Suspicious death of Swami Ekagra
Swami Ekagra, formerly known as Vivek, a 27-year-old Brahmachari (celibate monk) from Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, was found dead inside the Isha Yoga Center under suspicious circumstances. While the ashram claims it was a suicide, his body was swiftly cremated at Isha’s new crematorium in Veerakeralam, Coimbatore, raising serious concerns.
Swami Ekagra worked in the ashram’s accounts department, where he allegedly uncovered financial irregularities linked to Jaggi Vasudev. Disturbed by his findings, he urged his parents and brother—who were also inmates of Isha—to leave the ashram. However, they refused to believe him. Frustrated, he attempted to escape multiple times but was caught each time. Shortly after, he was found dead.
The circumstances surrounding his death raise serious questions about what really happens behind the closed doors of the Isha Ashram.
Death of Isha’s Accountant, Dilip Rajaratnam
Dilip Rajaratnam, the chief accountant of Isha since 2012, met a sudden and suspicious death, raising serious questions about the inner workings of Sadhguru’s financial empire. Having deep knowledge of the ashram’s finances, Dilip was aware that large sums were being funneled into Jaggi and his daughter’s personal bank accounts.
Sensing a potential threat, a close associate of Sadhguru was instructed to “leave” the ashram and befriend Dilip, gaining his trust by sharing supposed frustrations about Jaggi. One afternoon, this associate, Venky, picked up Dilip for a drive. Dilip’s seatbelt was reportedly faulty. On a deserted stretch of road, the car crashed, and Dilip was killed.
Dilip also knew about Jaggi’s failed attempt to smuggle a gun from the U.S. to India in a bid to help his brother out of jail. He was privy to both financial irregularities and darker secrets that could have exposed the entire operation.
Adding to the intrigue, Bharathi Varadaraj’s father had recently passed away, leaving her a vast inheritance. Dilip opposed her handing over the wealth to Jaggi, a stance that angered him. Shortly after, Dilip met an untimely and unnatural death, leaving behind unanswered questions and deep suspicions.
The Mysterious Disappearances of Somu and Sri Devi
Around the year 2000, Somu, a young monk from Isha Ashram in Coimbatore was sent to the Himalayas with two of Sadhguru’s most trusted aides. One of them, Swami Nandikesha, was an inner circle member and a key enforcer of Jaggi Vasudev’s instructions. Unlike most, Nandikesha had unrestricted access to Jaggi. But while the two aides returned, Somu was never seen again.
His girlfriend, Sri Devi, was devastated and repeatedly demanded answers from Sadhguru. Not long after, she was found dead at his doorstep. On the morning of her death, Jaggi had injected her with a drug. She had dedicated 20 years of her life to following him and had been living near the ashram. Her sudden death was explained away as a snake bite.
Jaggi, a diabetic who was well-versed in administering injections, was known to sedate members of the ashram whenever he or his aides deemed them too restless or rebellious.
What made Somu and Sri Devi a threat? They were planning to leave the ashram and start their own spiritual group—something Jaggi deeply resented. He had previously been enraged when another monk left and gained a following. He viewed any independent effort as competition, particularly if it diverted attention away from him. Somu’s relationship with Sri Devi only fueled Jaggi’s fury, as he saw personal connections as a distraction from absolute devotion to him.
Suspicious Deaths and Disappearances
Several individuals close to Jaggi have died under suspicious circumstances. Since 2016, six people have gone missing from Isha Foundation’s Coimbatore premises, per Tamil Nadu police. Authorities are also probing the electrocution of a 17-year-old Isha Home School student. Similar patterns can be seen at his Tennessee ashram, with reports of unclaimed bodies.Allegations suggest environmentalists opposing him have been murdered, and critics often disappear.
Silenced Deaths of Women in Isha Ashram
In the late 1990s, several parents approached me, devastated by the alleged suicides of their daughters at Isha Ashram. These young women, rumored to have been carrying Jaggi’s child, died under suspicious circumstances. However, Jaggi’s strong ties with Karunanidhi ensured that no investigation took place.
Each case followed the same pattern—sudden deaths, swift cremations, and no autopsies. Any attempt to seek justice was silenced, and the authorities turned a blind eye. With political backing and wealth protecting him, Jaggi remained untouchable while grieving families were left without answers.