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GADAIPUR, INDIA, February 19, 2005: Thousands of devotees are flocking to the northern Indian farmlands of Gadaipur on the outskirts of New Delhi for spiritual fulfillment at the feet of a rustic Punjabi-speaking Indian saint. Baba Virsa Singh, 70, known to his followers as Maharaj (king) or Babaji, is hosting a conference on “The Spiritual Approach to Peace and Resolving Terrorism” at his sprawling ashram to mark his birthday on Sunday. Russian opposition leader Sergei Glaziev is among those attending the event, which began Thursday. Organizers believe that in the coming days about 15,000 people will join the celebrations. Religious leaders, teachers, government officials, students and business people from all over the world are scheduled to attend. Among those already here are Indian parliamentarian and Kashmir former royal Karan Singh, Hindu leader Ashok Singhal and Saudi Arabia-based Muslim leader Mohammed Rafiq Sariq Warsi.



Singh was born to a poor family in the northern Indian farming state of Punjab. He refused school and then marriage, preferring to meditate. He found devotees at a young age. In the 1960’s Singh founded an ashram or spiritual home in Gadaipur to receive followers. Today he presides over thousands of acres of farmland on the outskirts of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh which sustains the commune. Americans, too, have become enamored by Singh. Among them is model Kelly Johnson. “I was going nuts, competing from morning to night, trying to be a supermodel… I finally found peace out here living for others. Life is all about showing love. Once you meet him, it calms you down,” said Johnson. Singh himself said he only knew of one miracle. “Don’t you think it is a miracle that all these wise men and women have come to listen to an illiterate country bumpkin?” he said laughing.

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