The Madras High Court has questioned Jaggi Vasudev, alias Sadhguru, of Isha Foundation that when the spiritual leader got his daughter married then why is he encouraging young women to tonsure their heads and renounce worldly lives to live like hermits.
A bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam asked the question after a retired professor S Kamaraj, who earlier taught at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore, alleged that his daughters have been “brainwashed” into permanently living at the Isha Yoga Centre, founded by Sadhguru.
The retired professor had filed a petition seeking his daughter's appearance in court, prompting the justices to delve into the implications of parental rights, personal freedom, and the influence of spiritual organizations.
The two women aged 42 and 39, who presented before the court on Monday, expressed their willingness to stay at Isha Foundation voluntarily, refuting claims made by their parents that their lives had become “hell” since they “abandoned” them.
Despite the women’s consistent testimonies over the past decade, the judges decided to investigate further, instructing authorities to compile a comprehensive list of cases associated with the Isha Foundation.
"We want to know why Jaggi Vasudev who had given his daughter in marriage and made her settle well in life is encouraging the daughters of others to tonsure their heads and live the life of a hermitess," the Madras High Court said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
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In response, the Isha Foundation stated that the women chose to stay with them by their choice. It also asserted that it had only one pending police case while another was stayed by the court.
"We believe that adult individuals have the freedom and wisdom to choose their paths. We do not impose marriage or monkhood, as these are personal choices. The Isha Yoga Centre accommodates thousands who are not monks, alongside a few who have embraced Brahmacharya or monkhood," the Isha Foundation said.