South Asia

Sectarian organisation centred at Sirsa, India, led by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Officially considered non-Sikh by most mainstream Sikh authorities. Ram Rahim was convicted of rape (2017) and the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati (2019).

Indian guru organisation. Asaram Bapu convicted in 2018 of raping a teenage devotee in 2013; sentenced to life imprisonment. Son Narayan Sai also convicted of rape (2019).

Indian self-styled guru convicted of two murders. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 and 2018 for deaths during the 2014 Satlok Ashram siege.

Free residential schools and university operated by the Sathya Sai Central Trust at the Puttaparthi ashram (Andhra Pradesh, India). Decades of child-sexual-abuse allegations against Sathya Sai Baba (1926–2011) and the unresolved 1993 ashram shootings.

Movement of the late Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh / Osho (1931–1990). Famous for its Oregon Rajneeshpuram commune (1981–85), the 1984 Salmonella attack on The Dalles (largest US bioterror attack until 2001), and the 'free love' philosophy. Subject of the 2018 Netflix series 'Wild Wild Country'.

Movement founded by Nirmala Srivastava ('Mataji', 'Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi') in 1970 teaching kundalini awakening. Followers believe Srivastava was a divine incarnation. Long-running disputes over Britain's Sahaja Yoga school led to closure.

Pakistani Barelvi political-religious party founded by Khadim Hussain Rizvi (2015). Notorious for violent street mobilisation around blasphemy law issues. Briefly banned under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act in 2021.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness, founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1966) in New York. Famous for Hare Krishna street chanting and Krishna devotion. Devastated by 1970s–80s Gurukula child abuse later acknowledged and adjudicated.

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, founded by Lekhraj Khubchand Kripalani (Brahma Baba) in 1937 Sind. Distinctive female-led leadership, mandatory celibacy for all members (including married couples), and 'Murli' daily teachings transmitted from the deceased founder via mediums.

Indian Hindu nationalist paramilitary-style organisation founded by K.B. Hedgewar (1925). Largest volunteer organisation in the world. Documented links to political violence including the 1948 Gandhi assassination.

Followers of the late Sathya Sai Baba (1926–2011) of Puttaparthi, India. Notable for his miracle/materialisation claims, large educational and hospital projects, and serious unresolved sexual abuse allegations from numerous former devotees including children.

'Hot yoga' system created by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s. Multiple women won civil sexual-assault judgments against him in the 2010s. Choudhury fled to Mexico to evade enforcement; the surviving Bikram Yoga community has fragmented. ESPN '30 for 30' and Netflix's 'Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator' (2019) are major documentaries.

Successor organisation to the Rajneesh / Osho movement after the founder's 1990 death. Operates Pune meditation resort and global network. Significantly less coercive than the 1980s Rajneeshpuram era but documented patterns of guru-veneration, financial extraction, and trademark litigation against ex-members continue.

Indian guru lineage of Swami Muktananda (d. 1982). Substantial 1980s exposé in The CoEvolution Quarterly documented sexual abuse. Successor Gurumayi Chidvilasananda continues SYDA Foundation.

Indian movement founded by Kalki Bhagavan and Sri Amma offering 'Deeksha' (oneness blessing) and a path to 'enlightenment in this lifetime'. Heavy financial investments, lavish leader lifestyle, and 2019 Indian tax raid uncovering substantial unaccounted wealth.

Tantric reform movement founded by P.R. Sarkar (1955). Documented violent incidents in 1970s–80s, including arrests connected to the 1978 Sydney Hilton bombing.

Successor organisation continuing Sahaja Yoga after founder Nirmala Srivastava's 2011 death. Family-led trust; some splinter groups.

International Indian-derived meditation movement founded in 1970 by Nirmala Srivastava (Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi), who claimed to be the incarnation of the Adi-Shakti. Distinctive 'kundalini awakening through self-realisation'. Substantial controversies over the residential boarding school in Dharamsala / Cabella and post-2011 succession disputes.

Umbrella entry for numerous Indian 'godmen' / guru figures beyond the specific named cases (Asaram, Ram Rahim, Nithyananda, Radhe Maa, etc.).

Hindu nationalist religious-political organisation (1964) founded under RSS auspices. Major role in 1990s Babri Masjid demolition and subsequent communal violence.

Indian-origin organisation founded by Jayant Athavale (1999). Distinctive 'subtle dimension' science claims. Substantial online presence; documented as exhibiting moderate cult-like patterns.

Sri Lankan Buddhist-nationalist political-religious movement founded 2012. Distinguished from mainstream Sri Lankan Theravada. Documented role in anti-Muslim violence.

Uttar Pradesh satsang leader whose July 2024 Hathras event stampede killed 121. Fled after the stampede; SIT investigation continuing.

Umbrella for Indian online spirituality influencer parasocial communities. Substantial overlap with broader Indian godman phenomenon.

Indian 'godwoman' Sukhvinder Kaur (b. 1965). Multiple documented legal cases including 2015 dowry-harassment and 2017 obscenity cases over distinctive dancing on stage.

Umbrella for documented Bangladeshi pir / fakir high-control guru figures beyond mainstream Sufi tradition.

Mustaali Ismaili Shia community led by the Dai al-Mutlaq from Mumbai. Substantial commercial network. Documented controversy around female genital cutting ('khafz').

Gujarati Hindu denomination following Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the Akshar Purushottam Darshan. Substantial global presence (Akshardham temples). 2021 New Jersey labour-trafficking lawsuit involving temple construction workers brought scrutiny.

International organisation founded by Jaggi Vasudev ('Sadhguru') (1992). Headquartered at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, India. Subject of a 2024 Indian Supreme Court intervention after a father's habeas-corpus petition alleged his adult daughters were held against their will.

Indian guru Mata Amritanandamayi ('Amma') leads a global humanitarian organisation famous for her 'darshan hugs'. Documented patterns include substantial donations, devotee severance, and Gail Tredwell's 2013 memoir alleging abuses.

Indian guru Sri Karunamayi (Vijayeswari Devi) leads a humanitarian ministry with substantial US following. Practices distinctive devotional and meditation programmes. Moderate-low control patterns documented.

International organisation founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (1981) teaching Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique. Operates in 180+ countries with substantial humanitarian programmes. Some ex-members report high-pressure recruitment and cult-of-personality dynamics around founder.

Indian Hindu devotional reform movement founded by Pandurang Shastri Athavale (1954). Substantial educational and humanitarian programmes. Post-2003 succession disputes after his death.

Sahaj Marg ('Natural Path') Raja Yoga lineage now branded as 'Heartfulness'. Founded by Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (1945). Substantial global meditation network.

Major Sant Mat-derived Indian movement headquartered at Dera Beas, Punjab. Distinctive lineage of living Sant Satgurus. Substantial global following.

Major global Vipassana retreat network in the S.N. Goenka tradition (founded 1969). Distinctive 10-day silent retreats with strict structure. Mostly low-control, some documented retreat-distress cases.

Indian Sant tradition founded by Buta Singh (1929). Distinctive teachings on the Formless God (Nirankar). Major successor disputes with mainstream Sikhism.

International Hindu-derived organisation founded by Paramahansa Yogananda (1920) and best known for his 'Autobiography of a Yogi'. Operates monastic order (SRF Monastic Order). Sister Indian organisation Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.

Major Punjabi Ravidassi dera following Guru Ravidas's 15th-century teachings. The 2009 Vienna Singh Sabha attack on dera leadership drew international attention.

Reformist Muslim movement founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1889) believing him to be the promised Messiah and Mahdi. Officially declared non-Muslim in Pakistan (1974) and severely persecuted there; centred internationally in the UK Caliphate.

Major 19th-century Western esoteric movement founded by Helena Blavatsky (1875). Mainstream low-control; influential on later New Age and Anthroposophy.

Distinct 19th-century Sikh reform movement founded by Balak Singh and developed by Ram Singh. Distinctive white dress, vegetarianism, and recognition of a continuing line of living Gurus.

Major Indian intentional community (1968) based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa ('The Mother'). UNESCO-supported. Mainstream low-moderate control.

Distinctive Sikh warrior-ascetic tradition (17th c. Guru Hargobind era). Distinctive blue dress, edged weapons, and Akali culture. Mainstream voluntary tradition.

Mainstream Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug, Kagyu, Sakya, Nyingma) is a moderate-low CLCI tradition. The guru-devotion (samaya) emphasis has produced documented teacher-abuse cases (notably Sogyal Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham); the Dalai Lama's 2017 statement and post-2018 reforms have shifted norms.

Digambara ('sky-clad') Jain mainstream tradition. Distinctive male monastic nudity (women cannot achieve liberation in this body). Mainstream voluntary tradition.

Indian Zoroastrian community descended from 8th–10th century Persian refugees. ~50,000 in India today; endogamy disputes are a major intra-community fault line.

Sikh ascetic tradition founded by Sri Chand (Guru Nanak's son). Distinctive monastic celibacy. Mainstream low-control.

Anti-idol Svetambara Jain reform tradition (15th c.). Worship in plain meditation halls (sthanak) without temple imagery.

Umbrella for Jain spinoff communities — Terapanth (1760 Bhikhanji split), Kanji Swami Panth, etc.

Mainstream Theravada Buddhism — the dominant tradition of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos — is a low-CLCI reference point with voluntary lay practice and a self-disciplined monastic Sangha.

Mainstream Sikhism is a low-CLCI reference point. Founded by Guru Nanak (15th c.), it teaches equality, social service (langar), and devotion to Akal Purakh. Khalsa initiation is voluntary and undertaken in adulthood.

Major Hindu devotional tradition centred on the Divine Mother (Devi, Durga, Kali). Hundreds of millions of adherents.

Distinct Punjabi Dalit Ravidassia tradition centred on Guru Ravidas's teachings. 2010 declaration of Ravidassia Dharm as separate religion from Sikhism.

Indian Oriental Orthodox church of Kerala (St Thomas Christians). Apostolic succession from Thomas the Apostle tradition.

Kerala Eastern Catholic church in full communion with Rome. Largest single Eastern Catholic Church.

Reformed Oriental Christian church (1875 split from Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church). Mainstream low-control voluntary tradition.

Mainstream Hinduism — the world's third-largest religion — is a low-CLCI reference point. Extraordinarily diverse without central authority, sacred texts, or unified theology. Specific high-control guru-led movements covered separately.

Mainstream Jainism — practised by ≈4–6 million primarily in India — is a low-CLCI reference point. Centres on ahimsa (non-violence), aparigraha (non-attachment), and individual liberation through ascetic practice.

Largest Hindu devotional tradition centred on Vishnu and his avatars (Krishna, Rama). Hundreds of millions of adherents. Mainstream low-control reference.

Major Hindu devotional tradition centred on Shiva. Hundreds of millions of adherents. Mainstream low-control reference.

Mainstream Hindu tradition synthesising worship of five deities (Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Surya, Ganesha) under Advaita Vedanta theology. Adi Shankara lineage.

Mainstream Advaita Vedanta lineage of Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950). Sri Ramanasramam at Tiruvannamalai. Very low-control reference point.

Svetambara ('white-clad') Jain mainstream tradition. Distinctive from Digambara ('sky-clad'). Voluntary very low-control reference.

Foundations preserving and disseminating the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986), who famously dissolved the Order of the Star (1929) and rejected all spiritual authority including his own.

Goenka-tradition Vipassana prison programmes operating in multiple countries. Documented rehabilitative effects in academic studies. Mainstream voluntary participation.