The Indian guru, who was declared dead six weeks ago, was placed in the refrigerator by his followers, which they believe will allow him to return to life.
Ashutosh Maharaj, leader of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (Divine Light Awakening Mission), is currently in a state of samadhi, the deepest form of meditation, and, according to followers, is sending them messages.
Mission spokesman Swami Vishalanand said the followers are currently waiting for their teacher to finish his meditation and get out of the freezer in Nurmahal, Punjab, northern India. Until then, they will be doing their own meditation and spiritual pursuits.
“Mahara-ji (a Hindi term for deep respect) still sends us messages. He asked us to protect his body until he returns,”Vishalanand said.
The decision to place the teacher in the freezer was challenged in court by a man claiming that his former driver and several of his friends do not want to part with Ashutosh's body because they expect to earn money from it. But the court dismissed the claim after a document was obtained from local authorities proving that the teacher's death was due to a heart attack.
“The court rejected his request after the Punjab government announced that Ashutosh Maharaj was in a state of clinical death and had previously given his consent for followers to decide for themselves what they want to do with his body,” said Rita Koli, a lawyer from the state of Punjab.
Senior precinct Gurinder Singh Dillon said the police "have no right to intervene" after the court announced its ruling.
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Mission's website says that she was founded in 1983 and has spiritual centers around the world, Mail Online notes.
According to Vishalananda, dozens of spiritual leaders are known to have traveled to the Himalayas for several months to indulge in samadhi in the cold before returning to life. Another representative, who heads a nearby village where many of the Maharaj's followers live, said, "When we close our eyes, we can speak to the Maharaja, who assured us that he will return."