‘A Girl Who’s Been With 4 Men…’: Premanand Maharaj’s Comment Triggers Social Media Backlash
‘A Girl Who’s Been With 4 Men…’: Premanand Maharaj’s Comment Triggers Social Media Backlash
The spiritual leader’s statements on relationships and purity trigger backlash for promoting regressive gender stereotypes
A fresh controversy has erupted around spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj after a video of his recent sermon went viral, igniting sharp criticism across social media platforms and civil society. In the now widely circulated clip, the saint makes sweeping generalisations about the moral character of today’s youth, especially focusing on their past relationships.
In the video, Maharaj states that a boy who has been with four girls will not remain loyal to his wife, claiming he becomes “accustomed to adultery.” Similarly, he remarks that a girl who has had relationships with four men “loses the courage to accept a husband.” He goes further to assert that “only two to four girls out of a hundred” live what he refers to as a “pure life,” dedicated to one man.
The comments have drawn strong reactions online, with critics calling them “insulting,” “sexist,” and “deeply regressive.” Many accused the religious figure of promoting harmful gender stereotypes and attempting to police morality under the guise of spiritual teaching. The backlash also included comparisons to a recent controversy involving storyteller Aniruddhacharya, who faced similar outrage for remarks perceived as derogatory towards women.
Social media has seen divided responses, with a few conservative voices defending the comments as an attempt to uphold traditional values. However, the overwhelming majority, including women’s rights groups and activists, have condemned the remarks. A representative of a women’s collective in Mathura stated that society must judge women by their present character, not their past, adding that such narratives only serve to uphold patriarchal control.
As of now, Premanand Maharaj has not responded publicly to the criticism. However, with growing calls for accountability from both spiritual communities and rights organisations, his silence may not hold for long.
