I have not been posting information on Swami Nityananda over the last several years. However due to recent news which will make a difference to some people in the Tiruvannamalai area, am posting the following information which appeared in local newspapers this week:
"Swami Nityananda announced here on Tuesday (September 9, 2014) that he's moving out of his 20-acre ashram in Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bangalore and settling down in his Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, facility about 204 km away from here.
On Tuesday morning, Nityananda told his devotees that not just him, the entire team of Nityananda Dhyanapeetham will shift to Tiruvannamalai.
Nityananda said he would finish his current commitments in a few days, as it would require a few days to make preparations for setting up residence at Tiruvannamalai. "It is not just me who will be moving but the entire team, including accounts, publications, IT and others. The whole team will operate from Tiruvannamalai," he said.
"Whenever legally required I will come back to Bangalore to attend proceedings. I also wanted to rest after all that has happened and I think Tiruvannamalai is the best place for that. But I will continue to do all the spiritual activities from there," he said."
Horrible man. Why is he going there? It takes all sorts I guess. He should be ashamed to show his face there again!
ReplyDeleteTiruvannamalai is his native place, where he was born and raised . . . so it looks like he is coming home. As of yet have not heard where his ashram will be permanently located. The 3 acre facility on the girivalam roadway is going to be turned into a school . . . so the permanent ashram with support crew will hardly be located there. Expect he has everything already organised somewhere else in the area.
ReplyDeleteIt all seems a bit fishy to me. I am surprised he is allowed to leave Karnataka, considering all the criminal charges he is facing - I suspect he would require a court order to relocate. I just hope that he doesn't parade himself in Tiruvannamalai. I would hate for him to visit places like the Big Temple and the Ramashramam with all the pomp and show we see around him.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand he is not allowed to leave India, but as long as his lawyers keep the authorities informed of his movement, seems like shifting States has their seal of approval.
ReplyDeleteAs to his programme here at Arunachala . . . yes I expect it will be just as you forecast . . . lots of bling and show.
I hope Nityananda has learned his lessons and doesn't put up a show in Tiruvannamalai.
ReplyDeleteThat said, we need a balance of power in Tiru, don't you think? Bhagavan may have been humble and have been the real thing but his followers are not. Look how they are working overtime to takeover Tiruvannamalai and tell the world 'Arunachala is Ramana.' Clipping Ramana Ashram's wings are also in order.
Anyway, great coverage Meenakshi. How do you do it all?
I do think Ramana Ashram is a fantastic place and we are blessed it is here and readily available to all.
ReplyDeleteHowever my website and blogs are dedicated to Arunachala and not affiliated to any ashram or person. In this respect I prefer focussing specifically on the Hill and not on any particular saint, sage or their organisation.
Dear Snobby SydneySider, there have been charges against Nithyananda but nothing has been proved by the court yet, so please exercise "the benefit of the doubt". Hating and forbidding anyone from entering the temples or ashrams doesn't seem right.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteThe fact is he is a controversial figure. More so now than at anytime previously and he is going to have deal with adverse public opinion wherever he goes. A lot of people are going to feel angry and betrayed by everything that has transpired.
The objection from Snobby is not that he is going to visit Ashrams and Temples, but that he will visit such places with a lack of humility and sincerity. The fact is undeniable -- he does like to put on a show!
Sorry but I don't think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. The fact is that very compromising video footage was released of him, which he then tried to allege was morphed rather than admit to the truth. He then absconded somewhere to Himachal Pradesh before being caught by the police. And what about the ridiculous footage exposed a couple of years ago where he was trying to make his devotees levitate??? This is clearly not the behavior of a realized master, but a con artist who sadly continues to deceive and profit from some very naive people.
ReplyDeleteI am the anon at Sept 11th. I really think Nityananda (and his followers) and Ramana Ashram (and their followers) should go some place else and duke it out.
ReplyDeleteThere are temple towns in India where the temple to the main diety is the only big thing in town. Saints and sages and their organizations don't exist in these towns. It should be so in Tiruvannamalai as well.
Meenakshi had a good post sometime ago about a saint who didn't leave people to their destiny but actually had the powers to change the position of the planets and help them. His samadhi is some where inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple and no one knows where exactly. That is how self effacing that sage is in the presence of Arunachala.
So, really my prayer to Nityananda and Ramana devotees is take your fight elsewhere and let us enjoy Arunachala, his beautiful Arunachaleswarar temple and Meenakshi's blog in peace. Thank you all for understanding.
The link for the posting of the saint that you are referring is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://arunachalagrace.blogspot.in/2013/03/sri-idaikadar.html
Sorry, I meant to say I am the first anon who posted on Sept 11th.
ReplyDeleteMeenakshi, yes this is the post I was looking for. Those who have experienced Idaikadar Sidddhar say this siddhar seems to want to help people with health problems or those about to meet with accidents and untimely death.
He will not allow people near his samadhi, keeping people confused as to the location of it, but will take on a form and help devout souls badly in need of his help and who pray to him. There is no need for any chanting or merging mind with heart. All this siddhar is looking for is a pure heart.
Imagine, no donations to give !!!(In these difficult times in Tiruvannamalai, God only knows what the money will be used for - arms stock piling and knocking down competition or is it legal bills ???). Something to think about.