The real danger here is not just in what these religious leaders say, but in what they represent
In recent months, India has seen a disturbing rise in controversial statements made by prominent religious leaders. Under the veil of preserving tradition, culture and spirituality, some so-called spiritual gurus have used their platforms to spread sexist, regressive and dangerous ideas about women.
These are not isolated remarks, they represent a growing pattern where misogyny is disguised as morality and passed off as religious wisdom.
One of the most viral and criticised cases involved Aniruddhacharya, a self-styled spiritual teacher. During a sermon in Vrindavan, he declared that women over the age of 25 who are unmarried are likely to be promiscuous and ‘experienced’ in relationships. He implied that those in live-in relationships and have been with multiple partners and therefore lack purity or moral standing.
He further added that in the old times, the girls used to get married at the age of 14 and get settled. But now they got married at the age of 25 and by that time they already established physical relationship three-four times.
These comments widely circulated on social media, reinforce the idea that a woman’s worth is tied solely to her marital status or sexual history. Worse, by preaching this in a religious setting, Aniruddhacharya framed these regressive beliefs as spiritual truths.
The backlash was swift. Social media erupted in anger and several legal complaints were filed against him. The National Commission for Women also issued a notice.
“I feel that these comments are made to appease sections of society where a woman’s sexuality is seen as something that should be controlled by men. Where the thought process is that ‘How dare a woman engage in sexual relationship without marriage’. Which is why these kind of people support young age marriages because in their minds a 14-year-old child is not capable of understanding consent or giving consent,” Eureka Dahiya, a student based in Delhi tells Media India Group.
Khushboo Patani, a former army officer and sister of Bollywood actress Disha Patani, publicly condemned him. In response, rather than apologising, a notice was filed against her for allegedly insulting Hindu saints, highlighting how quickly these debates turn into attacks on those who speak out.
Following the outrage, Aniruddhacharya posted a video on social media saying he only meant ‘some women, not all’. He also added that the keywords from his speech were edited out before the video went viral, ‘so as to create a false narrative’.
“These people have corrupted the word ‘modern’, because she cannot be controlled. Hence they use this tool of purity to trap women into a system where they have no autonomy of their own,” adds Dahiya.
Not long after, another prominent figure from Vrindavan, near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Premanand Maharaj, landed in hot water for his own sexist comments.
Referring to the ‘character’ of today’s youth, Maharaj said that a boy who has been with four girls will never be satisfied with his wife, because he has become used to adultery. And, a girl who has been with four men has no courage left to accept a husband, he added. “Out of 100, hardly two or four girls are such who live a pious life and are dedicated to one man,” he said.
His comparisons were seen as not only dehumanising but dangerously reductive.
The real danger here is not just in what these leaders said, but in what they represent. They are part of a larger issue where religion is used to legitimise outdated gender roles, silence women, and promote shame around autonomy and independence.
“I find it really upsetting when religious leaders, who should be spreading messages of kindness and equality, instead say things that are disrespectful or harmful, especially towards women. When someone with so much influence promotes misogynistic ideas, it feels like a huge step backward for society,” Muskan Aneja, a student, tells Media India Group.
In many parts of society, these words are not viewed as opinions, but as moral instructions, and that makes them even more dangerous.
When spiritual leaders speak, they carry influence. For many, they are trusted voices in matters of life, culture and morality. But when that influence is used to shame women for being unmarried, for choosing relationships, or simply for existing outside traditional norms, it becomes a tool of control, not guidance.
“Religious leaders are often seen as moral guides. If they spread regressive views, their followers might accept these ideas as absolute truths. That makes it way harder to challenge harmful beliefs or bring about any positive change, especially for younger people growing up hearing these things,” says Aneja.
In Kerala, Umar Faizi Mukkam, a leader in the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, who sparked fierce controversy by claiming that Muslim women who do not wear the hijab have ‘loose morals’ and questionable character.
During a televised debate on October 7, 2023, Faizi asserted that women not covering their heads, specifically those not wearing the traditional ‘thattam’, are morally suspect.
A complaint by women’s rights activist V P Zuhara, head of the progressive Muslim women’s group NISA, led to an FIR being filed.
“When these ideas keep getting repeated by respected figures, it normalises discrimination and limits the freedom and aspirations of girls and women. It can make some people justify bad behaviour or dismiss the need for women’s rights, and that is really alarming,” Ruchi Puri, a teacher tells Media India Group.
“I think such remarks are irresponsible and disappointing, especially in a country as diverse as ours. They can divide people, fuel prejudice, and make public discourse less respectful and more toxic. It risks turning our communities against each other instead of promoting understanding and peace,” she adds.