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Nithyananda

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For other uses, see Nityananda (disambiguation).

Swami
Nithyananda
Personal
Born
Arunachalam Rajasekaran

(1978-01-01) 1 January 1978 (age 46)[1]
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India
ReligionHinduism
Organization
Founder ofNithyananda Dhyanapeetam
PhilosophyAdvaita Vedanta

Nithyananda (born Arunachalam Rajasekaran;[a] 1 January 1978), is an Indian self-styled "godman"[2] (a charismatic religious figure who claims to perform the miraculous). Following charges of rape and abduction filed in Indian courts, Nithyananda fled India and has remained in hiding since 2019.[3] He is the subject of a court-issued non-bailable warrant relating to the allegations.[4][5] Nithyananda is also wanted since 2019 for unrelated fraud charges in France.[6]

He is the founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, a trust that owns temples, gurukulas, and ashrams in many countries. A number of mainstream news outlets, inside and outside India,[7][2][8][9][10][11][12][13] and a TV documentary series on Disney [14] have referred to the organisation as a cult, its leader as a conman,[15][8][16] and his micronation of Kailaasa a scam;[7][16] his organization has denied any wrongdoing.[16]

In 2020, he announced the founding of his own self-proclaimed island nation called Kailaasa,[17][18] though some evidence suggests he had been promoting the idea for around 20 years.[7]

Early life

Nithyananda was born Arunachalam Rajasekaran[19][20] in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, to father Arunachalam and mother Lokanayaki. He belongs to the Saiva Vellala community.[21][20] Sources conflict as to his birth date – a 2003 United States visa gave a date of 13 March 1977, while a sworn affidavit in a 2010 Karnataka High Court case mentioned 1 January 1978.[20]

Nithyananda at various ages

He was first noticed at the age of three by Yogiraj Yogananda Puri.[21][22] He claims to have had powerful spiritual experiences from age 12 and to have experienced full enlightenment at 22.[23]

In 2002 (age 24), he began his public life under the name Nithyananda.[24] He says that this name was given to him by Mahavatar Babaji in a mystical experience during his monastic wandering days in the Himalayas.[24][25] In 2003, he started his ashram Dhyanapeetam in Bidadi near Bangalore, Karnataka.[21]

Recognition

Nithyananda was formerly a chairman of Florida-based Hindu University of America.[26] In 2012, Nithyananda was recognized as one of the "100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People" by Watkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine.[27] Also in 2012, Nithyananda was appointed the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam.[28][29][disputed – discuss] In February 2013, the title of Mahamandaleshwar was conferred on Nithyananda in a closed ceremony by the Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara.[30][31]

Conferred as Mahamandaleshwar at Kumbh Mela, 2013

Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, a religious organisation founded by Nithyananda, hosts cultural events in United States as well as India.[19][32][1][33] They hold two Guinness World Records: one for the largest rope yoga class,[34] and one for the largest pole yoga (mallakhamba) class.[35][19]

Teachings

Nithyananda has given discourses on various scriptures like Brahma Sutras, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Shiva Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita.[36]

Claims of paranormal abilities

Nithyananda has made several pseudoscientific claims, including that he delayed the sunrise for 40 minutes, that he could make cattle speak in Tamil and Sanskrit, and that he could disprove the correctness of the mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

He has claimed to have discovered over 400 siddhis, or paranormal abilities, expressible by humans and alleges having initiated his disciples into 60 such powers[44] including kundalini and third-eye awakening.[45][46][47] He has since asserted he would open the third eye, for anyone, free of charge by 2021, claiming that the person would be able to see through smog and walls.[48] Disciples of Nithyananda claim that he gave initiations through "third eye" to a class of 82 blind children,[49] thus curing them of blindness. Skeptic Narendra Nayak challenged Nithyananda to prove his claims.[50]

Nithyananda has also claimed that he and his followers were able to perform activities like extrasensory perception,[51][52][53] materialisation, body scanning,[46] increasing height,[54] and remote viewing, and that they had the ability to find lost objects.[55]

Nithananda has also claimed to be a human avatar of the Hindu divinity Paramashiva[11] (the meaning of his epithet Nithyananda Paramashivam).

Controversies

In 2010, Sun TV telecast video recordings that claimed to show Nithyananda and an actress Ranjitha (who was one of his followers) in a bedroom. The story became viral among news media in Tamil Nadu.[56] Nithyananda and Ranjitha claimed the video to be fabricated and accused Sun TV of extortion.[57] A forensic sciences laboratory in Bengaluru confirmed that the video appeared to be that of Nithyananda and Ranjitha.[58] Sun TV and other media channels since then were subject to various lawsuits.[59][58][60][61] Ranjitha filed a complaint with the High Court of Karnataka against news channels.[62][63] Channels were ordered to apologize to Ranjitha for violating the complainant's privacy and dignity.[64][65][66][67][68][69]

In 2010, a United States citizen who was a disciple of Nithyananda accused him of raping her in the US and in India repeatedly over the course of five years.[70] She filed a complaint with the police department of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who did not commence any formal investigation.[71] She also filed a complaint with the Karnataka Police in India. On 19 February 2018, the Third Additional District and Sessions Court in Ramanagara ordered the framing of charges against Nithyananda and five others in relation to the case. Criminal revision petitions by the accused were dismissed in the Karnataka High Court on 16 May 2018.[72] An appeal against the High Court decision in the Supreme Court of India, in which all of the accused pleaded not guilty (except for one who was absent from court), was dismissed on 1 June 2018, following which charges were framed in the Ramanagara court on 4 June.[73][74] In August 2022, the Third Additional District and Sessions Court in Ramanagara issued a non-bailable warrant against Nithyananda following multiple orders to appear in court.[4]

In 2019, a couple from Tamil Nadu approached the High Court of Gujarat claiming that three of their four children were taken to Nithyananda's ashram in Ahmedabad from Bangalore without their knowledge; the couple sought return of their children to their custody. A first information report (FIR) for alleged abduction was filed by the Gujarat Police in relation to the case on 17 November 2019.[75][76][77] In affidavits filed in the Gujarat High Court from various locations in the Americas, two of the missing children, who were by that time adults, rejected their father's claim that they have been detained forcibly.[78] In a joint live video statement, the two girls further claimed that their father had plotted the abduction controversy after his name cropped up in an embezzlement case.[79][better source needed] On 2 February 2024, the High Court of Gujrat dismissed the habeas corpus filed by the daughter's father. The court reached this conclusion after interviewing the daughters via video conference. The court noted that the daughters are adults and mature and are consciously residing at a place (Jamaica) and following a spiritual path.[80][81]

Nithyananda was the subject of the 2022 Discovery docu-series My Daughter Joined a Cult, streamed internationally.[14][82]

Flight from India

On 20 November 2019, the Gujarat Police issued a statement that Nithyananda fled India after choosing not to appear at several court hearings.[17] Some senior police officials did not discount the possibility that he was still in India.[83] Nithyananda wrote to the United Nations in 2021, claiming persecution and seeking recognition of his new "Hindu nation" Kailaasa.[84] He also claimed attempts at mob lynching and assassination as reasons he was forced to withdraw himself from Indian society.[85][86][87]

The Gujarat Police suspected that he could be shuffling between Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago, while news reports said that he may have gone to Ecuador because the country does not have an extradition treaty with India.[88] The same month, the Embassy of Ecuador said that it "categorically denies the statement wherever published that Nithyananda was given asylum by Ecuador or has been helped by the Government of Ecuador in purchasing any land or island in South America", but has confirmed Nithyananda had reached Ecuador after he left India, then left soon after his request for international personal protection (refuge) was denied.[89]

The French government also has been seeking Nithyananda's whereabouts since 2019, to answer for fraud charges brought by a former devotee in France who claimed he was cheated by the guru out of an amount around US$400,000.[6]

Kailaasa nation

Main article: Kailaasa

In December 2019, Nithyananda claimed that he had created a new "Hindu nation" microstate called Kailaasa (also known as Shrikailasa, Kailasa, and United States of Kailaasa[3] or USK[90]) and claimed to issue passports, currency, and other documents.[91][92][93][94] Nithyananda claims that Kailaasa is the world's only sovereign Hindu nation.[95] Kailaasa has also been described as a network of non-governmental organisations spanning three continents.[96][97] The general consensus among the mainstream press is that Kailaasa is a fictional "fake country" and even a scam or con.[3][90][16][15][98][10][13][99]

Publications

  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2004). Open the door... let the breeze in!. Life Bliss Foundation. ISBN 978-8190243711.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2004). Meditation is for You: An Introduction to the Science and Art of Meditation. Life Bliss Foundation. ISBN 978-8190243742.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2008). Guaranteed Solutions for Lust, Fear, Worry ... Life Bliss Foundation. ISBN 978-1606070314.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2008). Living Enlightenment. Life Bliss Foundation. ISBN 978-1606070482.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2009). Arunachala! The Giver of Nithyananda. Nithyananda Yoga & Meditation University. ISBN 978-1606070581.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2011). Bhagavad Gita Demystified. Nithyananda University. ISBN 978-1606071328.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2011). Guaranteed Solutions: Spirituality, Meditation & Self-Help. Life Bliss Foundation. ISBN 9781606070314.
  • Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2017). Nithyananda Yoga: Evolution of the New Species. Nithyananda University Press. ISBN 978-1-60607-194-6.

Notes

  1. ^ In this Indian name, the name Arunachalam is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Rajasekaran.

References

  1. ^ a b Tripathi, Ashish (17 March 2018). "Nithyananda moves SC against his removal as pontiff of Madurai Adheenam Mutt". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b Sawer, Patrick; Joshi, Poonam (11 December 2022). "Work of cult leader wanted by Indian police promoted in Houses of Parliament Diwali pamphlet". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Paraguay official resigns after signing agreement with fictional country". AP News. Associated Press. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Karnataka Bengaluru Highlights: Non-bailable warrant against controversial godman Nithyananda". The Indian Express. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Karnataka: Court issues non-bailable warrant against Nithyananda". The Siasat Daily. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b Pandey, Munish Chandra (5 December 2019). "Now, French govt launches fraud investigation against rape-accused Nithyananda". India Today. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Stieb, Matt (23 March 2023). "How a Fake Hindu Nation Scammed Its Way Across America". "Intelligencer" department. New York. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b Pundir, Pallavi (24 March 2023). "This Fake Country Is Run by a Guru Accused of Rape. How Did It End Up at the UN?". Vice. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Story of Swami Nityananda: From founding fake country Kailasa to entering UN, here's how he conned 30 US cities". Daily News and Analysis. Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b Aitken, Peter (2 December 2023). "South American official fired after signing agreement with country made up by Indian 'holy' conman". Fox News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
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  13. ^ a b Creitz, Charles (19 March 2023). "Politicians, cities forging ties with fake Hindu cult leader reveals pitfalls of 'inclusivity': Buck Sexton". Fox News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b Singh, Suhani (9 June 2022). "How documentary series 'My Daughter Joined a Cult' shines a light on India's obsession with godmen". India Today. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  15. ^ a b Medeiros, Dan (17 March 2023). "Fall River gave 'official proclamation' to Indian scammer guru who invented a fake country". The Herald News. Fall River, Massachusetts. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
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  17. ^ a b "Nithyananda has fled India: Gujarat Police". The Hindu. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  18. ^ Kumar, Ankit (21 August 2020). "Exclusive: Behind Nithyananda's Kailaasa empire, a hidden maze of companies and NGOs". India Today. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Raghunath, R. (22 November 2019). "All you want to know about Nithyananda". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  20. ^ a b c "Nithyananda may have forged birth documents". Deccan Herald. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  21. ^ a b c "'I am a virgin. I have no libido'". The Telegraph. West Bengal. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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  23. ^ Dale, Edward (2011). "Evolutionary Developmental Biology, the Human Life Course, and Transpersonal Experience". The Journal of Mind and Behavior. 32 (4): 280. ISSN 0271-0137. JSTOR 43854311.
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  25. ^ Nithyananda, Paramahamsa (2006). His Name is Nithyananda (2nd ed.). Nithyananda Vedic Sciences University Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-934364-30-7.
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  33. ^ Rohit, Parimal M. "Temples Come Together to Celebrate 'Kumbh Mela USA'". India West. San Leandro, California. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  34. ^ "Search: rope yoga". GuinnessWorldRecords.com. Jim Pattison Group. 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017. The largest rope yoga lesson is of 272 participants and was organized by H.H. Sri Nithyananda Swami (India) and Nithyananda University (USA) in Bengaluru, India, on 30 September 2017. Rope yoga involves completing postures on a rope suspended from the ceiling. It was performed by disciples of Swami Nithyananda at their ashram outside Bengaluru, India.
  35. ^ "Search: pole yoga". GuinnessWorldRecords.com. Jim Pattison Group. 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017. The largest mallakhamba lesson is of 263 participants and was achieved by H.H. Sri Nithyananda Swami (India) and Nithyananda University (USA) at Bengaluru, India, on 3 October 2017. Mallakhamba is a traditional Indian exercise form where yoga postures are done on a vertical wooden pole.
  36. ^ "'I am a virgin. I have no libido'". The Telegraph. West Bengal. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Swami Nithyananda: I can make cows speak in Tamil and Sanskrit". India Today. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  38. ^ "From universe following him to cows speaking in Sanskrit, Swami Nithyananda has planned it all". OneIndia.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
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  42. ^ "Controversial seer Nithyanada says he stopped sunrise for 40 minutes in Bidadi". Newsable.AsianetNews.com. Asianet News Network. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
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  44. ^ Saxena, Lalit (2016). "नित्यानंद बोले ड्रग, डिप्रेशन और डेथ से बचाएगा डिवाइन पॉवर" [Nityananda to Save from Drugs, Depression and Death with Divine Power]. Rajasthan Patrika / Patrika Ujjain (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018. मनुष्य में कोई 400 प्रकार की अद्भुत शक्तियां हैं। ध्यान, सिद्ध अद्वैत योग का अभ्यास उन शक्तियों को जाग्रत कर सकता है। यह वैदिक विज्ञान है। इसमें किसी तरह का जादू नहीं है। अभी हम यहां शिविर में 60 प्रकार की ऊर्जा के विकसित स्वरूप के दर्शन कर सकते हैं, शेष 340 भी कर सकते हैं [There are about 400 types of amazing powers in humans. Meditation, practice of Siddha Advaita Yoga can awaken those powers. This is Vedic science. There is no magic in this. Right now we can see the developed form of 60 types of energy here in the camp, the remaining 340 can also be seen]
  45. ^ "नित्यानंद ने 70 लोगों को दी दीक्षा" [Nithyananda initiated 70 people]. Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 April 2018. कल्पतरु दर्शन शिविर में शनिवार को योगाभ्यास, सत्संग व कीर्तन के साथ 70 लोगों को स्वामी नित्यानंद ने गुरुमंत्र की दीक्षा दी। इस दौरान स्वामी नित्यानंद गुरुकुल के बटुकों द्वारा त्रिनेत्र शक्ति का प्रदर्शन किया गया। [During Kalpataru darshan on saturday along with yoga practise, satsang and devotional songs, 70 people were initiated into Gurumantra by Nithyananda. At the same time, children of Swami Nithyananda's gurukul school demonstrated third eye powers.]
  46. ^ a b "कल्पतरु दर्शन शिविर में त्रिनेत्र शक्ति का प्रदर्शन" [Third Eye power demonstration during Kalpataru Darshan]. Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 April 2018. नित्यानंद गुरुकुल के बच्चों द्वारा त्रिनेत्र शक्ति के तहत आखों पर पट्टी बाधकर पढ़ने और शरीर को स्कैन कर बीमारियों के बारे में बताते देख लोग आश्चर्यचकित रह गए [The children of the Nithyananda Gurukul with the power of the third eye read blindfolded and scanned the bodies of people and told about their diseases, experiencing this people were amazed.]
  47. ^ "Nithyananda will do Kundalini Awakening and Third Eye Awakening". Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2017 – via Rajasthan Patrika / Patrika Ujjain. Paramahamsa Nithyananda is believed to be accomplished in many extraordinary spiritual powers. Swami-ji is specialized in the science of kundalini awakening, and science of third eye awakening. [self-published source]
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  55. ^ "गुरु पुजा के बाद चला मुलाकात का दौर" [After Gurupuja there were meetings]. Dainik Jagran. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018. बेंगलुरु के स्वामी नित्यानंद आश्रम में अलौकिक शिक्षा ग्रहण करने वाले छात्र नित्य तत्वानंद व प्रेमाश्वरूपानंद अपने गुरु भाई विद्वेश्वरानंद व आत्मपूजानंदम के साथ सोमवार को गोरखनाथ मंदिर में मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ से मिलने पहुंचे [Nithya Tatvananda and Premeshavrupananda who received extraordinary knowledge in Swami Nithyananda ashram in Bengaluru, along with their guru brother Vidveshvarananda and Aatmapujananda went to Gorakhnaath temple this Monday to meet with the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.]
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