Who is Jaya Kishori, the spiritual leader spotted with Rs 2 lakh Dior bag?

Jaya Kishori, a well-known spiritual speaker and devotional singer is in the limelight—but this time, it’s not for her discourses.

Recently, the 29-year-old preacher, who often advocates for simplicity and detachment, was seen with a custom-designed “Dior Book Tote” worth over Rs 2 lakh. The designer tote handbag was seen with Kishori as she arrived at an airport.

The video of the same quickly went viral on social media and has left viewers with several questions about the anti-materialism preacher.

So, who exactly is Jaya Kishori? And why has her choice of a luxury handbag caused such an outcry? Here’s a closer look

The backlash

A controversy erupted on social media after the devotional singer was seen with the luxury bag, which, according to Dior’s website, is crafted out of cotton and has a “cotton and calfskin” lining.

A social media user took to X and wrote, “Spiritual preacher Jaya Kishori deleted her video where she was carrying a Dior bag worth ₹ 210000 only. Btw she preaches Non-Materialism & calls herself as Devotee of Lord Krishna. One more thing: Dior makes bags by using Calf Leather.”

Spiritual preacher Jiya Kishori deleted her video where she was carrying a Dior bag worth ₹ 210000 only

btw she preach Non-Materialism & call herself as Devotee of Lord Krishna.

One more thing : Dior makes bag by using Calf Leather 🐄

pic.twitter.com/0mg3gcm7l9

— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) October 25, 2024

“She teaches you non-materialism. So that you people can follow and she can extract materialism out of that,” wrote one user, while another added, “That’s why we need to check our speakers and choose only genuine ones. If one doesn’t follow what she preaches, then she’s not the right speaker.”

Some even pointed to the other luxury items the spiritual speaker wore, such as a high-end Rolex watch, raising questions about the contrast between her teachings and her lifestyle.

Meet Jaya Kishori, she preach Non - Materialism during her religious preaching

But in private she often seen using expensive items like Dior bags, Rolex watch etc. Hypocrisy 🙃 pic.twitter.com/gdl3OGq4O9

— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) October 27, 2024

However, many came to Kishori’s defence saying, “So what, she is a kathavachak, not a sanyasi,” while another added, “It’s not about the possessions – it is about your attachment to them. Do you possess things or the things possess you, that is the question?”

Who is Jaya Kishori?

2.  Jaya Kishori was born on July 13, 1995, in Kolkata. She completed her schooling there and later pursued a B.Com through open schooling, according to ___India Times.___
  
4.  Although she initially aspired to be a dancer, and even featured in the reality show 'Boogie Woogie', as per _Aaj Tak._ However, life took a different turn. By age seven, she had gained recognition for her week-long 'Srimad Bhagwat Gita' katha and a three-day katha titled 'Katha Nani Bai Ro Mayro', which helped her rise as a prominent 'Hindu Kathakar.'
  
6.  Kishori has received numerous accolades, including the National Creators Award for social change in March 2024. This government-backed award was presented by PM Modi.
    
    
        

            
            
            
            
        
    
  
8.  Known for her devotion to Lord Krishna, she gained popularity through her bhajans on YouTube, where she has approximately 3.61 million subscribers. Her popular songs include 'Shiv Stotra', 'Mere Kanha', and 'Sajan Mero Girdhari'.
  
10.  She is often referred to as the "Mirabai" of her generation, with followers affectionately calling her "Kishori Ji." She frequently appears on podcasts discussing spirituality, religion, life-coaching, and relationships.
  
12.  The spiritual speaker also has a massive social media following, with 12.3 million followers on Instagram and 8.9 million on Facebook.
  
14.  According to _News18_, Kishori, popular for her storytelling, charges Rs 9,00,000 for each session, split into Rs 4,50,000 upfront and the remainder paid after the session.In an interview, she clarified, "It's true that I charge a fee, but I also pay many people in my team a salary. They all have families. While I deliver the stories, it’s not possible without my team."

2. Despite promoting non-materialism and selflessness, her net worth is estimated at Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore, according to Amar Ujala. The report claims that she donates half of her fees to the Narayan Seva Sansthan, an organisation dedicated to helping underprivileged and disabled children.

3. Earlier, Times Now citing reports claimed that Kishori was linked to Bageshwar Baba Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. They claimed that she was to tie the knot with the Bagehswar Baba. However,  Shastri reportedly denied the rumours and said that Jaya Kishori was like a sister to him.

With input from agencies