Prayagraj: The Hindu name ‘Kamala’ has been given to Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, as she has become the centre of attraction at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj by her spiritual guru, Swami Kailashanand. Yesterday, the billionaire businesswoman submerged herself in the Sangam, the world’s largest religious gathering, for a holy dip.
Mahant Ravindra Puri of Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani and president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad elaborated on Powell Jobs’ spiritual journey. He said that her quest for spirituality had led her here. “She is arguably one of the wealthiest, most powerful people in the world, yet she’s remarkably humble and unpretentious.”
Avoiding media interactions, Powell Jobs has been wearing a yellow salwar suit with a rudraksha mala. She remembered her humility, how she refused to be invited to the stage at a public event, instead choosing to sit at the back.
Powell Jobs’ guru, Swami Kailashanand, also mentioned that she had developed a mild cold due to weather changes and hence was not able to bathe in the Ganges on Tuesday. But she had taken a holy dip on Monday.
Swami Kailashanand said Kamala was here and was resting in the camp. The girl is very simple and wants to learn about Sanatan Dharma.”But she has thousands of questions about the guru and Sanatan, which we are answering.”
The fact that Powell Jobs was at the Mahakumbh shows increasing international fascination with India’s spiritual traditions. In the middle of the mela, her participation acts as a bridge between Silicon Valley’s tech world and ancient Hindu practices.