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Kalki Bhagavan, Founder of the Oneness Movement, Dies at 77
By Drooid · · How we work
Death and Funeral Arrangements
Spiritual teacher Vijay Kumar Naidu, widely known as Kalki Bhagavan, died while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Chennai. He was 77 years old. Representatives of the Kalki Trust announced that his mortal remains will be moved to the Ekam Kshetra at Battalavallam in Varadaiahpalem mandal, Tirupati district, and kept at the ashram for three days beginning on September 30 to allow devotees from India and abroad to pay their respects.
Rise of the Oneness Organization
Born on March 7, 1949 in Natham, Tamil Nadu, Naidu completed his education at DG Vaishnav College in Chennai and worked as a clerk with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). In the late 1980s he founded the residential school “Jeewashram” in Chittoor district and later proclaimed himself the tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, adopting the title Kalki Bhagavan. Together with his wife Padmavathi—revered by followers as Amma Bhagavan—he launched the Oneness movement and the Golden City spiritual complex in Varadaiahpalem. Over four decades the organization expanded globally, offering meditation programmes, the “Deeksha” blessing, and a philosophy of consciousness that attracted millions of adherents, including several Indian celebrities.
Controversies and Financial Scrutiny
The scale of Kalki Bhagavan’s operations drew criticism over alleged commercialisation and land-related disputes. The most prominent financial controversy arose in October 2019 when the Income Tax Department conducted searches at multiple premises linked to Naidu, his family and associated businesses. Officials reported seizing substantial cash, foreign currency and gold, and alleged the detection of undisclosed income and overseas investments.
Legacy and Influence
Despite these disputes, the Oneness movement has been credited with extensive social-service initiatives, such as drinking-water projects, healthcare programmes, eye-care camps and educational support in rural areas. Kalki Bhagavan’s death marks the end of a figure who rose from a modest LIC clerk to become a globally recognised spiritual leader, leaving a complex legacy of devotional follow-up and ongoing debate over the movement’s financial and organisational practices.