Latest news with #Takayuki
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Japanese businessman leaves empire behind to become Shiva devotee in Uttarakhand: ‘That dream changed everything'
A 41-year-old Japanese man has traded his business empire for a life of spiritual pursuit in India. Hoshi Takayuki, now known as Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, was once the owner of a successful chain of beauty product stores in Tokyo. Today, he is a saffron-clad Shiva devotee, walking barefoot on a pilgrimage through Uttarakhand. Accompanied by 20 Japanese followers, Mr Takayuki was recently spotted participating in the Kanwar Yatra, carrying holy Ganga water. He also organised a two-day food camp for fellow kanwariyas in Dehradun, offering meals as part of his spiritual service. According to a report in The Times of India, Mr Takayuki's spiritual journey began nearly 20 years ago during a visit to Tamil Nadu, where he encountered Nadi astrology, an ancient Siddha practice involving palm-leaf manuscripts. The reading reportedly revealed that he had lived a past life in the Himalayas and was destined to follow a path rooted in Hindu spirituality. The turning point, however, came in a vivid dream. 'I saw myself in Uttarakhand in a past life. That dream changed everything,' he told TOI. Following this experience, Mr Takayuki gave up his business and adopted a new spiritual identity. He converted his Tokyo home into a Shiva temple and built another shrine soon after. In July, he returned to India to join the Kanwar Yatra. His friend Ramesh Sundriyal, an Indian-origin resident of Japan, shared that Mr Takayuki has also purchased 35 acres of land in Puducherry, where he plans to build a major Shiva temple. An ashram in Uttarakhand is also on the cards. 'I feel deeply attached to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. I believe I spent my past life here and am still searching for my village in the hills,' Mr Takayuki said.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"Deeply Attached To Devbhoomi Uttarakhand": Tokyo Businessman Gives Up Beauty Empire To Become Shiva Devotee
A 41-year-old Japanese man is making headlines for leaving behind his thriving business empire to become a saffron-clad Shiva devotee. Now known as Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, Hoshi Takayuki once owned a chain of 15 successful beauty product stores in Tokyo. But now? He is a Lord Shiva devotee on a soul-searching journey through Uttarakhand. Dressed in traditional saffron attire and accompanied by 20 Japanese followers, he was recently seen walking barefoot during the Kanwar Yatra, carrying sacred Ganga water. He reportedly also hosted a two-day food camp for fellow kanwariyas in Dehradun as part of his pilgrimage. Mr Takayuki's spiritual journey began two decades ago in Tamil Nadu, as per The Times of India. During the trip, he stumbled upon a Nadi astrology - an ancient Siddha practice that interprets life from palm-leaf manuscripts said to date back thousands of years. During the reading, he was reportedly told that he had lived a past life in the Himalayas and was destined to follow Hindu spirituality. Then, shortly after returning to Tokyo, Mr Takayuki said that he had a vivid dream. "I saw myself in Uttarakhand in a past life. That dream changed everything," he told TOI. Hoshi Takayuki, a 41-year-old former businessman from Tokyo, once owned a successful chain of 15 beauty-product stores in Japan. However, he gave up his luxurious lifestyle to fully embrace Hindu spirituality and devotion to Lord Shiva. Now known as Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, Hoshi… — Neeraj Singh Dogra 🇮🇳 (@dogra_ns) July 24, 2025 Moved by this experience, Mr Takayuki decided to hand over his business empire to his followers and adopted a new spiritual identity and changed his name to Bala Kumbha Gurumuni. He also transformed his Tokyo home into a full-fledged Shiva temple and even constructed a second shrine. Mr Takayuki returned to India this July and is currently hosting a two-day food camp for kanwariyas in Dehradun as part of his yatra. Moreover, according to his friend Ramesh Sundriyal, an Indian expatriate from Pauri Garhwal and long-time Japan resident, the 41-year-old has purchased 35 acres of land in Puducherry, where he plans to build a major Shiva temple. He also intends to open an ashram in Uttarakhand soon. "I feel deeply attached to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. I believe I spent my past life here and am still searching for my village in the hills," he said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Mahamandaleshwar title for Tokyo man on kanwar yatra
Haridwar: Hoshi Takayuki, 41, from Tokyo, who gave up his chain of 15 beauty-care product stores after embracing Hinduism, will be conferred the title of mahamandaleshwar by the Niranjani Akhara, one of the 13 prominent seer sects in the country. He arrived in India with 20 of his followers for a spiritual journey, taking part in the yatra and visiting temples across Uttarakhand. Takayuki, who renamed himself Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, said his spiritual journey began 20 years ago after an astrological reading in Tamil Nadu "revealed" he had lived a past life in the Himalayas and would one day turn to Hinduism for a higher purpose. He said a dream in which he saw himself in Uttarakhand in a previous life further deepened his conviction. Announcing the decision to bestow the title, Niranjani Akhara secretary Swami Ravindra Puri on Wednesday said, "Gurumuni's dedication to spreading Sanatan Dharma reflects its universal essence and the richness of our culture and traditions." Puri told TOI that Takayuki's PRO, Ramesh Sundriyal from Uttarakhand, first approached him about six months ago, seeking a meeting. After finally meeting Takayuki on Wednesday, Puri found him "eligible for the title. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Al Tech Millionaire Warns: If You Have $250, Do This Smartlife Read More Undo " "Gurumuni runs an ashram in Japan and has over 3,000 followers, most of whom practise Buddhism. Because of his love for Sanatan Dharma, he adopted it as his own religion and is eager to work for its promotion," he added. Takayuki has also expressed plans to build an ashram in Uttarakhand and a Shiva temple on the Niranjani Akhara premises within the next few months.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tokyo millionaire walks away from beauty empire to chase past life visions in Shiva's land during Kanwar Yatra
Among thousands of saffron-draped sadhus and common people, heading to Haridwar for the Kanwar Yatra, one stands out, Hoshi Takayuki, 41, a former Japanese entrepreneur who once ran a chain of 15 beauty product stores in Tokyo. But now? He is Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, a Lord Shiva devotee on a soul-searching journey through Uttarakhand. From Tokyo to Trishul: The unlikely yogi tale of Hoshi Takayuki What sparked this transformation? A spiritual rollercoaster that started two decades ago in Tamil Nadu. During a trip, Takayuki stumbled upon a Nadi astrology centre, yes, the ancient palm-leaf-reading thing, and the predictions apparently blew his mind. He was told that he had once lived as a Himalayan sage and was destined to return to Hindu spirituality. Talk about a plot twist. A Lord #Shiva devotee, Takayuki has built two shrines in the deity's honour; but his spiritual journey began 20 years ago with a trip to #TamilNadu, where an astrological reading "revealed his past life".Details here 🔗 Dreams, destiny, and a full-blown Shiva obsession Back in Tokyo, Takayuki said he dreamt of being in Uttarakhand in another lifetime. That one dream set off a chain reaction. He soon handed over his business empire to his followers (power move, honestly) and dedicated himself entirely to a spiritual life. Fast-forward to today, he has transformed his Tokyo home into a full-fledged Shiva temple and even constructed a second shrine. He now goes by his spiritual name, which he said was revealed in a second Nadi reading, Bala Kumbha Gurumuni. Kanwar Yatra, ashrams, and big plans for India Takayuki is not walking this path alone. He is currently in India with a squad of 20 followers, offering free food to fellow kanwariyas in a Dehradun camp. According to his long-time friend and Japan-based Indian consultant Ramesh Sundriyal, Takayuki is planning to set up an ashram in Uttarakhand and has already bought 35 acres in Puducherry to build a majestic Shiva temple. The spiritual influencer, because let's be honest, he kind of is one—says he still feels deeply connected to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and is convinced he lived there in a past life. He is still searching for what he calls 'his lost village.' Now that is what you call a full-circle reincarnation arc.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Searching for ‘past life': Tokyo man who owned 15 beauty product stores takes part in Kanwar yatra; ‘I've turned my home into a Shiva temple'
DEHRADUN: Among the saffron-clad sadhus heading to Haridwar for the kanwar yatra is Hoshi Takayuki, 41, from Tokyo, who gave up his chain of 15 beauty product stores after embracing Hinduism. A Lord Shiva devotee, Takayuki has built two shrines in the deity's honour; but his spiritual journey began 20 years ago with a trip to Tamil Nadu, where an astrological reading "revealed his past life". It was during this visit that he underwent a session of Nadi astrology, a practice that claims to predict an individual's past, present, and future through palm leaf manuscripts said to be written by sages. Takayuki was told he had lived a past life in the Himalayas and would one day turn to Hindu spirituality for the greater good. After returning to Tokyo, he said he had a dream in which he saw himself in Uttarakhand in a previous life. That dream, he said, deepened his conviction and led him to embrace Hinduism fully. He later handed over his business to followers and devoted himself to spiritual life. Takayuki said he adopted the spiritual name Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, as revealed in a second Nadi astrology reading six years ago. He returned to India this July with 20 of his followers to take part in the ongoing yatra and visit temples across Uttarakhand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo "I feel deeply attached to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. I believe I spent my past life here and am still searching for my village in the hills," Takayuki told TOI over the phone on Tuesday, en route to Dehradun, where he is running a two-day camp offering food to kanwariyas. "I've turned my Tokyo home into a Shiva temple and recently built another one," he added. Ramesh Sundriyal, a resident of Pauri Garhwal and a business consultant in Japan since 2007, who is accompanying Takayuki said the latter is planning to open an ashram in Uttarakhand soon and has already bought 35 acres of land in Puducherry to build a Shiva temple.
