Swami Nithyananda or Spycam Journalism
Sunday, 7. March 2010 - 11:30 PM
Since day before yesterday, the media and large sections of the public is having a gala time over Swami Nithyananda’s bedroom antics with a Tamil actress. Everybody is outraged. “Shocked,” “devastated,” “how can he do this?” “betrayal of trust,” “Fake Gurus,” is the typical reaction from what we call the “layman.” But here’s the thing: he’ll probably be back and he’ll thrive even better in Round 2. However, for now, what was intended has been accomplished very well: manufacturing mob outrage using sleaze tactics.
It helps to answer a few questions at the outset:
Did Swami Nithyananda commit a crime by having sex with that woman?
No. The video clearly shows it was consensual.
Are such Swamijis/Godmen “allowed” to have sex?
Yes unless they’ve explicitly, publicly declared that they are celibate and/or where they have prohibited their followers from having sex. In which case, it becomes a case of hypocrisy, double-standard and not really a crime. The operative word always is “consensual.”
Does Nithyananda’s act involve abuse of position and/or power?
Going by this video, this is unclear, and really immaterial. Again, the woman wasn’t coerced into having sex with him.
Do reports of sandalwood illegally stocked at his ashram make him a criminal?
They do but that is totally unrelated to him having sex with the actress.
So what or who is really wrong here?
Several answers but the most obvious one is buried beneath all the mudslinging happening: journalism of sleaze a.k.a invasion of privacy. The culprit of the whole episode is the TV Channel that carried out this rotten spycam operation.
But why is the public outrage focussed mostly on the Swami having sex with the actress?
Because of what we have inherited as we shall see later.
Am I condoning Nithyananda’s romp caught on camera?
I leave that up your intelligence to figure out. 
But, the aftermath turned out as expected. The gleeful media readily extrapolated Nithyananda’s “immoral act” to brand Hinduism. If you’ve followed the case, the media has already passed its irrevocable judgement that Nithyananda is somehow a wrongdoer because he, a Godman, Guru, indulged in sex. That explains why the Congress News Network–Islamic News Network’s “show” is cunningly titled, “Sex, Sleaze and Swamis: Bhupendra Chaubey asks the panel what’s wrong with India’s holy community.” The Big Daddy of the Indian TV media, SpiNDTV, true to its name has wasted no time in slipping in its typical insinuation: “Bangalore godman: Modi a follower?” (I recommend looking at all the pictures in the SpinDTV picture gallery).
But the duplicity and innuendoes don’t end here. Now, a certain section of the media has appointed itself as the guardian of the “real” or “true” Hinduism. This section changes its tone and lingo to suit the occasion. It passionately hates the “goons” and “thugs” and “extremists” who besmear the fair name of the oh-so-all-encompassing Hinduism by wielding tridents, disrupting movies, Valentine’s Day, etc. Some of the more passionate protectors hailing from this section wax about “I don’t want MY Hinduism to become like an aggressive version of Islam.” Please note the special stress on MY. Others “defend” Hinduism by wailing like dogs in freezing winter nights about how “Pop Hinduism,” “Instant Gurus” have hijacked the “true essence” of Hinduism. Yet, these same Media Mullahs give space on their papers and Websites for the selfsame instant Gurus. However, their version of “true” Hinduism is this: a Zoo or Museum version of Hinduism at which you can throw fruits and nuts and watch the adherents take the bait and clap in glee, or worse, admire from a distance and gasp, “Ooh sooo esoteric!”
Truth is, both cases are different variation of the same despicable act of Hindu baiting by the Media Mullahs and assorted intellectuals who are bleeding our universities dry. For had they even the basic inkling of Sanatana Dharma, they’d know that nobody can proclaim himself or herself as a Guru. It is an honour that is bestowed upon a person after he/she passes the most stringent of spiritual and philosophical tests. This time-honoured tradition dates way back to Vedic seers right up to Ramana Maharshi. Guru literally means one who dispells darkness. In other words, he/she is one who has experienced philosophical enlightenment and he/she makes no claim that he/she has the ultimate key to the Truth. He/she doesn’t advertise his/her enlightenment but will accept disciples if they pass his/her test and vice versa. Unlike today’s Pop Gurus (for the record, I abhor them for the damage they do in the long run) who acquire a smattering of Yoga, Tantra (nothing to do with sex as is commonly misunderstood), meditation, ill-understood Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and a bastardized form of mysticism. However, if there’s a Pop Guru who has understood all these accurately and still goes about like a Nithyananda, he is a bigger charlatan.
Neither does our tradition prescribe celibacy for someone who is looked upon as a Guru. Majority of the ancient sages were married, had children and some even had more than one wife. Yet, why do we still revere a Vishwamitra who had numerous “affairs” and fathered many children? That’s because he gave us the most amazing Gayatri Mantra, which the same media–Slimes Music for example–makes tons of money out of. Which brings us to another instance of the media and academic ignoramuses who sit in the judge’s seat. There’s a wide gulf of difference between a Sanyasin and these self-styled Gurus. Celibacy among other things, is prescribed for a Sanyasin. Hindu tradition strictly condemns a Sanyasin who, in the position of a Guru abandons celibacy. Strict punishment is prescribed for such Sanyasins and once he has abandoned his celibacy, he can no longer claim the right to be a Guru. Apart from this, the respect or devotion people have for someone in the position of a Guru doesn’t rest on whether he/she is celibate but what he/she brings for the world. So why was the public outraged when Nithyananda’s footage was aired?
The answer to that question lies in the colonized attitudes that continue to plague Indians: it shows we haven’t cast away the ugly Victorian morality. More accurately, it points to the hold both Islam and Christianity continue to have on the Hindu psyche. The same crowd that went berserk over Nithyananda’s romp video still flock to that charlatan couple, Kalki and Amma “Bhagavan” (sic), both married and who would’ve definitely had sex at least once. What explains this?
Back to the media, we wonder why no channel has ever planted a spycam inside the dark and holy halls and rooms of a Church or Cloister. Is it because perhaps the good Lord Sees All and needs no spycam? All exposes of the Father-Sister, Brother-Sister, Brother-Brother games that go on in those holy halls have seen light of the day because somebody from within revealed them to the world. And let’s not forget that these Brothers and Fathers have taken an oath of lifelong celibacy when they entered God’s Service. Let’s not even go near the Madrassas. Here’s a sample (Image courtesy: http://freethinker.co.uk/)
![pervy[1]](http://www.sandeepweb.com/wp-content/uploads/pervy1.jpg)
Any spycams a la Nithyananda? Courageous Media, we’re waiting. Which brings us to the real issue in this whole affair de disgrace: invasion of privacy. But then sting ops are de rigeur in today’s TV journalism. It’s one thing to do a thorough, old-fashioned investigative journalism and another to put cameras into somebody’s bedroom to expose exactly…what? Interestingly, not one media house has questioned the TV channel for adopting Peeping Tom tactics to manufacture sensationalism out of nothing.
Additionally, the argument that Nithyananda broke the trust of millions of his followers is also bogus. A Pop Swami/Guru, Nithyananda, like others of his ilk, cleverly marketed his wares. Those who came into his fold have no right to complain for their own disillusionment. In the end, Swamis and Gurus like Nithyananda thrive because of the en masse loss of our traditional values. And it is equally also the reason why the media thrives in derogating Hinduism.
Tags: Commentary, Gurus, Hindu Swamis, Hinduism, India, Indian Philosophy, Indian Politics, Media, Media Shame, Media Watch, Nithyananda Scandal, Politics, Pseudosecularism, Pseudosecularism Hall of Shame, Sanyasin, Secular Media, Secularism, Society & Culture, Swami Nithyananda Scandal, Swamis
8. March 2010 - 1:19 AM
Who ever you are keep up the good work, Knowledge is power.
“Nithyananda is Innocent until proven guilty” but “Lenin Karuppan is guilty as “Betrayal of trust is worst Crime of all He should be punished, Lenin Karuppan has committed far worst crime than anyone else!!! Justice will be done by the Planet Saturn (Saneeswaran) We will wait and see!!!
I am not a Nithyananda’s follower but I love to see him Married to a Tamil Hindu Girl. And continue his work. If he does not get marry then don’t wear gold either. He should get marry.
What is GOD? God is with you! God is with in You!! don’t Search God elsewhere, develop God like qualities in yourself then you are the God…. “Live and let live” then you will be God.
8. March 2010 - 2:13 AM
Great analysis Sandeep. Echoes what any rational person should consider before jumping to conclusions. But then again, jumping to conclusions before analysis and holier than thou attitude are two significant traits of most Indians (especially the media).
The network which exposed it is filled with philanderers. The political godfather of Sun TV, Mu Karunanidhi has 3 wives (at least) who accompany him publicly. Kalanidhi Maran’s escapades with actresses were exposed by the recent sting on the B-grade actress Bhuvaneshwari. So the hypocrisy rings shrill here.
8. March 2010 - 3:59 AM
Well written Sandeep. When I first saw this news, I knew that this news will make Media, Pseudo-Secularists/Communists & Abrahamic bigots merry & can start mud-slinging game for few days. The purpose of all the above three or four groups is to equate Sanatan Dharma with forgotten middle-age pagan beliefs & destroy Hinduism. Exposing dark-side (can be doctored if they couldnt find any) of modern self-proclaimed Gurus who are revered by millions is just another ploy. On the other hand, average educated Indian who completely forgotten our cultural values dont have enough patience & knowledge to judge the veracity of the news. They need an instant spiritual attainment without sacrificing their party culture, obviously the modern Gurus become their Pop-stars.
8. March 2010 - 5:12 AM
Good article. You echo exactly what I felt on this issue.
8. March 2010 - 6:27 AM
Wonderful article!
Looks like we need to understand how media making impressions
– To all Hindu leaders: When they are accused, they are guilty by default
– To all other religion leaders, they are innocent even they are proved guilty
Why the same media not active when Hindu leaders proved innocent?
This incidence also showed how media worked.
1. Tailored news
– tailored Swami Niothyananda news and Delhi Sex rocket
– tried to taint Modi and Yudyurappa also by bringing their names
– why not they brought other DMK MPs MLAs and ministers names who attended Swami ji’s discourses and took His blessings in various occasions?
2. Lose commentary on incidents
– devotees are upset (actually many of them are paid goons)
– He ran away (Is it not common with all politicians and other religion leaders?)
3. Hit and run mode
– Since Hindu community is developed on “Guilty just by accusing”, these tactics are working on many Hindu leaders.
TAKE RESPONSIBILTY NOW AND DO NOT JUDGE ON ANY HINDU LEADER WHEN THEY ARE ACCUSED OF ANY
8. March 2010 - 6:28 AM
Wonderful article!
Looks like we need to understand how media making impressions
– To all Hindu leaders: When they are accused, they are guilty by default
– To all other religion leaders, they are innocent even they are proved guilty
Why the same media not active when Hindu leaders proved innocent?
This incidence also showed how media worked.
1. Tailored news
– tailored Swami Niothyananda news and Delhi Sex rocket
– tried to taint Modi and Yudyurappa also by bringing their names
– why not they brought other DMK MPs MLAs and ministers names who attended Swami ji’s discourses and took His blessings in various occasions?
2. Lose commentary on incidents
– devotees are upset (actually many of them are paid goons)
– He ran away (Is it not common with all politicians and other religion leaders?)
3. Hit and run mode
– Since Hindu community is developed on “Guilty just by accusing”, these tactics are working on many Hindu leaders.
LET’S TAKE RESPONSIBILTY NOW AND DO NOT JUDGE ON ANY HINDU LEADER WHEN THEY ARE ACCUSED OF ANY THING UNTIL PROVEN COMPLETELY”
8. March 2010 - 8:16 AM
The tactic adopted by whoever did the video recording is condemnable as ‘invasion of privacy’. But the end result is that it exposed Rajsekaran as a charlatan.
There are many instances in Mahabharata when otherwise condemnable tactics were used to result in upholding of dharma.
Ultimately, the justification for an act lies in the question- does it aid towards dharma ?
In this case, though the intention of Lenin may or may not have been exactly dharmic, it was crucial in opening the eyes of millions of people and by exposing Rajasekaran it has helped the cause of dharma.
“Did Swami Nithyananda commit a crime by having sex with that woman?”
‘crime’ as defined by the british created IPC, may exonerate Rajasekaran. But then that same IPC finds nothing criminal about many of todays politicians.
From a dharmc perspective, yes, Rajasekaran committed not just one crime, but many.
“Does Nithyananda’s act involve abuse of position and/or power?”
Yes.
If you delve deep you will realise the serious extent to which he did that.
“Those who came into his fold have no right to complain for their own disillusionment.”
That argument can come to the rescue of most charlatans and con artists.
But doesn’t carry weight under dharmic scrutiny.
“And it is equally also the reason why the media thrives in derogating Hinduism.”
‘hinduism’ is a straw man of western creation, created with the exclusive purpose of destroying bharatiya samskriti.
namaste
8. March 2010 - 9:53 AM
To the followers who are stil blind to the the heinous crime of this ?guru (of what),
Will you still accept your swami if your mother, wife, sister or daughter, brother or son falls a victim for the Nithyam Anandam seeking ritual of your swami.
Please, do not lower the standards of hindism just like other religions. If a hindu has lost dharma, he is nothing but a rotting corpse.
Hinduism is an eternal religion because of the path of justice. In other religions if such a thing has happened, things would have been buried but be reminded the pride of Hinduism is that it will only stand in the path of truth. That is why I am grateful to God to be born as a hindu – I still could maintain my conscience and seek only truth and condemn evil. Be a true Hindu and listen to only GOD!
Do not feel that you are deserted, the true God is always with us. Just do not drop ur mind as this guy says, but keep it alive, your conscience alive, your dharma alive – u will reach God. But if u still believe he is going to give peace and mukti, at least do not talk that u r supporting to save hindusim. Hinduism has no place for adharma.
Well wisher of all.
8. March 2010 - 11:11 AM
Good Analysis. Defintely Gurus can be married. However A Sanyasi has to observe celibacy. and Nithyananda has given speeches on how he took Sanyasa and also on importance of Brahmacharya. So at best he is a hypocrite, at worst he has sullied the Sanyasi order and not worthy of the reverene and following.
8. March 2010 - 12:34 PM
Is this a ploy to cut the Marans to size by Karunanidhi and company. It is well known in TN that the Marans ( Sun TV owners) are not in good terms with Karunanidhi and company. KNidhi wants his sons Stalin and Alagiri to rule TN and not Marans, not even in central govt. You can see the Marans do not have any power in centre now , even though Maran is smarter than Alagiri. The coverage given by The Hindu newspaper is muted . It has even published the statement that Swami N has released a rebuttal video, which normally the The Hindu would not, considering their stance towards Sanatan Dharma. There is something very fishy about this whole episode. I do not say that Swami N is innocent, but look at it this way. If Swami N comes out as innocent as he says in his released VCD which is there in UTube, then Sun TV is finished. Then KNidhi’s will have an ace up his sleeve and victory is assured for his kins. There is something in this, full of intrigue and power politics, with sex used as garam masala.
8. March 2010 - 12:39 PM
I never believed in samiyars. It is like a business. You have to blame the fools that go after these samiyars. Seems like some people have freely donated their lands. One guy even regrets doing that after coming to know the news. But our people will never change. If not Nithyananda they will have some Paramananda as guru. It is pitiful. Some of my friends still live in denial. They are hoping this video is morphed. It is clearly not morphed. You could see that. He had to say something. So he has come out and said “Wasn’t me”. If it so happens to be true it will prove to be a pathalogical liar as well. In other words he is just another guy just like you and me.
8. March 2010 - 12:45 PM
good insight into whole issue. its really interesting to know vishwamitra, one of the main creator of vedas was not born into brahmin and had married meneka. apart from vishwamitr, satyakam gabala is another rishi, who was also not a brahmin but an illegitimate child of tribal women gabala. this are the fact hindu need to know as it show hinduism never practised any caste system as communist usually prpogate.
8. March 2010 - 12:48 PM
Let us assume for argument’s sake that ends justify the means when it comes to exposing fake swamis. Therefore, it’s okay to violate Nityananda’s privacy.
But why was the actress’s privacy violated? A truly ethical sting operator would have edited out the visuals showing her face, and made sure her identity was never revealed. It wasn’t done because those who staged this operation are sleazy characters: making porn probably was more on their mind than exposing fake gurus. It’s very likely that in their value system it is acceptable to humiliate actresses, because these women sing and dance before millions of people anyway. They wanted to make a porn video, but ended up unwittingly serving other interests.
Ergo, this episode is a disgrace for the media as well, and more so for it. It didn’t occur to the loudest-mouthed of the “moral outrage” brigade in the media, like the Barkha Dutts and Sardesais, that a woman’s name was dragged in dirt for no fault of hers. In fact, Iif she was exploited, as they claim, that makes media’s crime even more serious. Courts often go out of their way to make sure that the names of female victims of sexual assault are not revealed in media reports. (As an aside, note also that media’s “stings” invariably involve either sex or violence. Tehelka filmed a couple having sex. Another sting operator instigated a mob against a teacher. The latest episode started with sex, and ended with violence).
As a write this there’s a lot of hoopla going on around about International Women’s Day. The very scumbags who played the video endlessly on their TV channels are the ones making the most pious noises about this Day.
8. March 2010 - 12:54 PM
The author is an idiot and forgets conveniently what has been proclaimed by Mr. Nithyananda. He says he is celibate but it appears he is not. He has no moral authority to be addressed Swami. He is a mere womanizer.
8. March 2010 - 12:56 PM
Most of these gurus are created by media only and then media only expose them of their wrong act. Authorised hindu ascetic order like dasnami akhara, ramanandi akhara and four peeth of shakara represent the authentic sadhu samaj and in history of more than 2000 year , rarely caught into any controversy. They have kept a distance from publicity and public too which created a kind of vacuum in system, to fill this many self proclaimed shankaracharya, sant and acharyas have sprouted up exploiting the huge market of providing spiritual enlightenment and making money. These mass production of spritual gurus is definetly a menace to true essence of Hinduism but its also interesting to note that media is categorically choose the religious leaders of hindu faith only. corruption of religious leader is not confined to hindu dharma only but father and mullah are significantly doing there part of contribution, it irony only that media never highlight them. to put things in perspective, last week only a missionary school head found guilt of sexual exploitation of hostel girls in kerala.
8. March 2010 - 1:30 PM
An excellent article. Same sentiments, I was having. The judgement by the media is indeed deplorable. Everything appears to be the media mullahs work. Probably this Lenin Karuppan joined the swami as devotee only with this ulterial motive.
8. March 2010 - 4:15 PM
Sandeep – Please do not bring Hinduism is under attack here. Nityanada was a corrupt man and the sex video has only helped the expose of his other misdeeds. I personally was cheated upto $12K by this manipulative fraud. I was lucky because I could get out of his clutches soon.
The home minister of Karnataka (no friend of any mullah or evangelist) has announced that Nithya ashram in Bidadi is built on illegal land. Would this have come out if not for the sex tape. There are several skeleton’s in the closet of this man, he was a pervert and cheat to the core. He took Hindus for a ride with all the fradulent Hindu vedic university (which is located in an abandoned parking lot). I know of instances how he has emotionally manipulated his disciples to the point of usurping all their wealth and even driving them to commit suicide. The law of karma has caught up with him. For once I appreciate the work of Nakeeran, Sun TV and TV9. I hope Hindus learn their lessons and not run after every fancy guru.
Ramakrishna paramahamsa used to exhort his disciples to beware of ‘Kamini-Kanchana’, unfortunately Nithya never learned the right lessons from his four year stay as a brahmachrin in the ramakrishna ashram chennai.
8. March 2010 - 9:29 PM
Sandeep
It’s a great contemplation,
The media not a single of them bothered to air or present to the public one single truth given by swamiji to the masses for their individual transformation, but when some so called video they got from somebody are eager to air it the public in the name of truth, not verifying it’s authenticity, & not thinking sensibly. There are agencies to verify, & cofirm the truth with proper investigations.
Keep the good work & appreciate your thinking.
8. March 2010 - 9:49 PM
I think it is unfortunate that people feel the need for “celebrity” gurus. But as this type goes, Nithyananda doesn’t seem all that bad. I could care less about his sex life unless he is engaged in something that is abusive or exploitative, but there is zero evidence for that.
In fact, if these videos are the worst anyone can come up with, then I’d say this, in essence, gives Swami a clean chit.
Nithyananda did not encourage celibacy, and did not claim to practice it. Sexuality is perfectly natural, and we should all put behind us those forms of spirituality that pit one part of our being against the other. Leave that to the Christians and the Muslims!!! Prudishness and Puritianism suit them perfectly. With Sanatana Dharma it is out of place.
Of course people should always treat each other respectfully and take care with all things, including especially sexuality.
Unfortunately the only lesson to be learned from this obvious set-up is that Nithyananda was too open and innocent in trusting others — and this was taken advantage of by those who want to destroy the Dharma.
9. March 2010 - 12:00 AM
Sandeep,
Good analysis!! These so-called god-men (actually con-men) used our dharma as their business (in a sense their only dharma). I have no sympathy for Nityananda and what can we say about the ELM?
9. March 2010 - 12:59 AM
While I agree with your positioning on the media, I have to disagree with the Sanyasin part. Because you irrelevantly state that “Neither does our tradition prescribe celibacy for someone who is looked upon as a Guru”. Instead, we should be asking whether or not Sri Nityananda was looked upon as a Sanyasi. His institutions claim to adhere to Ramakrishna’s philosophy that unequivocally prescribes Sanyasa to immediate followers. Therefore followers, if and at least some, were right in accusing Sri Nityananda of betrayal. Even vishwamitra never claimed his affairs were “correct” or “ethical”. But by tradition we have focused on the most positive contributions. The point is not to disagree with the post but to stress the need for better articulation of our view. Thanks for the post.
9. March 2010 - 2:08 AM
Radhakrishnan,
Don’t blame your pathetic lack of comprehension skills on me. Do you, in all your enlightened doofusness, even read my post fully? If you did and still abuse me, you’re not an idiot: you’re merely incurable.
Ragu,
Irrelevant? If anything, what’s irrelevant is what you’ve quoted from my post, just a snippet and out of context.
>>Even vishwamitra never claimed his affairs were “correct” or “ethical”.
Yeah? Any references?
9. March 2010 - 2:11 AM
Roopesh Shetty,
>>Sandeep – Please do not bring Hinduism is under attack here.
Do you guys even read what I write? Where have I attacked Hinduism? Seriously, how difficult is it to understand like some really basic English?
9. March 2010 - 2:46 AM
Hi,
Here is the latest un-edited version of Q&A with press
http://www.youtube.com/lifeblissfoundation#p/a/u/0/w62Ttcpvovs
9. March 2010 - 2:51 AM
“There’s a wide gulf of difference between a Sanyasin and these self-styled Gurus. Celibacy among other things, is prescribed for a Sanyasin. Hindu tradition strictly condemns a Sanyasin who, in the position of a Guru abandons celibacy.”
Correct me if I am wrong, but Saffron signifies renunciation/Sanyasa, doesn’t it? Even if he didn’t proclaim that he is celibate, Nithyananda’s dress code seemed to suggest exactly that. It is another matter altogether that his followers did not ascertain the authenticity of Nithyananda’s “Guruness/Swaminess”.
Rest all I completely agree with.
9. March 2010 - 4:41 AM
I have no intentions to confront, because I agree with a lot of your arguments. Therefore, you must answer my objections, instead of calling it ‘irrelevant’.
>>Irrelevant? If anything, what’s irrelevant is what you’ve quoted from my post, just a snippet and out of context.
I politely objected to convenient choice of the word “Guru” while he has claimed to be Sanyasi and therefore it is irrelevant to state what is correct for Gurus.
>>Yeah? Any references?
How can we provide reference to absence of something? Yet the following does not say anything about it being natural or correct.
Valmiki – Balakhanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 10 (Regading Menaka)
In summary, we must protest misrepresentation but we should be honest in admitting a possibility of unpleasant occurrences as well. Otherwise it becomes a kind of “chest beating” you so often refer to in your posts. This not withstanding, thank you again for the post. You are right on many counts and will definitely get back to more interesting ones.
9. March 2010 - 6:40 AM
Rajasekar was considered a Sanyasi by one and all. He dressed as one and acted out as one. To some, he was a also a Guru. As such, he should have practiced celibacy.Having sex with his diciple( the actresses initially came for his help and guidance apparently) is clearly against our Hindu Dharma. In his latest video, he makes it harder for himself with the usual spin that he had not done anythig wrong LEGALLY. The public is more concerned about his morality or rather lack of it, than any legal aspect of his sexual romps. This guy simply does not get it.
All the conspiracy theories of who did what to whom is irrelevant here.
9. March 2010 - 7:26 AM
I read someone donating 12000 to this bogus samiyar. I have donated money. But not to crooks like him. All my donation has gone to Udavaum Karangal.
9. March 2010 - 8:58 AM
Roopesh Shetty,
>>Nityanada was a corrupt man and the sex video has only helped the expose of his other misdeeds. I personally was cheated upto $12K by this manipulative fraud.
Much commiserate with your plight. I hope none of your women folk suffered any indignities at the hands of this kamasutra guru.
On a related note, I think in Dravida land caste is a big thing, and has the power to redeem frauds. How’s this guruji’s caste classified over there? Is he brahmin swami or non-Brahmin swami? If the latter, is he a Backward Swami or Most Backward Swami or Extremely Backward Swami? In case he falls into any of the gazillion backward categories, why is the Christian church, the alleged protector of backwards, targetting him ? Most importantly why is it targetting the actress?
9. March 2010 - 11:16 AM
Well I have a dislike of gurus who have mass following. Some people who cannot think for themselves need them as support; simple people need a simplistic kind of religion at their own level for physchological support and need to follow someone, and that is perfectly fine as long as the guru does not cause them to harm themselves. One should not look down on gurus because they are necessary for certain feeble minds, and are fine if their impact is positive, however much you might not respect them. I personally have yet to meet a guru worth following– I mean in a spiritual sense and not some clever person who will impart some specialized technical knowledge.
Regardless, Indian media is sleazy, just like Bollywood. The politics, even sleazier.
9. March 2010 - 4:56 PM
MEDIA:- Belonging to Shameless People of ALL on this PLANET – whether it is run by private or Government – Only an illiterate could air this piece of video, even after knowing that it was consensual sex between two adults. Heard that for a whole day the same clippings were being run on Sun TV (in Tamil Nadu). I only hope even these media guys had women in their homes watching these channels. Only a mentally corrupted mind could have agreed to air this video on TV….. These are the ones with no knowledge on culture or religion, who bring shame to womenhood…. These fools actually need some real enlightnment in their lives!! Even before the lighter is in their hands these idiots try to show the FIRE!!!
Hope you all remember the famous Aarushi murder Case, where her innocent doctor father was jailed – All because of first intereference of this stupid MEDIA!! Beware – just don’t take in whatever is seen or shown on any of your channels !!
9. March 2010 - 6:04 PM
Ravi , One feels that they are under legal advice to answer like this. But the answer of 12t h grade fail ( lenin) is a bit off the cuff .
9. March 2010 - 6:21 PM
I wonder if fake gurus and sanyasis have proliferated due to a steady dismantling of the domestic, village and community traditions in secular India. The symbolisms and meanings embedded in these traditions have been. steadily undermined and ridiculed by various advocates of modernity. Perhaps these traditions helped people understand and connect to thier faith, and helped interprete, adopt and live its teachings in real life. WIth various imported models in place we have nothing to turn to now – hence perhaps our longing for gurus who would do the heavy lifting for us. Perhaps we are no longer as secure in our understanding of dharma – nurtured as we are from early childhood to hold aloft the torch of various spurious ideas like rationalism, modernism, secularism and what not.
Is it any surprise then that the hallowed institution of sanyas has now become a business opportunity for the cunning. Perhaps we have become more and more alike those westerners who we used to deride for thier lack of spiritual direction. Hence I suppose we are now getting hypocrite faith leaders similar to the ones that plagued the west. The MSM going to town about this is as laughable as it is condemnible. Both the MSM and fake Gurus represent the two sides of the same phenomena. MSM is an active advocate of the agenda of westernization and questionable modernity, and the fake guru is one who has already been undermined and seduced into this framework.
10. March 2010 - 1:48 AM
How do you know that a Guru – or say simply: teacher of meditation – is “fake”?
What kind of measurements do you apply?
1. Having sex = fake guru?
2. Having no sex = real guru?
3. wearing orange clothes = real guru
4. being popular and famous = fake guru?
… sorrryyyyyy – I am getting confused … there seems to be no ‘suitable’ measurement – at least in my mind.
Love it – leave it. Simple.
What do we know about other people being “saintly” or not?
India should grow up further and further and rise to maturity; i.e. real values.
10. March 2010 - 7:49 AM
Well India is an incredibly depressing place. My husband’s relative came back from China and he says despite the regime, he thinks they are 200 years ahead. In India, the government cannot even stop begging in the streets–I think its one of the few countries in the world where you see this…Just bad. Nothing higher to lead it. A former Italian nanny as a party leader–did not even need to go to get a college degree to become the party leader of servile people. Can you name any other country where this happens? Its definitely stagnating. What is even more sad is that all higher ideals that lead a nation have fallen apart–making room for sleazy meadia, sleazy politicians and a population that is no longer guided by any higher national ideals….
10. March 2010 - 8:02 AM
Bye the way, my complaint against the Congress leader is not that she is foreign born or from a humble background, but that she has no understanding, no achievements, nor a proper education–i.e. brings nothing new to the table. If I were such a one, I would be honest with myself and babysit the grandchildren if I had just been a housewife all my life. If it was a foreign born person who did something for the nation, that would be a diffferent matter. The entire family looks not too intelligent. Is this what democracy results in? What has happened to true leaders in India? Incredibly depressing? Where are people to inspire intelligent youth?
10. March 2010 - 8:09 AM
Also the president is no better. The last time I read about her in the papers was that she was into listening to spirits and I read the Arun Shourie piece about corruption. Now how is this women’s progress will someone explain to me? Its women’s regression if anything. I was greatly shocked when Abdul Kalam was replaced by this lady. But its supposed to represent women’s progress in India? Now I hear there are going to be quotas for women in Parliament. Now I say no thanks if such women are going to fill the seats! Better that women stay and cook at home than to produce such female leaders!
10. March 2010 - 10:10 AM
I’m happy to see this blog entry. I wanted to write something on similar lines of cutting out the cancerous pop-Gurus from traditional sanathana. Now I don’t need to and perhaps link to your blog entry directly.
Thanks for writing very clearly on this non-issue… a.k.a. media-made-issue.
10. March 2010 - 12:22 PM
Whether the video is real or fake, whether he is a brahmachari or not, is very difficult to find out. If Swami comes out and says “I didn’t do it, the video is morphed”, how will you prove otherwise? Basically, everything we have here except the video itself is going to be word of mouth. Can’t prove anything.
We will only have something definite if neutral third-party video editing experts can conclude something from the video. Until then, everyone is guessing.
10. March 2010 - 3:28 PM
It is a common experience that an individual feels a vacuum in his/her life at same stage or other
either1. in spite of having all comforts and luxuries in life or 2.lack of the above or 3) due to poverty, illnesss etc.Such people tend to look for better enlightened soul with a view to understand the meaning of life to make life meaningful.In this quest one experiments with many gurus. Unfortunately many half baked persons due to the weakeness and need of the ordinary souls assume importance , but the power of maya is so great that they are unable to retain the wisdom they attained due to excessive fame, money power, etc, I myself had come into contact with dozens of great souls. But reallly great among them were not interested in collecting chelas but radiated peace and happiness to those who visited them. In essence the result of the cooking is in pudding. Please avoid gurus who ask money or fees to five darshan. avoid gurus who promise to heal you or make you rich as prarabdha karma can not be neutralised by even god.
If any one needs real jnana and simple way to happenes and peace of mind he or she can address his/her queries to me. Please note I am an ordinary householder and nothing more .But I have accumulated much knowledge when i was in himalayas that i cane share.raghunathan41@yahoo.com
10. March 2010 - 6:33 PM
hi sandeep,
i think you misunderstood what Mr. roopesh wanted to say. he said to you that ‘dont say hinduism is under attack here’, by which he meant that instead of blaming pseudo-secularists for this whole episode, we should also be wary of quacks in our own turf who claim achievement of godhood, but in reality are deeply entrenched in immoral ways of materialism. he didnt mean to say that ‘you’ yourself are attacking hinduism through your article. BTW, am no spokesperson for him
i just went on to read the comments and didnt read the full article…
thanks
10. March 2010 - 9:30 PM
@Nirmala
Guru is someone who takes his followers from darkness to light. This is the meaning of the word Guru.
In the past, there were Gurus who wore orange clothes, white clothes, no clothes. There were Gurus who got married
and had children. There were Gurus who remained completely un-married.
There were tantrik gurus who had “Sadhan Sangini” or “Bhairabhi” through out their lives but then again, as far
as I know, Tantra does not really care for the marriage as defined in a strictly Vedic society. I have not heard
of any Gurus other than media generated ones who had free-lance sexual adventures like Nityananda does. These
media-certified gurus are as harmful as Undie TV or slimes of India to Hindus.
Our parents never needed advise from the media to choose a Guru. What makes me wonder why do
we need secular media to certify Gurus?
10. March 2010 - 10:35 PM
I am not a follower, but I have read some of his articles and they made sense. So, I am inclined to think he was really a spiritually evolved person who wished to help his fellow men to achieve same.
However, what seems to start as a desire to help others in spiritual progress starts morphing into megalomania. And the megalomania leads to such scandalous behavior.
On the other hand, I have read about Sivananda, who apparently, after receivng “n” number of “namaskarams” from his disciples would go into his room and slap himself “n” times with his slippers so that his ego doesn’t grow due to the adulation. Kandhi periyava also writes in the “Deivathin kural” “Namaskara mahimai” chapter how he and other gurus should always pass on the namaskarams to God rather than thinking they are somehow providing blessings.
It is really a pity.
11. March 2010 - 5:19 AM
Off topic but take a look at this sickening article:
http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/just-people/2010/03/09/sonia-gandhi%E2%80%99s-writ-runs/
Whats the point of this women’s bill?
Even without it we see housewives running political parties, a regressive looking President who gives the typical stereotypical image of India (with all of her listening to spirits and what not), Mayawatis… Well only in India, and this is supposed to be women’s progress! How sad how utterly sad!! Now there will be a comparable number of corrupt women as men in Parliament, if not greater I suppose…
Don’t we all just love democracy?
11. March 2010 - 5:27 AM
Off topic but take a look at this sickening article:
http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/just-people/2010/03/09/sonia-gandhi%E2%80%99s-writ-runs/
Whats the point of this women’s bill?
Even without it we see housewives running political parties, a regressive looking President who gives the typical stereotypical image of India (with all of her listening to spirits and what not)–I remember when she went for a state visit to Brazil, the Parliament there was virtually empty, no one was interested in hearing her speak (Abdul Kalam at least would have an interested audience during state visits).., Mayawatis… Well only in India, and this is supposed to be women’s progress! How sad, how utterly sad!! Now there will be a comparable number of corrupt women as men in Parliament, if not greater I suppose…
Don’t we all just love democracy?
11. March 2010 - 5:59 AM
Can you please do a post on this? The constitution is being changed! A very sad day for India!
http://www.livemint.com/2010/03/10204459/Women8217s-Reservation-Bill.html
11. March 2010 - 10:00 AM
Great anaysis. You realy nailed it, by explaining pscyhe of Indian mentality which is still under the influence of Victorian moratlity. Unfortunatey the so called saviours of hindu religion, don’t realize they folllowing the principle of abrahamic religions by doing moral policing.
11. March 2010 - 1:42 PM
Sandeep,
I find a Mangalorean website named “Daijiworld”.com filled up with hate against Hindus and BJP. It seems Mangalore is like Kerala where the minorities dominate. On the recent issue of Karnataka govt.s law on “Ban on Cow slaughter” these websites are making lot of noise.
I brought this one here for the notice of all.
11. March 2010 - 3:43 PM
we have been witnessing the spectacle of svami nityanada’s alleged escapades day in and day out.this news item has become the TV medias bread and jam. media, people are having a field day showing every thing probably just short of pornography. now the alleged svami has explained his side of the story on a web site. who should we believe?. it reminds me of a quotation of a famous author of AIRFRAME in which a character says ” The irony of information revolution is the credibility given to the opinion of the uninformed” . all types of people have given their opinion and vent their feelings right or wrong only the god knows. I think it is time we burried the controversy and allow the law to take its course. but the reputation or the ill reputation built up for so many years by people involved, who is to compensate if there is a need.
Media like pimps will disappear the moment the truth starts staring at them.
/
11. March 2010 - 7:57 PM
@larissa
“The constitution is being changed!….”
So there will be corrupt women instead of corrupt men. Why would we care? We, common Indians, are screwed anyway.
11. March 2010 - 11:19 PM
Hi Brothe r Vidhyashankar,
Are you talking about the first interview / the recent interview with (his still blind follower) Rakesh Malhotra?
In the first he very cleverly says that he did nothing illegal, not talk about being immoral (as he did not give a writen contract with his followers that he would not indulge in consensual sex with the devotees – male /femlale – and who have been mesmerized that having such a relationship with him will enlighten them).
In the second interview neither does Rakesh Malhotra nor this fake swamy talk about the Nithyananda – ranjitha sex video. So that interview did show the truth – that the video is true and this Paramahamsa is a “Porno”hamsa.
The wishy-washy statements
1. that the video is morphed because the neck is covered – watch the video – the neck is well revealed
2. there is no voice in the video as it will reveal that it is a morphed video –
please understand it is a spy camera/monitoring camera – it does not record voices.
3. Ranjitha herself has accepted that it is not a morphed video; it is nithyananda and herself in the video. She said she was offering the services to swami, there is nothing wrong.
4. The porno hero (nithyananda) is to be blamed and not the video tape.
See how this follower has been mesmerised to beleive that such services , which the ?Swami expects of his devotees is not WRONG. God knows how many innocent victims are like Ranjitha.
Well wisher
In the second interbiew
11. March 2010 - 11:27 PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7422619/Celibacy-could-lead-to-sex-abuse-Catholic-leader-suggests.html
12. March 2010 - 1:03 AM
Well I was glad to see on the Wall Street Journal two opinion pieces that opposed this reservation as undemocratic. Can’t Indians do anything without reservation? I think the person who is pushing hard to get this passed wants unqualified women to be in Parliament as a result of quotas—
12. March 2010 - 1:11 AM
I mean more “unqualified” women–is this not what reservations do in general–make someone’s qualifications meaningless?
How about pushing for free education until the 12 grade for women and subsidizing college for them if the Congress really cared? But the government has no interest in doing that—but then again you have people with no qualificaions or vision making rules for the country and the rest of the country looks sheepishly on…
12. March 2010 - 7:47 AM
Rajiv Malhotra interviews Swami Nithyananda.
http://www.youtube.com/lifeblissfoundation#p/a/u/0/tgiFa5uQt7k
12. March 2010 - 9:44 AM
Excellent thoughts on the issue! I could not think of anything better than you wrote, so linked up your article in my blog!
12. March 2010 - 2:12 PM
Dear Sandeep,
I serendipitously stumbled upon your blog, which I enjoyed a great deal.
There is no need for “Hindus” to rush to defend Nityanand or condemn him. God men are generally hoaxes so what is the novelty this time, why should the actions of god-men be a Hindu issue, if he has indulged in (a) criminal act(s), the law will take its own course, if he has fallen from some moral pedestal let his gullible followers and disciples judge him?
Here is an account of what the author refers as “sexual abuse” perpetrated by Swami Muktananda, though that too was consensual sex between two adults.
http://www.leavingsiddhayoga.net/Radha_story.htm
Do not forget that M. K. Gandhi too conducted experiments which included sleeping without any clothes on with his teen-aged female relatives.
I wish that Hindus are a little more scientific and dispassionate in their attitude, and convert their faith into political power. Once I was accompanying a friend to Shirdi (it was not a pilgrimage for me), there was a very long queue, those were the days when there was news about the troubles that Hindus in Kashmir were facing over the Amarnath temple, I was wondering what effect would it have on the Central government, if every one queuing there would simply hold a sit-in protest (dharna) at the nearest government office in support of the Amarnath temple movement. Additionally such protests being replicated by devotees of each shrine, god-man etc. Pandharpur, Tirupati, Siddhivinayak, Sabrimala, Vaishnaodevi, Mathura, Gangasagar, Puttaparthi, small and large. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus in support of Hindu issues. Is this wishful thinking?
12. March 2010 - 2:19 PM
Deepa ha hit the nail in the head. I myself had several experiences with Maha periaval who as soon as one prostrates will look at the sky and say om namo narayanaya meaning that the namaskarams be taken over by God and he is just a ladder. Such was the greatness of this saint who lived unblemished life of several decades. He is really an avatar.raghunathan41@yahoo.com
12. March 2010 - 4:33 PM
@well wisher.
first things first 1.please write with a name. 2. read my name correctly. Then I am not a follower of nityananda or for that matter any swami living or dead. I can chart my own destiny and try my best to be successful without passing judgements. what I have written is for different reasons. we have become hypocrites. the media esp thinks it is morally incorruptible and apart from nityananda every one in this country is paramahamsa. I am only interested to know why people pass judgements about others without giving a chance to thoe others. Even murderer like kasab is being tried in a court of law. we try to force our opinions without the verifications.
I think a subhaashita I have read sums up the whole thing.
na tathya vachanam satyam, naa tathya vachanam mrisha.
yadbhuta hitam atyantam tat satyam itarat mrisha.
roughly translated truth spoken as truth is not truth, untruth spoken as truth is also not truth
what ever is palatable to the person is truth rest all is untruth.
so Nityananda’s escapades became very sweet and it became truth, His statements were not so became untruth. (not just his follower any body could question him and his questions were relevent). so the opinion of the uninfomred has become credible.
12. March 2010 - 5:38 PM
Well wisher, Swami must have been under legal advice not to talk about the video. Mr Rajeev also may be knowing that. About the actress claiming , it could be “gas” by the Tamil Magazine. I am not claiming the Swami innocent , but at this stage all looks fluid. Let us wait for the truth to unfold.
13. March 2010 - 5:38 PM
I was watching the Hindi channels coverage of the various scandals involving Swamis. Apart from the sensationalized reporting which made no distinction between illegal and ‘immoral’ behavior, one worthwhile point was made- viz. the need for the Sadhu sangatan to enforce professional standards and police themselves.
What previously was a great strength of Hinduism- viz. tolerance and laissez faire attitude- can become a weakness in our present age.
Another question that must be addressed is restoring the financial position and asserting the legal rights of various Mutts and other Hindu organization. The truth is, Hinduism (with Govt. connivance) has been the victim of ‘land grab’ and unjust enrichment rather than its originator.
It should also be mentioned that nobody is more ‘secular’ than these fake Babas.
A situation where one Religion alone is denied the right to run its own educational institutions as it thinks fit is symptomatic of a colonial attitude to the indigenous religion and a determination to let it ‘wither on the vine’ rather than become a source of strength and moral values for the country.
13. March 2010 - 6:32 PM
srigurubhyo namaha|
”Did Swami Nithyananda commit a crime by having sex with that woman?
No. The video clearly shows it was consensual.”
So what if the video shows clearly it was consensual?? Are you aware that according the the Indian Penal Code adultery is illegal and a crime? Ranjitha was a married woman and even according to her own statement ‘there is nothing wrong with her marriage to the army officer’. Thus nithyananda having sex with a woman who he knows is the married wife of another is actually ILLEGAL. Infact even Ranjitha can be charged with abetting adultery.
This is a straight line approach. I am not even going into the other angles where we see in a cult environment it becomes very difficult to define ‘consensual’ or the fact that as a saffron clad sanyAsI he was enjoying his romps with women.
13. March 2010 - 8:17 PM
Well said.. Please do read my post on similar topic
http://aparnata.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/spirituality-and-everything-else/
14. March 2010 - 2:32 AM
Where are the criminals in the nexus (of Nithyanda’s) hiding their face. And why are the the innocent followers silent – who had believed their swami would never do such a heinous crime now.
Their swami has said
1. this great orator had carefullly chosen his words as usual and said he did nothing illegal (cosensual sex is not) but did not talk about the morality which is what we are questioning about.
2. others around denied the allegations saying the tape had been morphed.
Mum’s the word says their swami
3. then ranjitha confirmed the video was not morphed but she was just offering the services (do all the female followers offer such services or is it just the young good looking ones).
4. later he said that he was experimenting (Hey Bhagavan, kali muthi pochu). The still blind people, imagine if your daughter/wife is in this video – that will give you the courage to quit this cult without hte nexus making you feel guilty.
well wisher (not a DMK person, but someone from the sect who they loathe)
14. March 2010 - 9:17 AM
Please see my comments above whose link is:
http://www.sandeepweb.com/2010/03/07/swami-nithyananda-or-spycam-journalism/#comment-347874
There is no need to rush to defend the Swami for the sake of Hindutva. Why is it not considered as an alledgedly immoral, illegal behaviour of an individual, or perhaps two individuals? It should not be considered as an issue to be ashamed of as a community. In my knowledge Hindutva being hetrogeneous does not have an authority to deal with such incidents internally, so let the law of the land take its own course.
Again there should be some way to deal with those who use this incident to besmear Hindutva. The best recourse is to be rational and scientific in one’s outlook and not let mushrooms sprout.
Thanks Shri. Vijayshankar, for your use of the Sanskrit subhashit, Sanskrit should be our national language and not Hindi, it will create a level playing field, it is unfair for a regional language to be given the status of a national language.
Reminds me of Savarkar’s words (My transportation for life, V. D. Savarkar, pp 355, 356)
“One God, one country, one goal”
“One caste, one life, one language.”
We stand by these
14. March 2010 - 9:53 AM
Dear Sandeep,
In view of what has been written here which considers the Swami’s actions adharma as he was a brahmachari – http://incognitocomments.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/feeding-cuckoos-child/
(The blog whose link your post carries) and comments above, regarding adultery, you should have another look at the questions you have posed and your answers
14. March 2010 - 7:57 PM
has anyone read the sway’s latest interview as posted on the toi website: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/I-was-in-a-trance-when-video-was-recorded-Swami-Nithyananda/articleshow/5681275.cms
assuming the interview has not been morphed (joking!!!), this swamy is a not just immoral but a real dumbo, according to him he was in a state of samadhi when the video recording was made and that it is pat genuine and part fake !!!! these guys sure end up making hindusim look ridiculous.
15. March 2010 - 11:45 AM
PLEASE GO THROUGH THIS……
http://satyameva-jayate.org/2010/03/13/bareilly/
16. March 2010 - 1:38 PM
People are still ready to be deceived. Nithyananda..enjoy…enjoy…But please note dharmam has just shown a glimpse. He could manipulate and still cover all his deeds, but there is somebody more than …. He will teach a lesson….
17. March 2010 - 9:13 AM
As hindus, actually we need to have our concepts clear about whether or not the Sanyasis or self-realized people can have sexual relationship ? In Hindu scriptures, Sri Ram, enlightened (God) was married. Sri Krishna (Enlightened master, gave message of Gita – the holy book of Hindus), was married with Ma yashodhara and worshiped with Ma Radha. Lord Vishnu, married with Ma Lakshmi, Lord Shiva (lord of yogies – the celebates), married with Ma Parvati, lord Ganesha, 2 wives, Riddhi & Siddhi.. I don’t undrestand, why nobody is asking a simple question – why do we require our enlightened masters be celebate?
According to Patanjali, yam, nithyam, aasan, pranayam, pratyahaar, dharana, dhyan are the aspects which need to be practiced all together to attain the last state of Samadhi. Not sure, if there are scholars here, please advise, has Rishi Patanjali defined, what after attaining the state of Samadhi? What after that. You are in the blissful state all the time, you got to enjoy it. You are now in the perfect state of being – love, compassion, devotion, fullfillment and the perfect state of being with all the virtues which anybody would want to have, exactly like God, without misery or suffering, you got it. Now what…!!! ENJOY !! A person can eat whatever he/she wants to eat, after enlightenment, a person can enjoy travelling in the place like Himalaya after enlightenment, a person can enjoy dressing up almost like Hindu daities in the Temples, nothing wroing, then, why celebacy? Why is an enlightened master expected to stay celebate?
Could it be that Swami Nithyananda felt socially pressured for not getting married eventhough he wanted to? If the videos are real (and not morphed), why did swami nithyananda choose to have relationship with an actress, he could have got married with most beutiful wealthy girl from reputed family if he just wanted to have sex.. nobody would have denied him to give up Sanyas, people would have loved and honoured him more to see with his beautiful Godess like wife rather than a woman who is married and has family, God knows how her husband and family are handling this whole thing, nobody is interviewing them.
19. March 2010 - 2:34 AM
Sandeep, could you please give more publicity to this? Thanks
http://medhajournal.com/geopolitics-guru/973-why-swami-nithyananda-must-resign-now.html?showall=1
19. March 2010 - 3:36 PM
Sandeep:
I see Ramakrishna’s note to you seeking morepublicity for the article by Sri Rajiv Malhotra entitled “Why Swami Nithyananda must resign now”.
Let me mention here that this article is also available (as i have seen it, by now) in at least two webpages (and may be many many more, by now) –
as one of the main entry in –
http://medhajournal.com/geopolitics-guru/973-why-swami-nithyananda-must-resign-now.html?showall=1
and as a part of comment in –
http://greathindu.com/2010/03/my-personal-encounter-with-nithyananda-paramahamsa/
I have put my own remarks on that article at those two webpages, and i like the same to be made available here as well (for a better balance, shall we say?):
The implicit null-hypothesis may warrant considering alternative possible outcome (recommendation)
i see that your (i.e. RajivMalhotra’s) article is already uploaded onto at least two sites –
as one of the main entries –
http://medhajournal.com/geopolitics-guru/973-why-swami-nithyananda-must-resign-now.html?showall=1
and as a part of a comment in –
http://greathindu.com/2010/03/my-personal-encounter-with-nithyananda-paramahamsa/
That is good, let the discussion among Medhaavi’s result in something good at the end –
like the samudra-mathana – although initially we may see as if there is more of disagreements (represented by poison) thru aproper perseverence and foused efforts one can certainly hope to get good result (amRta) in the end;
the lesson being that one need not be perturbed by the partial results that may seem to be disheartening / discouraging; and also that it is suggested that a scientists must emotionally detach oneself from one’s own scientific results/findings so that one can effectively (without getting carried away by the glamour of such results/findings) go forward for furthering the work (there is no such thing as the final) which can then facilitate genuine reconfirmation or even at times a complete refutal of one’s own findings by the very same scientist.
i believe that there can be some more possible critical (i.e. with significant impact on the result) data/info that Rajiv himself must have felt as unavailable at the time when he was seeking it or simply not shared which can sway the conclusion/recommendation.
my own inner-voice(gut-feeling) says that society would tolerate swamiNithyananda continuing in his earlier role in his aashrama and that the media-hawks be taught a lesson as well.
looking at Rajiv’s recmmendation from another angle can also be useful –
afterall what is the thesis that Rajiv started his investigations? is it not the hypothesis that there are several antiHindu elements around the world, orchestrating and working determinedly to pull down anything and everything that is seen by them as an eyesore – i.e. successful achievements among the Hindus – and one of the centres of focus has been the very foundation of sanaatana-bhaarateeya-samsmskRti / bhaarateeya-sanaatana-dharma and its immediate derivatives.
from this overall perspective Rajiv’s recommendation seems to be doing a dis-service to the very hypothesis that he started working on, almost seems to be corroborating the other antogonistic parties’ baseless assumptions (!)
and i am sure Rajiv does not mind it at all, being an honest / sincere / truthful person of integrity with a great scientific temparament.
but do we have to be constrained to accept partial results, knowing that there can be a lot of missing critical data, and knowing that publicizing of such patial results can in fact bolster the opponent’s strength (like in the case of fighting with that raakshasa waali – waali is said to gain half his opponent’s strength that his opponent would lose).
anyway, now that i see Deepak Kamat had put his positive views a week ago itself (seems to be more based on his gut feeling rather than analysis of factual data related to the circumstance), i do not consider the publicization of the partial result (since Rajiv has explained in detail the process of his study as well).
wah!
that is why i say that can now be a real samudra-manthana, and i hope everyone concerned participates well.
P.S.:
in fact one can even go to such an extent, if one is determined and careful, as to claim that the very same factual information from Rajiv’s paper be used to derive the alternative recommendation that swamiNithyananda deserves all the support and protection from the entire HinduCommunity – all those who are concerned – in order to allow him to continue in his earlier role without any further hindrances from such external malafide forces.
K.PRASAD.H
19. March 2010 - 11:40 PM
Yes! He has a right to sex. Why is he called a Swami then and more importantly how did he become a PARAMAHAMSA. He is just an ordinary Grahasta and he can go about preaching and also having sex like any ordinary men. This is a complete betrayal of trust from a Swami who has been raised to the pedestal of Pramahamsa. Should we blame the followers who have dubbed him as a Parmahamsa
20. March 2010 - 9:09 AM
Rajiv Malhotra’s brilliant piece on Swami Nithyananda sting operation.
http://medhajournal.com/geopolitics-guru/973-why-swami-nithyananda-must-resign-now.html
20. March 2010 - 1:47 PM
Pl read the recent article in NY Times for the proposition that there exists a movement in christianity (missioneries who want to convert) to spread their religion at the expense of non-christian religions:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/christian-soldiers/?ref=opinion&8ty&emc=ty
21. March 2010 - 7:34 AM
DEAR ALL
I DO FEEL THAT EVERYTHING THE VIEW, THE THOUGHT, THE EMOTION WHAT WE AS A PEOPLE JUDGE NITHYANANDA NOT IS RIGHT.
NITHYANANDA MIGHT DO RIGHT OR WRONG ITS HIS WILL AND WISH. WHAT WE AS A PEOPLE SHOULD REALISE THE PATH WHICH HE LEAVES US TO GO IS IT REALLY TAKE TO CONCIOUSNESS OR NOT ,IF IT REALLY TAKES US THATS GOOD AND BE THANKFULL TO HIM IF NOT LEAVE IT.NO NEED OF A PERSON TO FOLLOW HIM AND GET SO CALLED HAPPINESS OR FOOLISHNESS .
LEAVE HIM HE DO CORRECT HIMSELF AND WE LOOK AFTER OURSELF HOW TO GET SOMETHIGN OUT OF THIS EVENT.
ONE THING I CAN SAYANY PERSON OR GURU IS COUNSIUSNESS THAN NOTHING WILL BE CRIME TO HIM .IF NOT THEN EVRYTHING WILL BE .
KARTHI
21. March 2010 - 8:56 AM
Differing from Rajiv Malhotra- http://incognitocomments.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/rajiv-and-rajasekar
21. March 2010 - 6:20 PM
Thx Sanjay, Rajivji’s article is amazing & explains the nefarious nexus in existence. Now there is an urgent need for unification of all Hindu leaders, instead of being silent, trying to build their own brand.
22. March 2010 - 8:54 AM
Much as I respect Mr Rajiv Malhotra – even his position needs to be placed in context, and debated . To that end here is Sandhya Jain’s rebuttal :
http://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/debutante-dharma-gurus-violating-a-civilisational-patent-sandhya-jain/
22. March 2010 - 10:57 PM
Rajiv,
given the link, that is some venom. Both are respectable people and probably knew what they were speaking about!! I would have liked a little more “academic” (polite may be a better word) approach to the Malhotra’s points. This is not to say that Malhotra’s article was a good one, it was more of PR disaster recovery effort using dharmic obfuscation.
23. March 2010 - 4:36 PM
Sid
I find nothing to disagree with what you say. My own thoughts on this exchange -
Sandhya Jain’s points would have been better made had she been a little less disparaging of others who are ostensibly working towards the same goal as hers. I think the Hindu cause could be helped better by lesser bickering. Also I completely disagree with her claims about NRIs disloyalty etc. That said however I do find that her rebuttal of Rajiv Malhotra’s position on Swami Nithyananda holds considerable ground. I also think we stand to lose if there is no distinction between our methods and those of christecular evangelists . I also think that many global swamis are somewhat compromised and do not represent the real spirit of dharma. I think in this case Rajiv Malhotra took up a wrong cause and this may come back to haunt him later on.
On the other hand one point Sandhya Jain glosses over is Rajiv Malhotra’s contention of a larger conspiracy by stating that this would hurt only unscrupulous swamis. This is evidently wrong as proven by the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham episode some years back. So I think Rajiv Malhotra arguments do have some validity. I wonder if it would have been better on his part to dispassionately explore and expose the media-evangelist-dravidianist nexus further (name some names, expose money trail, unveil methods and strategies, etc ) rather than try and defend the undefendable.
29. March 2010 - 5:31 PM
Here is an excellent critique of Sandhya Jain’s article by Karigar.
http://medhajournal.com/karigar%5C%27s-corner/977-sandhya-jain-and-the-global-hindus.html
Regrettably one cannot help noticing how discussions have digressed somewhat from the original subject. One hopes that in the greater interest of the Hindus, the participants on the debate will attempt to reconcile their positions or at least politely agree to disagree. One hopes that they can put the present episode behind them and renew their focus on exposing and combating threats to Sanatana Dharma. I have no doubt, this is what many of us who look up to them – would expect.
2. April 2010 - 10:20 PM
So after all the hue and cry the bird has flown the coop and is now enjoying the Kumbh Mela!.
Millions suffer and don’t know why.
Millions choose various paths to alleviate their suffering.
Thousands learn the path well and begin to actively practise the teachings.
Hundreds become firm on the path and show progress.
Just a few make it.
Identification with the body and it’s pleasures implies that there is yet a long way to go.
Pratyek vyakti ke jeevan mein-
Ek sant ho
Ek granth ho
Ek panth ho
Ek mantra ho
Ek kanth (ishtadevata) ho.
7. April 2010 - 5:10 PM
WHO CONTROLS THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN INDIA?
NDTV:
Funded by Gospels of Charity in Spain. Supports Communism. Recently it has developed a soft corner towards Pakistan because the Pakistan President has allowed only this channel to be aired in Pakistan. Indian CEO Prannoy Roy is co-brother of Prakash Karat, Gen Secy of Communist party of India.
CNN-IBN:
Funded solely by the Southern Baptist Church in the US. It has branches in all over the world with headquarters in the US. The Church annually allocates 800 million dollars for promotion of this channel. Its Indian head is Rajdeep Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghosh.
TIMES GROUP LIST:
TIMES OF INDIA, MID-DAY, NAV-BHARTH TIMES, STARDUST, FEMINA, VIJAYA TIMES, VIJAYA KARNATAKA, TIMES NOW (24 hour news channel) and many more.
Times Group is owned by Bennet & Coleman. Eighty per cent of funding is done by the World Christian Council. The balance of twenty per cent is equally shared by an Englishman and an Italian. The Italian Roberto Mindo is a close relative of Sonia Gandhi.
STAR TV:
Is run by an Australian who is supported by St. Peters Pontifical Church in Melbourne, Australia.
HINDUSTAN TIMES:
Owned by Birla Group, but hands have changed since Shobana Bhartiya took over. Presently it is working in collaboration with Times Group.
THE HINDU:
An English daily started over 125 years by a Sri Vaishnava Hindu family. It has been recently taken over by the Joshua Society in Berne, Switzerland. Edited by the Communist Sinophile N. Ram. He also edits the newspaper’s fortnightly Marxist magazine FRONTLINE. THE HINDU is known in Chennai (Madras) variously as “The Sapper” (because it supported the British during the struggle for Indian independence) and “The Old Widow of Mount Road” (because of its lugubrious, cliche-ridden style of writing and incomprehensible editorials). More recently it has aquired the title “China’s National Newspaper in India”.
INDIAN EXPRESS:
It is divided into two groups. THE INDIAN EXPRESS in North India and THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS in South India. Founded by the Hindu freedom fighter Ramnath Goenka. Controlled by Acts Ministries who has a major stake in the INDIAN EXPRESS. THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS is still with its North Indian counterpart.
EENADU:
To date this Hyderabad newspaper is still controlled by an Indian named Ramoji Rao. It is under concerted attack by the Christian Church, the Andhra Pradesh Christian chief minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy and the Congress Party.
ANDHRA JYOTHI:
The Muslim Party of Hyderabad known as MIM along with a Congress minister has purchased this Telugu daily very recently.
THE STATESMAN:
It is controlled by Communist Party of India.
KAIRAL TV:
It is controlled by Communist Party of India (Marxist).
MATHRABHOOMI:
Leaders of the Muslim League and some Communist Party members have major investments in the newspaper.
ASIAN AGE & DECCAN CHRONICLE:
These popular newspapers are owned by a Saudi Arabian company. Its chief editor was M.J. Akbar until early 2008. New chief editor unknown. These papers are aggressively pro-Christian (Roman Catholic) anti-Hindu newspapers.
DOORDARSHAN
India’s national TV network broadcasting in all corners of the country. Since Sonia Gandhi’s Congress Party has come to power, all DOORDARSHAN stations carry Christian missionary programmes dubbed into the regional languages.
Courtesy: Intellibriefs at http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2006/12/why-eenadu-etv-is-under-siege-in-ap.html
——————————————————————————–
THE USURPATION OF CONTROL OF THE INDIAN MEDIA HAS BEEN DONE BY THE AMERICANS
By Gautam Sen
India happens to be one of the very few major countries in the world whose dominant media is controlled directly or indirectly by foreigners. The usurpation of control has actually been by Americans, much of it through surrogates of evangelical organisations that are in fact quasi-government agencies. Paradoxically, Leftist Indian political parties supposedly hostile to a US presence in India have been subdued with alacrity by these quasi-state religious agencies, which have been operating effectively in other parts of the world as well. In Latin America, where liberation theology offered succour to the poor, the very same neo-fascist, American evangelical organisations, working in conjunction with the US State Department and intelligence services, ousted them. In India, most English language media outlets, are, in effect, vying with each other to accelerate the fragmentation of India in consonance with Anglo-American goals.
Viceroys to India in the decade before independence, Linlithgow, Wavell and Mountbatten are destined to prove prescient about its innate fractiousness. The alleged oppression of minorities is the political bridgehead that modern evangelical organisations have entrenched in the public consciousness, relentlessly distorting its reality and using it ruthlessly to fuel discontent within India. By deliberately misrepresenting the Godhra communal riots as genocide, though both communities suffered, the media has gleefully incited Islamic terrorist attacks against Hindus and harsh international condemnation of India. As a corollary, the rise of the BJP inspired them to equate mundane nationalist aspirations with the oxymoron of Hindu extremism. Yet, there is resounding silence on the role of the minority community in providing succour to Islamic terrorism through vote bank politics and concealment from attention.
Courtesy: India-Forum: News and Analysis at
http://www.india-forum.com/strategic_security/impending-dangers-to-india-political-survival-678.html
10. April 2010 - 1:06 AM
Sandeep, this post shows that you seem to be mentally challenged with logic and Gautam Sen (the dim wit who wrote about media ownership) is a hate monger, who doesn’t have his facts correct.
Gautam, if you have heard of google (www.google.com), then use it to search for “World Media Control” see what you find. Also, the next time you have an impulse to indulge in investigative journalism, be sure to check public records, you communal hater.
Sandeep, the following needs some thought, which I am sure we shouldn’t expect from you:
“Did Swami Nithyananda commit a crime by having sex with that woman?”
Have you heard of halucinanation or mesmerism? The act may have seemed consensual, but if there is promise of heaven, eternity, inner awakening, enlightenment, angelical life; do you think a person with problems in life wouldn’t seek out a try? Ranjitha, as we have come to know was struggling financially and gotten out of bad marriage. Unless you are in that state, you don’t know what gullibility means. You have no clue about that can be exploited with reason or drugs.
“Are such Swamijis/Godmen “allowed” to have sex?”
Why then preach the followers to be brahmacharis or brahmacharinis? Why then only have them serve you in close quarters with 7 levels of security? Are you saying they are allowed to preach what they don’t practice?
“Does Nithyananda’s act involve abuse of position and/or power?”
What does the term Devadasi mean? Can a promise by a person for whom millions have left their homes mean something special to a devotee? Fine, let say not for argument’s sake. If you have sisters or even your mother, would you be ok with letting them “serve” him for an elongated period of time in seclusion? Know this: this man had millions of followers, because he can appeal to people and readily get them to agree to his thoughts. He is also a very good yoga practitioner, who may give people pleasure through physical touch that they may have never experienced before.
If you can think, perhaps you may be able to reason. but of-course, you will have to approve this post for it to appear.
12. April 2010 - 3:39 PM
Sandeep,
I acknowledge that you are good in English. I hope you could even teach Nithyananda to speak in good english. Anyhow..everything is over my friend. Nithyananda is a dangerous manipulator to circumstances. He may probably use his skills and tactics and come out of this. But please understand that this is not the end. All your organizations manipulative tactics seem to destinate in few more days. Sathyuga is dawning in this kaliyuga. I accept Mr.Radhakrishnan’s view and other good people’s viwe here. Game is over. Please do not reply and convince me here. Convince yourselves…
14. April 2010 - 1:18 PM
@karmegham
“Please do not reply and convince me here. Convince yourselves…”..lol it looks like you are begging for a response. Kaliyuga is ending ..I thought we were just in the first paada
14. April 2010 - 2:01 PM
I do not support Nityananda’s misdoing, by wearing saffron robes no body becomes a sanyasi/yogi, the one who has conqured self, the one who by one gaze of his, turn other souls to the path of self introspection/ renounciation is a true yogi, for such a soul King and a beggar is equal, wealth and poverty is equal, if he wants he can conquer entire world ,redeems the bad karma of devotees, that True men of God India always had. At this moment in Vedas a divine light – IV i remenber swami ramswarup ji’s writing Alas Food. I cannot reproduce it as i am in process of shifting but i will produce it later.
Further, the result of every deed is provided by God we have a freewill to do deeds, In this context i remember an incident from Swami Sammarath of Akkalkot’s biography, once a women visited him, suddenly a thought entered her mind ever Swami ji had any physical intimation with women.Siddha yogis are Trikaal darshi(They Know Past, Present & Future, this is the divine gift of God to all such souls who have achieved Nirvikalpa Samadhi, they understand inner thoughts of every living being be it animals/humans). Swami sammarath understood her thoughts.Later this womens breast got dissolved and this women took to sanayas/renounciation. This incident i have quoted here for all of us to understand, fake gurus are to be punished by law/King, true gurus have their ways to change others by their siddhis/vibhutis / mystical powers achieved in due course of Time by Astanaga yoga Sadhana. God also punishes such gurus, we have to discard them by wisdom, logic.Right is always right.
In Sanatan Dharama their is no place for fraud, atheism or lie. Becoz God is present everywhere in every fabric/atom of universe. He is the supreme Judge/Result Giver. But destiny for human beings is in their hands by doing pious deeds as per Dharma(after due consideration of right/wrong) in consultation with vedas.
i would like to quote Nityananda Bhagwan of ganeshpuri, wherever he went, he was penniless in worldly terms but devotees kept on following him for material desires. He used to pay wages by directing souls to a tree by digging under it, sometimes from his lion cloth etc. such a man sits under a tree not in palatial mansion but have the caliber to direct thousands of normal soul.On sanyasis he has said “He is a real Sanyasi who has burnt desire to ashes. He is the universal teacher. The universe is in those who have renounced desire. What is Chidakasha (space) is Sanyasa. The same is light is consciousness. The same is divine light. The same is fire, internal, and external. The same is the fire of discrimination. This power of discrimination is in the universe.”
7. June 2010 - 8:15 PM
Rashmi is good at playing my Guru. I want to know whether she is fake or genuine.whether she has burnt all her desires including the desire to post a comment on Nithyananda’s relationships?
WHAT IS HER OR ANYONE’S CREDENTIALS TO JUDGE THE ACTIONS OF ENLIGHTENED BEINGS WHO HAS ATTAINED SAVIKALPA & NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI CONCIOUSNESS? ATTAIN IT. THEN COME HERE TO COMMENT ON ANYONE’S PERSONAL LIFE & DECISIONS.
28. July 2010 - 1:17 AM
The churches dont need spycams because the church leaders and fathers do not tell that they only have the knowledge and ask all people to fall on their feet and worship them or build ashrams for them ..
they only tell from the Bible and they also read from the Bible..
they dont tell they are here as avatars of gods …..