Cynthia, thanks that is what one editor says too at Wikipedia but he does not provide references.

Wouldn't it be very implausible that a religious person with the name of "Ram" broke with the tradition as exemplified by the ideal father and ideal son in the Hindu epic Ramayana that the oldest son has the greatest authority and succeeds the father? The oldest son Rama eventually succeed king Dasaratha.

With regards to the Ramayana, the contrast between the intellectual achievements between my former guru and Prem Rawat continue to amaze me. Sathya Sai Baba (who is not a particularly intellectual type of guru) wrote his own romantic version of the Ramayana, called "Ramakatha Rasavahini". I know, of course that Rawat put an emphasis on "experience", but still.

Andries (amended, minor changes in contents)