The Resume

(December 22, 1914-August 19, 2002)
Born in Chettipalayam, India
Birth name was C.K. Ramaswamy Gounder
Spiritual teacher and Integral Yoga instructor
Settled in the US (1966)
Founded the Light of Truth Universal Shrine at Yogaville in Buckingham County, Virginia (1986)

Why he might be annoying:

He was a vegetarian.
When his wife died, he left his young sons with their grandmother so he could go on a spiritual quest.
His chauffeur said that far from being serene and tranquil he was 'a bilious and unforgivably cranky old man.'
A number of female followers claimed he exploited his status as their spiritual guide to seduce them.
Membership in Integral Yoga dropped by a third when the allegations became public (1991).

Why he might not be annoying:

He had a mischievous sense of humor.
His followers included artist Peter Max, poet Allen Ginsburg, singers Carole King and Rivers Cuomo, and actors Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Richard Gere.
He received the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award (1993).
He delivered the opening blessing at Woodstock.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 22]
• I Died in 2002 (Ranked: 87)
• I Do Yoga
• I Drive a Rolls-Royce
• Look at Me, I'm Blowing Bubbles
• Profiles 26501-26750 (Ranked: 26590)
• Wizard Beards
• Woodstock '69 Performers

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 26 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 24 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 27 Votes: 70.37% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 53 Votes: 66.04% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying