From a near-fatal brain injury to a soul-stirring ride to Kailash, Sadhguru’s motorbike pilgrimage is redefining resilience and faith
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has set out on a motorbike journey to Mount Kailash, only months after undergoing two major brain surgeries.
The 67-year-old spiritual leader, who battled a life-threatening subdural hematoma last year, stunned many by choosing the high-altitude pilgrimage route — among them, actor R. Madhavan. Sharing the journey with him, Madhavan admitted his disbelief. “Who, after surviving two brain operations, would take on such a dangerous ride?” he asked. Sadhguru’s response was characteristically simple: “When the head is broken, I thought it’s best to put it in Shiva’s lap.”
The surgeries were necessitated after a freak accident in which Sadhguru, startled by a monkey, crashed into a glass door, leading to severe bleeding in the brain. Despite doctors’ warnings that another blow could prove fatal, he first completed his prior commitments before agreeing to the procedure.
Equally extraordinary was his recovery. He revealed losing nearly 25% of his thigh muscle mass during rehabilitation, yet chose to push forward with the arduous Kailash trek.
At the sacred site, he described feeling “reborn” within minutes of meditation — a moment that has become emblematic of his resilience.
