Editing Divine Light Mission (section)

===International Footprints===

In 1971, Rawat, then known as Guru Maharaji Ji, travelled to the West against his mother's wish & will.<ref name=autogenerated9>Lewis (1998), p. 301</ref> DLM was established in the U.S. and the UK. The U.S. branch was headquartered in [[Denver, Colorado]]. It was registered there as a non-profit corporation and in 1974 was recognized as a church by the United States [[Internal Revenue Service]] under section 501(c)(3).<ref name="Hunt 2003, pp.116-7">Hunt (2003), pp.116-7</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=amex&ein=23-7174539#rptlink1 |title=American Express Search – ELAN VITAL INC |publisher=GuideStar |access-date=2014-07-17}}</ref>

By 1972 DLM was operating in North and South America, Europe and Australia. By 1973, DLM was operating in 37 countries, tens of thousands of people had been initiated (become premies) and several hundred centers and dozens of ashrams formed in the U.S. and the UK. DLM said it had 8,000 devotees and forty ashrams at that time.<ref name=autogenerated1>Oz in the Astrodome; Middle-class premies find Guru. The guru enthroned by Ted Morgan, New York Times, 9 December 1973, Page 338</ref><ref name="autogenerated5"/><ref name="Price 1979">Price (1979)</ref>

In the United States, the staff at the headquarters grew to 125, and [[Telex]]es connected the headquarters with the ashrams.<ref name=autogenerated6>"Indian Shrewdness Plus American Merchandising Equals Guru", BETTY FLYNN ''Chicago Daily News''</ref> Social service facilities, including a medical clinic in New York City, were opened. A Women's Spiritual Right Organization dedicated to reaching out to persons in prisons, mental institutions and hospitals, was organized.<ref name=autogenerated5>Melton (1986), pp. 141-145</ref><ref>Messer in Glock & Bellah (1976), pp. 52-72</ref> The U.S. DLM published two periodicals: ''And It Is Divine'' (''AIID''), a monthly magazine with a circulation of 90,000; and ''Divine Times'', a biweekly newspaper with a circulation of 60,000.<ref>"Snowballing Movement Centers On Teen-Age Guru From India", AP, ''THE LAWTON CONSTITUTION-MORNING PRESS'', Sunday, 29 July 1973</ref> The cover price of ''AIID'' was $1 but most were given away free, as were the advertisements.<ref>Messer in Glock & Bellah (1976), p. 66</ref> The World Peace Corps (WPC) was established as a security force to provide protection for Rawat. After Bob Mishler, the DLM President, was removed from power he said that Rawat got the idea to start a bodyguard unit after watching ''The Godfather''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=UPI|author-link=United Press International|title=Maharaj Ji has Jones-like traits|periodical=Chronicle-Telegram|location=Elyria|page=A–3|date=25 November 1978}}</ref> The WPC became the organizing agent of meetings and businesses.<ref name="Price 1979"/> A variety of businesses were founded under US DLM auspices including laundromats, used clothing stores, a plane charter agency ("Divine Travel Services"), a repair service, and the "Cleanliness-is-Next-to-Godliness" janitorial service.<ref name=autogenerated6 /><ref>"Guru's 17th birthday observed", KENNETH T. WALSH Associated Press, ''GREELEY (Colo.) TRIBUNE'' 11 December 1974 p.16</ref>