Jaggi Vasudev, known by his self-designated title ‘Sadhguru’ is in a new controversy over his handling of a RAT snake at his ISHA foundation’s new center at Chikkaballapur in Karnataka. Forest Department officials are probing the incident.
The complaint was filed by Prithivi Raj CN, a Board member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(SPCA), allied with the Chikkaballapur Taluk’s Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF).
Prithivi Raj said that the snake displayed at the event was illegally trapped, transported, and displayed by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and has not been handed over to the forest official yet. The incident occurred during a Naga Pratishta ceremony at ISHA foundation’s Chikkaballapur center.
Excerpts from Prithvi Raj’s letter: “This complaint is regarding Sri Sadhguru Founder of ISHA foundation violation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The Respected Sadhguru was displaying an illegally captured, inappropriately stored RAT snake for N no of days, protected under Schedule 2 of the WLPA. The Snake was displayed under blazing lights on the stage in front of a crowd by Sri Sadhguru. This happened between the 9th and 10th of October 2022. The Snake was not handed over to the Forest Department to date.”
Prithivi Raj also raised the long-prevailing debate concerning Isha Foundation at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He highlighted the attempts by Sadhguru’s foundation to destroy forests by encroaching upon forest lands and elephant corridors in the Western ghat region in the state. Currently, in the new center of Chikkaballapur Isha Foundation, a 112-feet statue of Adiyogi is under construction.
However, Isha Foundation has come up with its version of the incident stating that the snake was not trapped or transported to the venue. Its message on Twitter read: “A snake entered at Chikkaballapur during Naga Pratishtha. For the snake’s & people’s safety, Sadhguru handled it gently & asked it be left safely in a nearby forest. It was neither trapped/transported/ harmed in any way. Police at the venue were aware of the incident. (Sic)”
In September, Jaggi Vasudev’s Night Safari inside the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP & TR) raised environmental concerns in the ecologically sensitive zone. Also, earlier, he went on a solo expensive multi-country bike ride to promote his safe soil movement.
Representational Image: Sadhguru org