These sources have no reliable sources on which to base their estimates. The ashrams were closed by Rawat 20 years ago so the estimates based on number of ashrams can be discounted, as can the estimates based on DLM 70s claims such as the 6 million claim in the book 'Who is Guru Maharaj Ji'.

It is difficult to estimate the number of adherents for these reasons:-

1. There is no membership system. EV do operate a Smart Card system for attendance at events, but do not divulge the number of holders.

2. Events are now expensive, especially the flagship Amaroo events, which excludes many low income followers. I'm sure there are many premies who still believe in Rawat who are now below the radar.

3. Many premies who maintained belief in Rawat for many years have quietly exited through reading, or hearing of, the information on the internet.

4. Attendance at events in India is unreliable because of the tradition there of going to see every holy man who passes through.

5. The number of people initiated is unreliable evidence as EV publish no follow up data.

The only reliable indicator outside India is attendance at premie-only events, and the numbers supporting Rawat's work financially. EV publish no historical data but leaked data about the attendance at Amaroo shows a gradual decline since 1997.

My guess is that outside India and Africa (I exclude Africa as no data is available) Rawat has about 10,000 loyal followers, and about 20,000 peripheral followers.