Why IIT grad surrendered high-paying United States work to transform to spirituality–

At the grand Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where plenty of enthusiasts merge trying to find spiritual awakening, tales of extensive makeover are making waves. One such motivating story is that of Acharya Jaishankar Narayanan.

An IIT grad, Narayanan had a growing job in the United States, however his life took a phenomenal turn when he welcomed the extensive trainings of Vedanta and left his high-paying work behind.

Here’s a better take a look at his amazing trip.

‘IIT felt like a big achievement, but…’

Narayanan’s exceptional trip started at the respected IIT-BHU, where he made his design level in 1992. He quickly started a specialist job, beginning with Tata Steel.

In 1993, nevertheless, his life took an unforeseen turn when he relocated to theUnited States It was throughout this moment that he experienced the transformative trainings ofSwami Dayanand Saraswati This critical conference presented him to Vedanta, the extensive Indian viewpoint centred on self-realisation and infinite joy.

“I met Guru Ji for the first time, and after listening to his ‘pravachan’ I became interested in Vedanta,” Narayanan informed ANI.

By 1995, Narayanan went back to India with a restored feeling of function. He involved himself in a household program at the Gurukulam, devoting years to the extensive research of Vedanta andSanskrit His devotion thrived, as he ended up being a revered instructor of these old techniques.

Over the previous two decades, he has actually remained to educate at the Gurukul, sharing the knowledge he acquired via his spiritual trip.

Reflecting on his experiences, Narayanan confessed that while scholastic accomplishments like obtaining admission to IIT at first really felt significant, their relevance discolored with time.

“All achievements feel big only for the time being, but after some time it feels normal and you start working for your next target,” he clarified to RECTUM. “When I joined IIT, it felt like a great achievement, but there were so many others like me who cracked the entrance exam to get there. It didn’t feel like a big deal after that.”

#WATCH|Delhi: On his trip from IITian to Vedantacharya, Acharya Jaishankar Narayanan claims, ” I am a disciple of Swami Dayanand Saraswati… I lived in the Gurukulam for three years. Before that, I studied engineering at IIT-BHU for 4 years. I passed out in 1992 and worked at… pic.twitter.com/cBmfv3WoXr

— RECTUM (@ANI) January 25, 2025

Embracing spirituality

In a conversation with IANS, Acharya Narayanan explained his spiritual journey through Vedanta.

Reflecting on the universal search for happiness, he shared, “Despite all material achievements, I found that people, whether in India or the US, were unhappy. True happiness is not found in the material world but in self-knowledge and realization, as taught in Vedanta.”

He explained that salvation and eternal happiness, central to Indian culture, are attained through self-awareness, not reliant on the afterlife.

“Only happiness mixed with sorrow can be obtained. After that, it will go away. Sorrow remains because you cannot stop what you have from leaving. Union and separation will keep occurring. In such circumstances, we must consider what is eternal in life. Only that which transcends space and time is eternal. The scriptures show our true nature. This is the subject of Vedanta,” he said.

He also commented on the case of Abhey Singh, an IITian-baba who rose to popularity this Maha Kumbh. He urged people to focus on a person’s present path rather than their past.

“Like rivers that become pure despite their origins, a saint’s current actions should be valued more than their history. The stories of sages like Valmiki remind us of the transformative power of Dharma,” he told the news agency.

The story of Kumbh’s famous IIT Baba

Among the most discussed figures at Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh 2025 is Abhey Singh, famously known as the “IIT Baba.” A graduate of IIT Bombay, Singh’s transition from aerospace engineering to a life dedicated to spirituality has drawn widespread attention.

Hailing from Sasarouli village in Haryana, Singh followed a traditional academic route, excelling in his studies at IIT Bombay and later securing a high-paying job in Canada, earning an annual salary of Rs 36 lakh.

However, despite his success, Singh struggled with depression while living abroad, which led him to question the purpose of life and the workings of the human mind. Seeking answers, he quit his job and returned to India to explore spirituality.

Recently, Singh’s spiritual journey took a contentious turn when he was expelled from the Juna Akhara. He faced allegations of misconduct, including using abusive language towards his guru, Mahant Someshwar Puri, and accusations of drug use made by fellow ascetics.

In an interview with India Today, Singh denied the accusations, claiming they were baseless and motivated by jealousy over his rising popularity.

“They think I’ve become famous and might expose something about them, so they’re spreading nonsense, claiming I’ve gone for secret meditation,” he said, asserting that he remains actively involved in the religious gathering.

Singh also criticised Mahant Someshwar Puri, who had earlier referred to Singh as his disciple. Refuting this claim, Singh stated, “I had already clarified there is no guru-disciple relationship between us. Now that I’ve gained recognition, he’s positioning himself as my guru,” as quoted in a report by Aaj Tak.

With input from agencies