Vijay Kumar Naidu, better known as Kalki Bhagavan, died Tuesday in a private hospital in Chennai. He was 77. Doctors admitted him with age-related health issues, and his condition worsened on Tuesday. Representatives for the Kalki Trust said his body is being taken to Ekam Kshetra at Battalavallam in Varadaiahpalem mandal, Tirupati district (Andhra Pradesh). They’ll keep the body at the ashram for three days starting Wednesday, September 30, so devotees from across India and abroad can pay their respects.
Journey of a LIC Clerk to ‘A Godman’
Demigod-like figure or a self-propagated ‘GODMAN’ Kalki Bhagavan—born Vijay Kumar Naidu on March 7, 1949 in Tamil Nadu—studied at DG Vaishnav College in Chennai before working as a clerk at Life Insurance Corporation of India. He later left his job and turned towards spirituality. In 1984, he started a residential school called Jeevashram in Chittoor district. There, he took the name Kalki and in 1989, declared himself the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Over the years, he developed a following through teachings centred on meditation, consciousness and spiritual transformation before establishing the Oneness movement. The organisation eventually expanded its activities beyond India and became associated with a large international following.
Godman is a colloquial term, primarily used for a charismatic spiritual leader, faith healer, or guru who attracts a devoted following. A godman is often viewed by followers as a demigod-like figure. They frequently claim advanced spiritual realization, miraculous abilities, or paranormal powers such as healing or mind-reading. While many command immense respect and large followings, some figures have faced controversy, legal troubles, or accusations of operating coercive cults. Kalki is also a one among such cult spiritual leader from Andhra.
How the Kalki Become Popular?
Vijay Kumar Naidu’s early followers called him Kalki, and news of his work spread locally as the “Kalki movement.” Later, he said Kalki wasn’t about just one person, but a shared awakening. Over time, his movement became known for spiritual discourses, meditation courses, and the “Oneness blessing” (Deeksha). His teachings attracted followers from India and around the world. In 2017, he handed over the Oneness organization and much of his business to his son, NKV Krishna, and his daughter-in-law. Reports mention that his business interests spanned real estate, property development, energy, media, and sports.
Allegations and Controversies
The most serious controversy hit in October 2019, when Income Tax officials raided the Kalki Ashram in Battalavallam and other locations in Varadaiahpalem. Based on intelligence that the Wellness Group—run by Krishna—was hiding income and diverting funds into land and overseas investments, officials searched multiple campuses. Authorities said they found more than Rs 500 crore in unreported income, including around Rs 409 crore in unaccounted cash receipts. The department seized Rs 43.9 crore in cash, US currency worth Rs 18 crore, gold, and diamonds. Altogether, seizures included Rs 93 crore in valuables, with 88 kg of gold jewelry valued at over Rs 26 crore and 1,271 carats of diamonds worth about Rs 5 crore. Officials claimed the group invested in tax havens and said they were investigating the diversion of taxable income to offshore entities.
Later reports described a five-day operation covering 40 locations in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chittoor, and Kuppam. Allegations included financial embezzlement and money laundering, with amounts ranging from Rs 500 crore to Rs 800 crore depending on the source. After all this, Naidu denied rumors he and his wife fled the country. In a video message, he said he was at the Nemam ashram. Naidu also faced accusations of land grabbing in Chittoor district, where he built a large ashram. Over the years, his organization drew scrutiny for alleged commercial activities and land matters. In 2002, a public interest litigation seeking an income tax investigation of the Kalki Trust was dismissed.
However, Kalki Bhagavan stood out in India’s modern spiritual scene, gathering thousands of followers both at home and overseas. He spent almost four decades moving from his early days as an LIC clerk to founding a global spiritual movement. The Oneness organisation blended meditation practices and consciousness teachings with large-scale events and social service projects. His death at 77 closes the chapter on a spiritual leader who drew a vast following and, at the same time, faced intense public scrutiny over the size and operations of his movement.
