Asaram addresses followers on Guru Purnima, July 22. Asaram addresses followers on Guru Purnima, July 22.

Congress workers trample upon a portrait of Asaram. Congress workers trample upon a portrait of Asaram.

A boy is born to charcoal and firewood merchant Thaumal Harpalani and his wife Mehangiba in village Birani, Sindh province (now in Pakistan). They name the child Asumal. (Ashram literature says the birth was "blessed" and predicted by a wise man who gifted Thaumal and his wife a crib the evening before the birth.)The couple migrates to Ahmedabad's Maninagar locality. Asumal is sent to a local school but drops out of Class III. (Ashram literature says: "A childhood full of supernatural miracles followed by a brilliant and lustrous student life.")Asumal gets street-smart doing odd jobs, including reportedly plying tongas, selling tea and bootlegging. (Ashram literature says: His "youth had a strong sense of detachment, sadhana".)Asumal turns to spiritualism, learning meditation and yoga from Lilashah, a widely respected sadhu of Adipur (Kutch). Drops surname Harpalani and takes on the name Asaram.Floats a trust to establish his first ashram in Motera village on the banks of the Sabarmati river outside Ahmedabad.Now known as Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu, his following swells. Establishes hundreds of ashrams, a network of gurukuls and mahila kendras. Politicians of every party flock to him.In the first published allegation of sexual impropriety, a 20-year-old sadhika accuses him of sexual assault. Carried by one of Gujarat's oldest weeklies, the allegations cause a storm but are soon forgotten.Numerous allegations of grabbing both public and private land surface. Asaram is unfazed.Public outrage after bodies of two 10-year-old students of school run by his ashram are recovered from Sabarmati riverbed. The boys' parents insist their children were killed in tantric rituals inside the ashram. (Ashram says: "The boys died possibly due to drowning.")Modi government notifies Justice D.K. Trivedi Commission to probe allegations of tantric practices. [Asaram says: "Modi bhasma ho jayega (Modi will perish)."]Modi wins fourth term as Gujarat's chief minister.January Asaram raises storm, saying Delhi gang rape victim was as guilty as her attackers.Trivedi Commission submits report on the 2008 Vaghela cousins' killing. Findings to be tabled in state Assembly.Jodhpur police arrest Asaram from Indore ashram after 16-year-old devotee accuses him of rape. [Asaram says: "This is a conspiracy at the behest of Madam (Sonia Gandhi) and her son (Rahul)."]Police say the 72-year-old godman is sexually capable and 'potent'.