Guru Or God? Geetu Parmar On Blind Faith, Fake Gurus And Show-Off Bhakti

Guru Or God? Geetu Parmar On Blind Faith, Fake Gurus And Why Bhakti Has Become A Show

"Why do you turn a human being into God? He is human. He is not God."

On the Accompany Akki podcast, astrologer Geetu Parmar spoke with host Akash Kumar about blind faith in spiritual leaders, how to tell a genuine guru from a self-promoting one, why devotion has become performance, and what our comfort zones are costing us.

A guru shows the way. He is not the destination.

Geetu's central message was simple. A guru is someone who is connecting with God and showing you the path. That makes him worthy of respect as a guru. But he should not be given the place of God.

She pointed out a strange reversal she has noticed: at some pilgrimage places, the crowds around a popular spiritual figure can be bigger than the crowds at the temple itself. "The mistake isn't anyone else's," she said. "It's ours."

Her own refusal to bow

Geetu shared a personal story from around 2003-04, when Asaram had a huge following. Her mother-in-law was a devoted follower and once brought him home. The house was decorated, he arrived with his entourage, and the family bowed at his feet.

When Geetu was asked to do the same and take his naam, she refused. "I worship God. I can't worship a human being," she said. It caused a big conflict at home, especially as she was the only daughter-in-law of the family.

Years later, Asaram was convicted in a criminal case. She recalled that her mother-in-law couldn't meet her eyes when the case first came out. Geetu also mentioned Ram Rahim, who was likewise convicted, as another example of blind faith gone wrong.

Her lesson: devotion should go to God. People deserve respect, not worship.

When spirituality becomes a business

Geetu was critical of how parts of the spiritual world have become commercial.

In her view:

• Some kathavachaks (storytellers of scriptures) once simply narrated katha. Today, for some, it has become a business.
• Some spiritual figures who began simply now have luxury lifestyles, foreign tours and growing entourages.
• When someone is fully absorbed in devotion, she believes, the desire for money fades.

She described visiting a busy ashram where devotees waited on the roads while selected visitors passed through room after room of checks to reach the spiritual leader. "If you're giving everything online anyway, why so much show?" she asked.

She also noted that those around a spiritual figure often build a whole system to profit from his name, and that, over time, such systems tend to be exposed.

These, she was clear, are her personal views and experiences.

How to tell a real guru from a fake one

According to Geetu:

• A real guru doesn't chase cameras. They don't need them.
• A real guru doesn't seek money, fame or followers.
• For a real guru, two meals a day are enough. Everything else goes to faith.
• If you need to find a real guru, make God your guru. "He won't let you wander."

She herself considers Mahadev her guru, while learning from human teachers whom she believes Mahadev brought into her life. Akash shared that he considers Lord Krishna his guru too.

Neem Karoli Baba: respect the guru, worship God

Geetu spoke respectfully of Neem Karoli Baba, whom she described as a true guru. Many devotees came to him, and many famous people have since spoken about him.

But her point was about balance. He himself was a devotee of Hanuman ji, channelling devotion towards God, not towards himself. "If you remove God's picture from your home and put his photo in its place, that would be wrong," she said. "Give the guru the place of a guru, and God the place of God."

Why celebrities visiting gurus means less than you think

Many people are impressed when celebrities visit a spiritual figure. Geetu suggested looking at it differently. Often, she said, celebrities are invited because it helps grow a following. "Don't think celebrities are going. They're being called."

She also reflected that celebrities often live more restricted lives than ordinary people. They can't freely eat street food, laugh, cry or speak without being judged.

Leaders are human too

Asked about people treating political leaders like gods, Geetu said leaders may have strong energy and leadership qualities, but they are human. They can make mistakes, and they can be criticised. "If one human becomes perfect, what's the difference between human and God?"

Bhakti for the camera

One of her strongest points was about how devotion has become a performance on social media.

People go to temples and pilgrimages, she said, but:

• Update their status before leaving home
• Make video calls during the climb
• Record reels at the shrine
• Take photos of the deity in posed postures

"You didn't go there to connect with God," she said. "You went to show that you're a devotee." She believes bhakti done with true feeling can change your destiny, but bhakti done for show cannot.

"You're not fooling the world. You're fooling yourself. God is within you."

Social media as Rahu

Geetu described social media as a form of Rahu: it magnifies everything and makes trends look bigger than they are, until the illusion breaks. Whether it's a guru, a cause or a trend, she urged people to think before following the crowd.

Parenting for the camera

She extended the same idea to parenting. Some mothers, she said, now feed their children while filming reels. "It's your duty. Why do you need to show it?"

She remembered how mothers once covered a baby's bottle while feeding. Today, fancy bottles and berry snacks are displayed online.

The comfort-zone problem

Geetu also worried that some children are raised entirely indoors: AC in summer, heaters in winter, closed rooms in the rain. Never experiencing heat, cold, insects or rain, she said, makes them more vulnerable when they step outside.

The same applies to adults. "Everyone wants to stay in their comfort zone," she said. "That's why problems come into life."

A note on Hanuman Ansh

Geetu also spoke about the film Hanuman Ansh, which she said nobody backed at first but is now widely watched. She credits its success to a team that has stayed grounded, adding that success can be the worst intoxication of all.

Key takeaways

• Respect gurus, but worship God.
• Real gurus don't chase money, fame or cameras.
• Blind faith can make people vulnerable to exploitation.
• Devotion should come from feeling, not performance.
• God is within you; you don't need to prove your faith online.
• Leaders, gurus and celebrities are all human.
• Growth begins outside your comfort zone.

Watch the full episode: 

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Do you think social media has changed the way we practise devotion?