Anand Giri

Some Lesser Known Facts About Anand Giri

• Anand Giri is an Indian self-proclaimed spiritual leader and yoga expert, and he was the closest disciple of Mahant Narendra Giri, the national chief of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad. Swami Anand is dedicated to the service of Bade Hanuman Temple in Prayagraj.

  

• Apart from being a Mahant at the Bade Hanuman temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, he was also the Mahant of Math Baghambri Gaddi until he was expelled by Mahant Narendra Giri following a fallout between the two.

• Anand Giri hails from the Sareri village in the Asind tehsil of Bhilwara, Rajasthan. ^[19]ABP Live

• The yoga guru claims to be well-versed in Sanskrit Grammar, Ayurveda, and Vedic Philosophies, and he also regularly conducts Yoga workshops for army personnel and executives in private sector companies. ^[20]Swami Anand Yoga

• In 1997, the 12-year-old Swami Anand Giri, who was studying in the seventh standard, left his ancestral home for Haridwar and started training under Mahant Narendra Giri. Soon, Anand Giri set out on the path of self-realisation and joined the Sanyaas Dharma. According to Giri, his earlier years were spent at Kedar and in the Himalayas at Tungnath, Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar. ^[21]Swami Anand Yoga

• He was formally inducted into Narendra Giri’s Shri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani in 2007.

• Apparently, Anand’s family did not know that he had become the disciple of Narendra Giri, and they recognised Ashoka (Anand) when his discourse was telecasted in a program on Sanskar TV. Anand then visited his village in 2012 with Mahant Narendra Giri, where Mahant gave him Diksha in front of his family, and Ashoka took the name Anand Giri. ^[22]ABP Live

• The self-proclaimed swami is apparently a globe-trotter. He has travelled to the US, UK, South East Asia, Europe, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. ^[23]Swami Anand Yoga

  

• Anand is also known for his non-ascetic and lavish lifestyle as his social media handles are flooded with pictures of him travelling to foreign countries and enjoying rides in luxurious cars. ^[24]The Times of India

  

• According to Anand Giri, he has taught as a guest lecturer at around six universities, and he is also regularly invited to various educational institutions. Giri has travelled to various countries to meet his followers.

• In 2013, Anand Giri made his debut as an author with the book ‘Swarn Bhoomi Prayag,’ which was released at the Kumbh Mela. The book talks about the history and cultural significance of Prayagraj, and the city’s transformation to date.

• Swami, according to his official website, also leads the ‘Ganga Seva’ campaign under ‘Sri Maa Ganga Nirmal Sanrakshan Samiti’ that aims to make the river Ganga clean and pollution-free.

• Anand Giri was previously also known as ‘Chhote Maharaj’ at the Bade Hanuman temple in Prayagraj before the dispute over several issues with his guru and ABAP chief Mahant Narendra Giri made headlines.

• Following the mysterious death of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad’s president Mahant Narendra Giri on 20 September 2021, Anand was suspected the main accused in Mahant’s death, and he was arrested on charges of abetment of suicide after Mahant blamed him in his suicide note and in a 1-minute long video. Anand denied all allegations against him and claimed that it was all a part of a conspiracy to frame him in the death of Narendra Giri and that Mahant was “tortured over money” and murdered.

• On 22 September 2021, two days after Narendra Giri’s mysterious death, the audiotapes of an alleged conversation between Mahant Narendra Giri with Swami Om Bharti, Mahant of the Brahmachari Kuti, were leaked. The conversation disclosed that Narendra Giri was apparently tired of Anand’s “politics.” Swami also said in the tapes that in 2020 Anand allegedly used his political influence to take over a Brahmachari Kuti that spans over 12 bighas in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida by claiming to be the first Mahant. Om Bharti also claimed that he tried to file a police case against Anand Giri, but yogi’s political power stood in the way. ^[25]India Today