams, you feel as if you’re visiting an amusement park. You must pay for everything, doing the so-called seva (good works). I mean, you have pay for your bedroom, prasad (food or gifts), guru charan seva (foot washing ceremony), darshan (viewing) of babajis, matajis, and didis.
I would say, be ready, because your pocket will be emptied slowly, slowly by this trap. In my opinion, if the universe has given us water, soil, and food (trees, fish, etc.) to all of us for free, why do we have to pay to view this godman? In the Bhagavad Gita, it says, “Nature is God.”
I think it’s better to give money directly to the poor people who don’t have clothes, food, or a place to live. You may say that nowadays everything is judged by money. But at least it’s universal for everyone. In ancient times, when people first started to learn how to create fires, even they had to pay to the universe. They just used rocks which was completely free of charge and given by mother nature. Then why should I give my money to this organization for the basic necessities of life?
I believe that man is a creation of God. God lives in our mind already. We don’t have to pay to see him. We just have to love each other and help needy people. That will be enough.
“Why Does this Organization Constantly Pick Our Pockets?“
Another thing that bothers me is that they have built three temples, for which people have already given donations. If their temples are already built with donations, then why are there charity boxes in the temples? They should not keep these boxes.
Now about the jagadguru upadhi (guru of the universe) controversy, I can assure you that this Kriplau upadhi is all fake.
It’s true that he studied Sanskrit in school. But as far as I know from Veda scriptures and the Bhagavad Gita there will be return of God as Kali Avatar in this kali yuga (dark age). So how is it possible that Radha Krishna combined their energies to be born into Kripalu now?
This man has numerous allegations of rape. If I remember correctly, in 2012 one news website published an article of this fake guru controversy. This news media also proved everything with photographic evidence. This news website doesn’t spread fake news. So you can trust it.
Through my personal experiences that I shared in this letter, I hope I proved to you that Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat is not a safe organization for youths.
I want to thank Karen (owner of this website) who gave me a chance to share my experiences.
Lastly, people who read this blog post may wonder who I am. But I cannot disclose my real name for personal safety reasons as I am just a teenage girl — and I don’t trust the people in Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat.
Learn More About this Cult Before You Ruin Your Life
Learn more about the truth of my two ex-gurus, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu and Swami Prakashanand Saraswati — fake gurus engaging in crime for over 60 years. I tell the whole story in my book, Sex, Lies, and Two Hindu Gurus. It’s available on Amazon around the world.
Purchase in India: Sex, Lies, and Two Hindu Gurus
Purchase everywhere else: Sex, Lies, and Two Hindu Gurus
Tell Your Story — Regain Your Voice
Do you want to tell your story and help people steer clear of this abusive organization? Please reach out to me. I will help you regain your voice, and I will keep your name in complete confidence.
Copyright © 2023-2025 Karen Jonson/RishikaXcult. All rights reserved. No part of this blog post may be copied or duplicated without the express permission of the author.
