Dhirendra Krishna Shastri is an Indian spiritual speaker (storyteller) and self-proclaimed religious leader. As of 2023, he is the chief priest and Peetadhishwar at the religious shrine Bageshwar Dham, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, better known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar or Bageshwar Dham Maharaj or Bageshwar Baba, was born in Gadha village in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. According to some sources, he was born on Thursday, 4 July 1996, while according to the official YouTube channel of Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, he was born on Wednesday, 10 July 1996 (age 26 years; as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Cancer. He did his schooling in a government school in his village. Due to lack of money he could not pursue his higher education.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
His father Ram Kripal Garg is a storyteller. His mother Saroj Shastri used to sell cow-buffalo milk. He has younger brothers named Shaligram Garg Ji Maharaj (narrator) and Saurabh Garg. He has a younger sister.
A picture of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s father
Mother of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri
Wife
As of January 2023, he is unmarried.
other relatives
His grandfather Pandit Setu Lal Guruji alias Sri Sri 1008 Dada Guru Ji Maharaj alias Bhagwan Das Garg was a storyteller.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s grandfather
relationships/affairs
In 2022, he was rumored to be in a relationship with Indian storyteller Jaya Kishori. However, he denied the rumors and said that Jaya was like a sister to him and some YouTubers spread these rumours. He further told that he will do arranged marriage.
Jaya Kishori
Religion
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri follows Hindu religion.
Caste
He belongs to a Saryupariya Brahmin family.
Formation of Bageshwar Dham government
Dhirendra was born in a poor family of storytellers. There was a small temple of Lord Shiva in his village. His grandfather once decided to build a temple of Lord Hanuman in Gadha village of Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh and built a Hanuman temple near the Shiva temple. Gradually, the temple gained popularity as Balaji Temple or Bageshwar Dham and attracted the attention of the village people.
Bageshwar Dham Temple
At the age of 9, Dhirendra started attending various spiritual programs with his grandfather. Since the financial condition of his family was not good, his grandfather suggested him to start preaching Katha and with Dakshina he could support his family. In an interview he had said that in his adolescence he had dreamed of doing spiritual practice in the unknown abode.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri in adolescence
He then talked to his family about his dream and under the guidance of his grandfather he began his sadhana. Later, he continued to learn sadhanas under his lineage guru Sadhguru Sanyasi Baba. In 2009, he narrated Shrimad Bhagwat Katha for the first time in a village near his home. After this Dhirendra started propagating the Katha in Bageshwar Dham and gradually gained popularity among the people. According to sources, Dhirendra had once organized a press conference in the local media to promote the Bageshwar Dham temple. He then collaborated with a spiritual TV channel to telecast his stories on their channel. Soon, people from other states started attending his spiritual programs at Bageshwar Dham. In an interview, his devotees shared that they had deep faith in him because before listening to their problems, Dhirendra had written down their problems on a piece of paper. For this they even address him as Antaryami and claim that Dhirendra Krishna Shastri removed negative energies from people without even touching them.
His stories and discourses are telecast on various Hindi spiritual channels.
controversies
acquired assets illegally
After Bageshwar Dham became popular among the people, the prices of land there increased drastically and the rent of shops also reached more than Rs 1 lakh per month. Reportedly, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri and his associates took this as an opportunity to acquire more land under Bageshwar Dham. It is said that Dhirendra has illegally taken possession of a cremation ground, pond and mountain in the village and has also prepared legal documents for it through his influence among higher officials. A community hall which was earlier built with Panchayat funds was also acquired by Dhirendra. Reportedly, he has also threatened some villagers to acquire their land. His associates also used JCBs on the houses of some villagers who had refused to give them their land. It is also said that he was free to do so because of his connections with many Indian politicians from Madhya Pradesh.
Accused of promoting untouchability
In 2022, one of his YouTube videos went viral on social media in which a person named Jeevan was seen trying to touch Dhirendra’s feet. However, Dhirendra refused him and said,
Just don’t touch us, we are untouchable people.”
Then one of his friends took the man away from Shastri. As soon as the video went viral on social media, netizens started criticizing him for promoting untouchability and #ArrestDhirendraShastri started trending on Twitter. On 27 May 2022, Bageshwar Dham government (official) shared on Twitter that the video was doctored. It is written in the tweet,
Misleading propaganda was done by posting edited videos.”
promoted religious discrimination
In a spiritual program in 2022, he instigated his devotees to boycott the Hindi film ‘Pathan’. Linking it to religion he said,
I swear to you, to the people of entire India. You have an oath. Whoever opposes Sanatan, be it a leader or an actor. See, when you people boycotted an actor’s film, everyone started tying Kalava and applying Tilak. Today, raise both your hands and take an oath that you will not watch films of such people.”
In his second spiritual programme, he was seen targeting Muslims and Christians. He said,
Stay away from the sheet and Papa.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdIyW1YipWo
Accused of practicing black magic and promoting superstition
In January 2023, Shyam Manav, president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, challenged Dhirendra to demonstrate his magical powers at the spiritual events ‘Divya Darbar’ and ‘Pret Darbar’ in Nagpur, Maharashtra. In the challenge, Shyam asked Dhirendra to name the things which he had kept in the other room. Shyam even said that he would give a reward of Rs 30 lakh to Dhirendra if he won the challenge. Later, Maharashtra Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti filed a complaint against him for promoting superstition. When Dhirendra was asked about this in an interview, he said,
I have nothing to prove. I just do what he (Bageshwar Balaji) inspires me to do. I am just a servant at the feet of Bageshwar Balaji. I do whatever he inspires me to do.”
After this, Dhirendra’s spiritual program in Maharashtra which was to end on 13 January 2023, was earlier ended on 11 January 2023. Later when Shyam was asked about challenging Dhirendra. He said,
Dhirendra Shastri had organized Ram Katha in Nagpur, along with this he had also announced to establish a divine court. Even before this, divine court has been organized at many places. And its videos are also available on YouTube. There are some things in Maharashtra which promote superstition. I have all those videos. I have also made them available to the police. And practicing superstition and black magic is illegal in Maharashtra. Even propagating it is a crime. In this crime, the punishment can be from 6 months to 7 seven months.
Dhirendra accepted the challenge and asked Shyam to come to Raipur where his spiritual program was scheduled on 20 January 2023 and 21 January 2023. Talking about it, in an interview, Dhirendra said,
Earlier I had held court for seven days but you did not come. If I get a chance I will come again. But now, I accept your challenge. Welcome to Raipur between 20-21 January. I will set up a court there. I will pay for your ticket.
He further said that he was guided by Lord Hanuman to help people and he had no supernatural powers.
controversial bihar congregation
From 13 May 2023 to 17 May 2025, he was in Patna, Bihar for a five-day congregation, during which he remarked,
The fire of Hindu nation will flare up from Bihar.”
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar criticized Shastri for this comment and said that people like him were not even born when the Constitution of India came into existence. Nitish Kumar further said that the state government does not interfere in anyone’s faith. Shastri once again courted controversy when he called his followers ‘mad’ during his ‘Divya Darbar’ session as he had to cancel the ‘aarti’ after the venue was overcrowded. Later, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav criticized Shastri’s ‘insane’ comment and said,
This Baba is abusing Biharis and calling them mad. Politics is being done to divide the country.”
net worth
As of January 2023, he earns around Rs 3.5 lakh per month.
Facts/General Knowledge
- Some sources claim that his real name is Dhirendra Krishna Garg.
- His followers call him Shri Dhirendra Krishna Ji Maharaj.
- One of his gurus is Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Ji Maharaj.
- In an interview, he had told that he used to walk 5 km to go to his school. In his childhood, Dhirendra lived in a room in a kutcha house with four other members of his family. Later, his family built a two-storey pucca house at the same place.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s house
- Dhirendra Krishna Shastri has organized many ‘homecoming’ programs. He once shared that Ghar Wapsi is for Hindus who have converted to other religions and inspires them to stick to the religion they had at the time of their birth. He said,
As long as we are alive, we will ensure ‘homecoming’ of as many people as possible and stop religious conversion. We have to focus on unity among Hindus and boycott those who speak against Sanatan Dharma.
- On 28 June 2019, his associates started their official YouTube channel Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, on which videos of his spiritual programs are uploaded. As of January 2023, he has approximately 3.71 million subscribers on his channel.
Bageshwar Dham Government’s YouTube channel
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s YouTube play button
- Dhirendra Krishna Shastri is associated with various social services. He has started Annapurna Rasoi in Bageshwar Dham which provides free food to the people. He has been working for the welfare of poor people and animals.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri worshiping the cow
- In an interview, when a journalist addressed him as Baba, he said that he was no Sanyasi, no Baba, and only a storyteller or Shastri.
- On 12 June 2022, his name was registered in the World Book of Records, London for his incomparable contribution in discourse on the story of Bhagavad Gita.
Certificate from World Book of Records, London to Dhirendra Krishna Shastri
- On 14 June 2022, at the House of Commons, London, he received a certificate of appreciation from Shanta Shiromani for his work towards various communities.
Citation letter of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri
- In 2022, his name was also recorded in the World Book of Records, Europe for his incomparable contribution in spreading religious awareness.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s certificate from World Book of Records, Europe
- Dhirendra has a large following among devotees, but many have raised concerns about his actions, speeches and claims, including the claim that he can cure cancer through his blessings and medicines.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn