Rodgers Follows Guru

Denver (AP) - Johnny Rodgers of Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football league, has become a devotee of Guru Maharaj Ji, the 18-year-old leader of a religious group which claims 1.2 million members worldwide.

Rodgers is scheduled to meet with the guru in Denver in Sunday along with about 25 other followers, to plan the guru's North American tour this spring.

Joe Anctil, press secretary for the Divine Light Mission the formal name of the group said Rodgers became a follower of the Indian youth on April 11, 1974.

Rodgers, 24, won the Heisman Trophy while he played at the University of Nebraska in 1971.

The guru's following is based on receiving "The Knowledge," a term used for receiving the guru's message. Some of the followers live in Ashrams of devotees while others continue in any lifestyle they choose.

The organization head office is in Denver and the guru arrived here Monday night after a South American tour. A South African tour is scheduled in two weeks and the North American tour, with a stop in Montreal, begins April 30.