Before his most recent speech ended in a panic that left 121 of his fans, former officers policeman Bhole Baba built an enormous following among the poor and underprivileged in India.
India is home to numerous spiritual experts or “godmen,” whose devotees ask for wonders and give money and things as a sign of devotion to their followers.
Baba, whose present whereabouts are unfamiliar, was scarcely known to the wider American public before Tuesday’s catastrophe.
However, in his local state of Uttar Pradesh, he had cultivated a sizable following among his followers, and his worship gatherings received thousands of views on social media.
He said,” If you distribute plants, you will receive a bouquet in return,” according to a lecture that was posted to YouTube two years ago and spoke about the virtues of compassion.
In previous sermons, Baba addressed sizable crowds of devotees, the majority of whom were women, while sitting on an elegant chair on a dais. He was also seen wearing a total white outfit.
More than 250, 000 people attended Tuesday’s prayer conference he staged near the northern area of Hathras, according to a police report.