Nithyananda is the founder of a trust Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, which has temples, gurukulas, and ashrams across many countries.
Early life
Nithyananda was born A. Rajasekaran, in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu to father Arunachalam and mother Lokanayaki. Sources conflict as to his birth date – a 2003 US visa gave a date of 13 March 1977, while a sworn affidavit as to a 2010 Karnataka High Court case mention 1 January 1978.
Recognition and achievements
Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, a religious organisation founded by Nithyananda, hosts cultural events in United States as well as India. They hold two Guinness world records, one for the largest rope yoga class and one for the largest pole yoga class. In February 2013, the title of Mahamandaleshwar was conferred on Nithyananda in a closed ceremony by the Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara. In 2012, Paramahamsa Nithyananda was recognized as 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living people by Watkins' Mind Body Spirit Magazine In 2012, Paramahamsa Nithyananda was appointed 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam.
Contributions
Spiritual Responsibility during COVID The spiritual regimen announced by Nithyananda involves vratha, meditation, chanting of sacred sound of Mahavakya, hygienic living and social distancing called Pacchai Pattini Vratham, “which is practiced in India as a method of cleansing, introspection, prayer and meditation”. The health site prescribes 'fire walking' and lemon piercing as additional steps to "immunize" yourself against coronavirus.
Controversies
Alleged sexual activities
In 2010, Sun TV reported of video recordings that showed Nithyananda and two females, including actress Ranjitha, in a bedroom. The story became viral among news media in Tamil Nadu. Nithyananda's ex-driver Lenin Karuppan admitted to filming them clandestinely; he allegedly lost faith in his guru after seeing him sleeping around with other women. Nithyananda and Ranjitha had claimed the video to be fabricated and accused Sun TV of extortion; however, an investigation by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Bengaluru confirmed that Nithyananda and Ranjitha were the two people shown in the tape.
Pseudoscience
Nithyananda's speeches have gathered widespread mixed reception in the Indian press, having broadcast a range of pseudoscientific claims, including claims of delaying Sun to rise for 40 minutes, his ability to make cows speak in Tamil and Sanskrit, and explaining Einstein's mass–energy equivalence wrong. He has claimed to have discovered over 400 esoteric powers expressible by humans and alleges having initiated his disciples into 60 such powers including kundalini and third-eye awakening. He has since asserted he would open the third eye, for anyone, free of charge by 2021. He also claimed that person would be able to see through smog and walls. Disciples of Nithyananda claim that he gave initiations through 'third eye' to a class of 82 blind children, thus curing them of blindness. Rationalist professor and activist Narendra Nayak had challenged Nithyananda to prove his initiation of third eye and subsequent benefits thereof. Nithyananda has also claimed he and his followers were able to perform paranormal phenomena like extrasensory perception, materialisation, body scanning, remote viewing, and ability to find lost objects.
Along with Nithyananda, several ashram associates are facing charges in this case. All of the accused pleaded not guilty except for one who was absent from court.
Disappearance
On 20 November 2019, Gujarat Police claimed that Nithyananda fled India after choosing not to attend several court hearings. According to news reports published on December 4, 2019, Nithyananda, after fleeing India, went on to buy a private island near Trinidad and Tobago or Ecuador and founded a micronation he calls Kailaasa. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad police alleged 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. In December 2019, 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, but left soon after his request for international personal protection was denied. This Hindu Nation founded by him has been named Kailaasa, and claims to issue passports and other documents.
