Part III · Society and Organisation

Chapter 10

Religious Leadership and Institutions

Arena 2.3 · weight 3 · reading 68.8 · aligned majority

10.1Scope

The authority of religious leaders and institutions of every faith.¹

The arena is measured by YouTube subscribers and 12-month views of 193 religious leaders, ministries and institutions of every faith (Christian and Muslim included), organised institutions (temples and mathas against churches, mosques and madrasas) and the money of religious bodies.

10.2Significance

Trust networks that move votes, money and volunteers; festivals and pilgrimages; conversion and reconversion.

10.3Indicators and weights

Table 10.1 lists the 4 indicators of the arena, the weight of each within the arena, and each indicator’s reading (the Hindutva-aligned share, from 0 to 100).

Table 10.1. Indicators of arena 2.3

Indicator	Weight	Reading
YouTube subscribers of religious leaders, ministries and institutions (193 channels)²	0.20	54.1
YouTube views in the last 12 months, same channels³	0.20	63.3
Organised institutions (temples, mathas vs churches, mosques, madrasas)	0.30	82.3
Money of religious bodies (₹ cr a year)	0.30	68.6
Arena reading	1.00	68.8

10.4Reading

The arena reads 68.8, 18.8 points above parity, and is classified as aligned majority (a reading of 60 or above). With a weight of 3 of a total 107.7, it contributes 1.92 points to the composite reading of 45.7.

The indicators diverge: the highest reading is for organised institutions (temples, mathas vs churches, mosques, madrasas) (82.3), the lowest for YouTube subscribers of religious leaders, ministries and institutions (193 channels) (54.1).

Figure 10.1. Readings of arena 2.3 by indicator

050100

YouTube subscribers of religious leaders, ministries and institutions (193 channels)54.1

YouTube views in the last 12 months, same channels63.3

Organised institutions (temples, mathas vs churches, mosques, madrasas)82.3

Money of religious bodies (₹ cr a year)68.6

Arena reading68.8

Hindutva-alignedOpposed

Each bar divides the indicator between Hindutva-aligned (left) and opposed (right) holdings. The vertical rule marks parity.

10.5Measures and exhibits

The exhibits below are the Atlas’s own views of the data behind each measure: shares by side, the largest units, breakdowns by source, recipient and country, money-flow diagrams and time series. Full row-level ledgers are in the data file (Appendix D).

Measure 1. YouTube subscribers of religious leaders, ministries and institutions (193 channels)

Reading 54.1%

H 197.5m vs R 167.7m: Christian ministries 39.6m, Indian Muslim 19.9m, foreign Muslim 38.9m, Acharya Prashant 69.3m (religious_youtube_units.csv)

Figure 10.2. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (million followers)

Hindutva-aligned 187 million followers · 57.6%Opposed 129 million followers · 39.6%Transactional 0 million followers · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 8.9 million followers · 2.7%

Data table

	million followers	Share
Hindutva-aligned	187	57.6%
Opposed	129	39.6%
Transactional	0	0.0%
Neutral / not counted	8.9	2.7%

Figure 10.3. The 15 biggest of 119 (million followers)

Acharya Prashant (Hindi main)61.1

Premanand Ji Maharaj (Bhajan Marg)17.6

Aniruddhacharya16.6

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Gurudev, main)14.5

Sadhguru (main)12.8

Dhirendra Krishna Shastri (Bageshwar Dham)12.3

Baba Ramdev11.7

Pandit Pradeep Mishra (Sehore)9.05

Tariq Jameel8.84

Acharya Prashant (English)6.85

Sadhguru Hindi6.78

BK Shivani (Brahma Kumaris)6.44

Devkinandan Thakur5.71

Gaur Gopal Das (ISKCON monk)5.18

Bharat Swabhiman Trust (Patanjali)5.17

Hindutva-alignedOpposed

Data table

	million followers	Side
Acharya Prashant (Hindi main)	61.1	Opposed
Premanand Ji Maharaj (Bhajan Marg)	17.6	Hindutva-aligned
Aniruddhacharya	16.6	Hindutva-aligned
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Gurudev, main)	14.5	Hindutva-aligned
Sadhguru (main)	12.8	Hindutva-aligned
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri (Bageshwar Dham)	12.3	Hindutva-aligned
Baba Ramdev	11.7	Hindutva-aligned
Pandit Pradeep Mishra (Sehore)	9.05	Hindutva-aligned
Tariq Jameel	8.84	Opposed
Acharya Prashant (English)	6.85	Opposed
Sadhguru Hindi	6.78	Hindutva-aligned
BK Shivani (Brahma Kumaris)	6.44	Hindutva-aligned
Devkinandan Thakur	5.71	Hindutva-aligned
Gaur Gopal Das (ISKCON monk)	5.18	Hindutva-aligned
Bharat Swabhiman Trust (Patanjali)	5.17	Hindutva-aligned

Measure 2. YouTube views in the last 12 months, same channels

Reading 63.3%

H 11,723m vs R 6,803m: Christian 2,798m, Indian Muslim 428m, foreign Muslim 393m, Acharya Prashant 3,185m

Figure 10.4. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m))

Hindutva-aligned 20,883 views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m) · 72.9%Opposed 6,880 views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m) · 24.0%Transactional 0 views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m) · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 896 views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m) · 3.1%

Data table

	views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m)	Share
Hindutva-aligned	20,883	72.9%
Opposed	6,880	24.0%
Transactional	0	0.0%
Neutral / not counted	896	3.1%

Figure 10.5. The 15 biggest of 193 (views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m))

T-Series Bhakti Sagar7,580

Acharya Prashant (Hindi main)2,546

Dhirendra Krishna Shastri (Bageshwar Dham)2,516

Premanand Ji Maharaj (Bhajan Marg)1,977

Pandit Pradeep Mishra (Sehore)821

Bhajan Saar (Premanand Ji)743

Pujya Rajan Jee640

Aniruddhacharya566

Sadhan Path (Premanand Ji clips)534

Sadhguru (main)524

SGPC Sri Amritsar (Golden Temple live)478

Acharya Prashant (English)461

Garikipati Narasimha Rao306

Devi Chitralekhaji304

Dr P Satish Kumar (Calvary Temple)279

Hindutva-alignedOpposedNeutral / not counted

Data table

	views, 12 months Oct 2025-Sep 2026 (m)	Side
T-Series Bhakti Sagar	7,580	Hindutva-aligned
Acharya Prashant (Hindi main)	2,546	Opposed
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri (Bageshwar Dham)	2,516	Hindutva-aligned
Premanand Ji Maharaj (Bhajan Marg)	1,977	Hindutva-aligned
Pandit Pradeep Mishra (Sehore)	821	Hindutva-aligned
Bhajan Saar (Premanand Ji)	743	Hindutva-aligned
Pujya Rajan Jee	640	Hindutva-aligned
Aniruddhacharya	566	Hindutva-aligned
Sadhan Path (Premanand Ji clips)	534	Hindutva-aligned
Sadhguru (main)	524	Hindutva-aligned
SGPC Sri Amritsar (Golden Temple live)	478	Neutral / not counted
Acharya Prashant (English)	461	Opposed
Garikipati Narasimha Rao	306	Hindutva-aligned
Devi Chitralekhaji	304	Hindutva-aligned
Dr P Satish Kumar (Calvary Temple)	279	Opposed

Measure 3. Organised institutions: places of worship (Census 2011, by district faith shares) and madrasas

Reading 82.3%

Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain places of worship 25,16,860 vs Mosques, churches, other places of worship and madrasas 5,41,246

Measure 4. Money of religious bodies (₹ cr a year)

Reading 68.6%

Figure 10.6. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (₹ crore a year)

Hindutva-aligned 31,831 ₹ crore a year · 59.9%Opposed 14,552 ₹ crore a year · 27.4%Transactional 0 ₹ crore a year · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 6,764 ₹ crore a year · 12.7%

Data table

	₹ crore a year	Share
Hindutva-aligned	31,831	59.9%
Opposed	14,552	27.4%
Transactional	0	0.0%
Neutral / not counted	6,764	12.7%

Figure 10.7. The 15 biggest of 28 (₹ crore a year)

Hindu religious organisations - Others / unattributed (residual of national estimate)23,543

Muslim religious organisations (mosques, madrasas, dargahs, zakat trusts) - unattributed8,273

Jain religious organisations (national estimate)3,723

Christian religious organisations - Others / unattributed (residual)2,278

State grants to Muslim/Christian bodies, clergy, madrasas, Haj2,102

TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) hundi1,738

Sikh religious organisations total (national estimate)1,655

22 major AP Endowments temples combined1,504

SGPC budget1,386

FCRA receipts, religious purpose - Christian bodies1,345

Top 10 TN HR&CE temples combined (Palani 233.5 lead)942

Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan monetary donations638

Top 11 Karnataka Muzrai temples combined602

Sabarimala season revenue (TDB)443

Shree Jagannath Temple Puri budget (BE)413

Hindutva-alignedOpposedNeutral / not counted

Data table

	₹ crore a year	Side
Hindu religious organisations - Others / unattributed (residual of national estimate)	23,543	Hindutva-aligned
Muslim religious organisations (mosques, madrasas, dargahs, zakat trusts) - unattributed	8,273	Opposed
Jain religious organisations (national estimate)	3,723	Neutral / not counted
Christian religious organisations - Others / unattributed (residual)	2,278	Opposed
State grants to Muslim/Christian bodies, clergy, madrasas, Haj	2,102	Opposed
TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) hundi	1,738	Hindutva-aligned
Sikh religious organisations total (national estimate)	1,655	Neutral / not counted
22 major AP Endowments temples combined	1,504	Hindutva-aligned
SGPC budget	1,386	Neutral / not counted
FCRA receipts, religious purpose - Christian bodies	1,345	Opposed
Top 10 TN HR&CE temples combined (Palani 233.5 lead)	942	Hindutva-aligned
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan monetary donations	638	Hindutva-aligned
Top 11 Karnataka Muzrai temples combined	602	Hindutva-aligned
Sabarimala season revenue (TDB)	443	Hindutva-aligned
Shree Jagannath Temple Puri budget (BE)	413	Hindutva-aligned

Figure 10.8. The money flow: from whom, through which camp, to where84 flows counted, ₹61,244 crore.

Hindutva-aligned ₹35,138 cr · 57.4%Opposed ₹16,181 cr · 26.4%Transactional ₹136 cr · 0.2%Neutral / not counted ₹9,789 cr · 16.0%

Left: where the money comes from · Middle: the camp it strengthens · Right: where it goes

Figure 10.9. The biggest sources, by the camp their money strengthens (₹ crore)

Hindu devotees (national, residual)24,339

Muslim donors (national)8,273

Devotees6,258

Jain donors (national)3,723

Government of Madhya Pradesh (BJP)3,110

Christian donors (national, residual)2,278

Union Government2,100

Foreign donors (all, FCRA, religious purpose)1,743

Devotees (hundi)1,738

Government of Uttar Pradesh950

Government of West Bengal (TMC)824

Devotees (golak)652

Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted

Data table

	Hindutva-aligned	Opposed	Neutral / not counted	Total
Hindu devotees (national, residual)	24,339	0	0	24,339
Muslim donors (national)	0	8,273	0	8,273
Devotees	6,154	0	104	6,258
Jain donors (national)	0	0	3,723	3,723
Government of Madhya Pradesh (BJP)	50	0	3,060	3,110
Christian donors (national, residual)	0	2,278	0	2,278
Union Government	0	0	2,100	2,100
Foreign donors (all, FCRA, religious purpose)	328	1,364	51	1,743
Devotees (hundi)	1,738	0	0	1,738
Government of Uttar Pradesh	0	950	0	950
Government of West Bengal (TMC)	56.5	768	0	824
Devotees (golak)	0	0	652	652

Figure 10.10. The biggest recipients (₹ crore)

Unattributed Hindu religious organisations24,339

Unattributed Muslim religious organisations (mos8,273

Jain religious organisations3,723

Simhastha 2028 Ujjain3,060

Unattributed Christian religious organisations2,278

Maha Kumbh 2025 (UP govt)2,100

TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams)1,738

22 major AP Endowments temples1,504

Christian associations1,345

561 aided madrasas (teacher salaries)950

Top 10 TN HR&CE temples942

SGPC652

Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted

Data table

	Hindutva-aligned	Opposed	Neutral / not counted	Total
Unattributed Hindu religious organisations	24,339	0	0	24,339
Unattributed Muslim religious organisations (mos	0	8,273	0	8,273
Jain religious organisations	0	0	3,723	3,723
Simhastha 2028 Ujjain	0	0	3,060	3,060
Unattributed Christian religious organisations	0	2,278	0	2,278
Maha Kumbh 2025 (UP govt)	0	0	2,100	2,100
TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams)	1,738	0	0	1,738
22 major AP Endowments temples	1,504	0	0	1,504
Christian associations	0	1,345	0	1,345
561 aided madrasas (teacher salaries)	0	950	0	950
Top 10 TN HR&CE temples	942	0	0	942
SGPC	0	0	652	652

Figure 10.11. By country of origin (₹ crore)

IN58,636

multiple1,743

US450

DE287

GB98.3

CA29.4

Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted

Data table

	Hindutva-aligned	Opposed	Transactional	Neutral / not counted	Total
IN	34,620	14,142	136	9,738	58,636
multiple	328	1,364	0	51	1,743
US	190	260	0	0	450
DE	0	287	0	0	287
GB	0	98.3	0	0	98.3
CA	0	29.4	0	0	29.4

Measure 5. Context: shown for reference, not part of the reading

Figure 10.12. Organised institutions: places of worship (Census 2011, by district faith shares) and madrasas

Reading82.3%25,16,860 : 5,41,246

Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain places of worshipMosques, churches, other places of worship and madrasas

Data table

	Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain places of worship	Mosques, churches, other places of worship and madrasas	Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain places of worship share
Reading	25,16,860	5,41,246	82.3%

10.6Evidence base

The arena rests on 374 coded units and 87 money flows. Of the units and flows, 202 are coded Hindutva-aligned, 215 opposed and 44 neutral, mixed or transactional. By source grade: 47 grade A, 315 grade B, 82 grade C, 13 grade D, 4 grade E.

The full set of rows for this arena, each with its source, is in the Atlas data file (Appendix D).

Notes

Platform counts; CBCI; WAMSI; HR&CE. ↩
H 197.5m vs R 167.7m: Christian ministries 39.6m, Indian Muslim 19.9m, foreign Muslim 38.9m, Acharya Prashant 69.3m (religious_youtube_units.csv). ↩
H 11,723m vs R 6,803m: Christian 2,798m, Indian Muslim 428m, foreign Muslim 393m, Acharya Prashant 3,185m. ↩