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{{short description|Spiritual leader (b. 1954)}}

{{Multiple issues|
{{POV|date=December 2019}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2019}}
{{Advert|date=December 2019}}
{{Improve categories|date=December 2019}}
{{Orphan|date=December 2020}}
}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name = Kumar Swami
|image = Brahmrishi Shree Kumar Swami Ji.jpg
|caption =
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1954|1|21}}
| birth_place = [[Karanpur]], [[Rajasthan]], India
|nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| spouse =
| children =
|founder = Bhagwan Shree Lakshmi Narayan Dham
|philosophy = {{hlist|[[Bhakti]]|[[Yoga]]}}
|honors =
|website = {{URL|http://www.cosmicgrace.org/}}
}}

'''''Kumar Swami''''' (born 21 January 1954) known to his followers as '''Gurudev''', is a religious leader from India. He claims to be a scholar of classical [[Ayurveda]],<ref name=":11">{{cite web|title=LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION welcoming and commending His Holiness Brahmrishi Shri Kumar Swami Ji upon the occasion of delivering the invocation at the opening of the session of the New York State Senate on April 27, 2011|url=https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2011/J1165|website=legislation.nysenate.gov|publisher=legislation.nysenate.gov|accessdate=24 October 2019}}</ref> an Indian system of alternative medicine and is also the founder of the spiritual organization Bhagwan Shree Lakshmi Narayan Dham. He travels to hold interfaith conventions both in India and abroad.

==Early life==
Kumar Swami was born on 21 January 1954 into a peasant family in [[Karanpur]], [[Rajasthan]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Sydney April 2019 |url=http://www.indusage.com.au/wp-content/plugins/page-flip-image-gallery/popup.php?book_id=142 |publisher=Indus Age}}</ref> He did not earn the moniker [[Swami]] until later in life.

After his marriage, he claims to have sought a variety of learned Gurus, including [[Jiddu Krishnamurti]], [[Osho]], and [[Baba Hardev Singh]], among others.<ref name=":3" />

==Philanthropy and other activities==
Bhagwan Shree Lakshmi Narayan Dham is a non-profit organization founded by Kumar Swami in 2002.<ref name=":4">
{{cite web|title=Bslnd Worldwide Website|url=https://www.bslndusa.org/about.php|website=www.bslndusa.org|accessdate=24 October 2019}}</ref> The organization is reported to have more than 310 million followers worldwide.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/jack-m-martins/senator-martins-presents-proclamation-honor-spiritual-leader-india|title=Senator Martins Presents Proclamation in Honor of Spiritual Leader of India|date=2 May 2011|website=NY State Senate|language=en}}</ref> It organizes interfaith conventions called 'Prabhu Kripa Dukh Nivaran Samagam' where his disciples are distributed 'Beej Mantras'.<ref name=":8">{{cite news |title=बीज मंत्र देकर श्रद्धालुओं को कष्ट निवारण का दिखाया रास्ता |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/PUN-BHAT-MAT-latest-bathinda-news-022503-983739-NOR.html |accessdate=24 October 2019 |publisher=Dainik Bhaskar |date=9 December 2014 |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite news |title=Thousands of people attend event with Indian spiritual leader |url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/9377655.thousands-of-people-attend-event-with-indian-spiritual-leader-brahmrishi-shree-kumar-swamiji-in-harrow/ |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=Harrow Times |language=en}}</ref> a [[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]], a free communal meal with religious underpinnings, is also available during the course of the two-day convention.<ref name=":10">{{cite news |title=डीरेका में प्रभु कृपा दुख निवारण समागम आज से |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/varanasi/Varanasi-81637-140 |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=Amar Ujala}}</ref>

The disciples also participate in blood donation camps.<ref name=":12">{{cite news |title=Street play staged {{!}} Tribune India |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/article/street-play-staged/434411/amp |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=www.tribuneindia.com |date=10 July 2017}}</ref>

===Clean Yamuna Drive===
The devotees of Bhagwan Shree Lakshmi Narayan Dham carried out a peace march in July, 2012 in [[New Delhi]] and handed a memorandum to the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]].<ref name=":13">{{cite news |title=Bhagwan Shree Lakshami Narayan Dham ,Yamuna Purification Agitation,Purification Campaign |url=https://www.businesswireindia.com/bhagwan-shree-lakshami-narayan-dham-launches-yamuna-purification-agitation-31840.html |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=www.businesswireindia.com |publisher=businesswireindia}}</ref>

The organization's drive was also supported by [[Malik Obama]], former US President [[Barack Obama]]'s half brother.<ref name=":14" /> He traveled to India to meet Kumar Swami at one of his conventions in [[Mathura]].<ref name=":14">{{cite news |title=Obama's half-brother Malik visits India,to help clean Yamuna |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/obamas-halfbrother-malik-visits-india-to-help-clean-yamuna/ |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=28 February 2013 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Philosophy==
He claims to have discovered the 'hidden knowledge' in the Hindu scriptures .He claims says that he benifitted from that 'knowledge' , he is now giving it to his disciples the form of 'Beej Mantras' which he claims to be crux of all religions.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{cite news|url=https://www.amarujala.com/himachal-pradesh/una/151536507499-una-news|title=बीज मंत्रों में ब्रह्मांडीय शक्ति : कुमार स्वामी|work=Amar Ujala}}</ref> He claims that he has taken the 'mantras' from sacred books of all religions, including [[Vedas]], [[Devi Mahatmya]], [[Bible]], [[Quran]], [[Guru Granth Sahib]] and others. He holds conventions for followers where he provides them his Beej Mantras claiming they have the ability to cure all illnesses and solve all life peoblems of his devotees.<ref name=":7">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/disciples-in-huge-number-attend-samagam/|title=Disciples in huge number attend Samagam|last1=Excelsior|first1=Daily|date=19 October 2013|work=Jammu Kashmir Latest News {{!}} Tourism {{!}} Breaking News J&K}}</ref>

==Ayurveda medicine==
===Dandruff fungal infection treatment===
In October 2017, he was awarded the Guinness World Record for most people washing hair simultaneously as a part of dandruff treatment at one of his conventions in [[Mumbai]].<ref name=":19">{{cite web |title=Most people washing hair simultaneously |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/464579-most-people-washing-hair-simultaneously?fb_comment_id=1855121777850670_1884319894930858 |website=Guinness World Records |accessdate=24 October 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==
He is perceived as a God like figure by his disciples belonging to India and abroad.He has also received criticism from his former clients and disciples who claimed to have received no benifit from his mantras.

He was invited to deliver the invocation at the opening of the [[New York State Senate]] session on 27 April 2011. The then New York State Senator [[Jack Martins]] passed a resolution proclaiming 29 April 2011 as "Brahmrishi Shri Kumar Swami Day" in State of New York.<ref name=":2" /> Kumar Swami also delivered an invocation at beginning of Senate session on 2 May 2011.<ref name=":27">{{cite web |title=New York State Assembly {{!}} Michael Montesano |url=https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Montesano/story/42523 |website=nyassembly.gov |accessdate=24 October 2019}}</ref> The Senate passed a legislative resolution to honor him, citing him as 'an inspiration behind medical research being done to bridge the gap between the Eastern and Western medicine'.<ref name=":11" /> He is reported as the first spiritual leader from India to receive such an honor in the US.<ref name=":28">{{cite news |title=INDIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL SPIRITUAL LEADER HONOURED AT HOUSE OF COMMONS |url=http://asianworldnews.co.uk/localnews/indias-most-influential-spiritual-leader-honoured-at-house-of-commons-2/ |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=Asian World News}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|last1=Marsh|first1=Robin|title=Shree Kumar Swamiji Appointed Ambassador for Peace - Universal Peace Federation|url=http://www.upf.org/peace-ambassadors-reports/4080-shree-kumar-swamiji-appointed-ambassador-for-peace|website=www.upf.org|accessdate=22 October 2019}}</ref>

On his visit to the United Kingdom during UK's Interfaith week in 2011, he was invited to the [[House of Commons]] on 15 November at a private reception hosted by [[Stephen Timms]].<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":29">{{cite news |last1=Today |first1=The Asian |title=Indian Spiritual Leader honoured at Houses of Commons - News |url=https://www.theasiantoday.com/index.php/2011/11/16/indian-spiritual-leader-honoured-at-houses-of-commons/ |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=The Asian Today Online |date=16 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=":30">{{cite news |title=South Asia Tribune weekly UK {{!}} Bashar Al Assad {{!}} Inter Services Intelligence |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/73010376/South-Asia-Tribune-weekly-UK |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=Scribd |language=en}}</ref> He was presented with the 'Ambassador of Peace' award by the [[Universal Peace Federation]] organization for his human welfare activities.<ref name=":29" /> On this occasion, he was also presented the 'Humanitarian Award' by the Asian Welfare Association as well as the 'Mahaveer Award' by the Young Indian Vegetarians Society in recognition of his vegetarian lifestyle.<ref name=":31">{{cite news |title=News |url=https://www.youngindianvegetarians.co.uk/news.html |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=www.youngindianvegetarians.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> 15 November is celebrated every year as "Brahmrishi Shree Kumar Swami day" in UK by his followers.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":29" />

On 29 September 2013, he was presented with a resolution on behalf of [[New Jersey Senate]] by Senator [[Michael J. Doherty]] honoring him as an 'Ambassador of Peace'.<ref name=":32">{{cite news |title=Sen. Doherty Joins State's Indian-American Community in Welcoming His Holiness Brahmrishi Shri Kumar Swami Ji to NJ |url=https://www.senatenj.com/index.php/doherty/sen-doherty-joins-states-indian-american-community-in-welcoming-his-holiness-brahmrishi-shri-kumar-swami-ji-to-nj/15635 |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=SenateNJ.com |date=3 October 2013}}</ref> On 18 May 2015, he was invited in the [[New Jersey Senate]] and a resolution was passed by the Senate President [[Stephen M. Sweeney]] in his honor. Kumar Swami also addressed the Senate post his reception.<ref name=":34">{{cite web |title=News 24 special coverage on His Holiness Brahmrishi Kumar Swamiji |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll31gNrBxqY |accessdate=24 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Kumar Swami gave an interview to India TV where he denied curing people through his 'mantras'<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Godman Kumar Swami denies curing patients with the help of 'beej' mantras - Part 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYVgjbJHh-4|language=en|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref>

=== Criticism ===
In 2013, [[first information report]] under section 419 and [[section 420 of the Indian Penal Code]] (Fraud) and section 7 of [[Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954]] at Gomtinagar police station was lodged by Thanya Thakur, a law student against Kumar Swami for his allegedly making claims of having healing powers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/fir-against-godman-for-claiming-healing-powers-113061400526_1.html|title=FIR against godman for claiming healing powers|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2013-06-14|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/FIR-against-godman-for-claiming-healing-powers/articleshow/20588844.cms|title=FIR against godman for claiming healing powers|date=14 June 2013|agency=PTI|newspaper=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>

In an interview given to India TV, callers have alleged that they bought his medicines for their ailments and paid his fees but did not receive any benifit.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar Swami, Bramhrishi}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu religious leaders]]

Kumar Swami - Revision history

imported>BattyBot: Expanded Template:Notability and general fixes

>Heathenbow9441: Minor edits with grammar and minor info added