Jazzed up his Audi

Tucked away discreetly next to the bustling Sector 19 flea market is the Chandigarh branch of the Gorakhnath Mutt. The temple is easy to miss, unless one is specifically looking for it. It’s entrance from the main road into which all the shop-cum-booths located next to it open is inconspicuous. One has to drive a good half a kilometre and go behind the market to enter the mutt. Until three days ago few people would give a thought to this small, nondescript place. Now suddenly it’s become a source of immense curiosity for this laidback, easy-paced city. The source of this inquisitiveness is the boyish, 22-year-old head of the mutt, Mahant Chotu Nath, who created quite a stir earlier this week by passionately outbidding seven other bidders to bag a VVIP registration number — CH01 AR 0001 — for his Rs 66-lakh Audi Q7. He shelled out a neat Rs 10.51 lakh for the number.

The young yogi, who sports long locks and dresses in a pearl white flowing robe, attended the auction with his followers at the office of the Registration and Licensing Authority and kept on increasing his bid every time a higher price was quoted. And then, as quietly as they had arrived, he and his followers left the venue avoiding the media.

It’s with some effort that we get to speak with Chotu Nath who has since been struggling to keep a low profile. The Audi, which he claims is a gift from his followers, is nowhere to be seen in the premises of the sect. “Gaadi kahin bhej di hai (we’ve sent the car somewhere),” he says evasively. Parked in the premises instead is an Innova.

Chotu Nath took over the affairs of the mutt in Chandigarh three years ago — when he was barely 19. He is the youngest mahant (in charge of the centre) in the sect which is headquartered in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. This particular branch is supervised by the bigger branch in Rohtak. Chotu Nath, too, belongs to Rohtak and joined the mutt when he was barely six. He says his parents “offered” him to the mutt. This has been his life since.

Cars are a weakness for this ascetic who candidly tells us that his followers are insisting that he accept a Skoda Rapid and a Mercedes Benz from them next. The yogi, who is supposed to shun luxuries and live a life of severe restraint and discipline, says he had no idea the auction would draw so much attention to him. He claims he went for the prized number only because it is “auspicious”. “We believe in one god, so the number one makes sense,” says the godman who is quite active on Facebook. The registration numbers of his earlier vehicles, however, do not reflect this philosophy.

Chotu Nath does not reveal the source or extent of his wealth but says it comes from the followers. The sect has followers across north India, mainly in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, in the suburbs and in the hinterland, making the sect indispensable for political parties. The mutt has presence across India and also has overseas centres in Riga (Republic of Latvia), Rome, Venice, Melbourne and Russia. Gorakhnath Mutt also has a temple in Nepal in the Gorkha district. The mutt teaches yoga, but does not organise camps like Swami Ramdev, though prayers are held at the temple regularly.

Gorakhnath Mutt has been involved with politics for years. Its chief priest, Avaidyanath, was Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur for four teams. His chosen successor, Adityanath, is active in the Bharatiya Janata Party and has been a Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur since 1988.

As we take leave from Chotu Nath, two people enter the room and they all begin discussing politics. On our way out, we catch the names of some Haryana politicians. The yogi who moves in an Audi is clearly tuned into politics as well.