Fraud Coverage by Independent Researcher, Rajiv Malhotra
Hi there, Sri Nithyananda. We haven't seen you in the last couple of days. Where you been? Oh, we understand, '
OK, Sri Nithyananda, we saw that 11-page article that your independent and sometimes, but prolific writer, Rajiv Malhotra did about you and your cult. Here it is, '
Rajiv Malhotra recently wrote an article “The Lessons from the Swami Nithyananda Saga” which makes excuses for Nithyananda’s behavior of sexual misconduct. Mr. Malhotra’s insights are based upon his personal experiences with Nithyananda, other spiritual gurus, and historical knowledge of various religious organizations. Though Mr. Malhotra claims that Swami Nithyananda is not his guru, citing that “to be classified as a devotee/disciple of his, there are two criteria, neither of which applies to me. First, there is an optional program one can sign up for, to do “paada puja” at the guru’s feet, in order to develop a special link with him. The second is that one can ask to be given an initiation with a new name...I did not do either of these steps. So my relationship is not as a devotee or disciple.” Ah, but it is Mr. Malhotra! You do not have to specifically change your name to be a devotee, there is no Hindu scripture that says this is mandatory! Furthermore, the “paada puja” program was only recently instituted as another profit center in order for Swamiji to generate additional revenue and did not exist before this past year. Are you saying that all the people who have been with him for many years and consider him as their guru are not true devotees because they weren’t able to do the “paada puja” this past year? And if someone did waste their money on doing “paada puja”, let me assure you, there is no “special link with him” other than the “link to his bank account.”
It is obvious that Mr. Malhotra idolizes Swamiji since Swamiji gave his undivided attention for 2 days (each 12 hour days) listening to Mr. Malhotra’s educational lectures and insisted that his top people, including acharyas to attend as well, which obviously has swelled up Mr. Malhotra’s ego to the point where it has clouded his judgment of Swamiji setting up an approving liberal slant in his favor. Mr. Malhotra himself has described “the interactions were intense” and that “no other guru in the world has invested so much time with me to try and learn.” You were also enamored with Swamiji because “he bought a couple of hundred copies of the book, “Invading the Sacred” at the full price, and made it required reading for all his ashram residents.” So it is obvious that Mr. Malhotra is biased toward Nithyananda and is not an independent researcher as he states. Don’t get too proud Mr. Malhotra because Swamiji also resold those Invading the Sacred books in his centers for more than the full price he originally paid and Swami Nithyananda also made the cult scientology book Dianetics required reading for his ashramites as well. Notice that Nithyananda did not require his ashramites to read or learn sanksrit, Sanskrit slokas, meditation techniques (they weren’t even given time to do these), any Hindu texts like Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam, Upanishads, etc. I guess Dianetics enhances Vedic knowledge much more than any of these outdated ancient texts. I’m sure Swamiji knows best since he’s enlightened and all.
Mr. Malhotra claims that he “found that the sensationalized media reports were too one-sided, and none of them had a single statement to report from the swami himself.” Gee, maybe that’s because Swami went into hiding and was nowhere to be found. I remember the media desperately pleading with Sachitananda at the first news conference to have Swami appear and answer questions.
Mr. Malhotra said, “another point that is worth noting is that the techniques taught by Swami Nithyananda are not his original ones; he has made it clear repeatedly that they are from the Shiva Sutras which have a long history in our civilization.” No, actually, most techniques that Nithyananda taught and stories that he regaled were ones that he claimed original authorship and asserted to have “downloaded” from Existence.
Regarding the sex acts on the videotape, Mr. Malhotra explains, “This was consensual sex between adults, and that too backed by a formal written contract between the parties... And if it was done under the Tantra portions of the Shiva Sutra, it was also an act within the Hindu tradition despite the controversy surrounding Tantra today.” There are many problems with this statement. First, it could never be considered consensual sex between adults because one person is clearly at a higher level of authority and power and the other is a subordinate. Would it be okay for an employer and an employee to engage in sex? There is a certain duty that Swamiji had, as a head of a religious organization, to be the ultimate bearer of moral responsibility. In other words, he should have known right from wrong even when his devotees didn’t. Also, all inner circle insiders clearly know that Swami Nithyananda always covers his legal bases by making his people sign all sorts of legal waivers. So the formal written contract means nothing since it is usually signed by a person who is under duress and not thinking rationally. Mr. Malhotra says that “it was an act within Hindu tradition.” What Hindu tradition says that adultery, premarital sex, or sexual relations outside the confines of marriage is acceptable?
Mr. Malhotra professes Swamiji was only being scientific, “This [Tantric sex] he [Nithyananda] considers to be like any R & D done in a lab for developing a product.” Any scientist can elaborate that the scientific method requires strict, controlled conditions in order to conduct any research and development. It was pretty obvious that the conditions that Nithyananda was in were not controlled in any way. In fact, even Mr. Malhotra says, “She took the sexual initiative with him on the occasion shown in the videotape, at a time when he was not fully alert.” Why would she do that if she knew it was a strict scientific experiment? And why would Swami allow any of the events to occur if he was not fully alert? It would be unconscionable to any scientist to conduct any part of any experiment if he were not fully alert. So Mr. Malhotra, let’s drop all your excuses, stop supporting the guru you claim is not yours and admit that this was not any scientific research whatsoever. Stop believing everything Nithyananda tells you because he is doing nothing more but trying to justify his immoral activities.
Mr. Malhotra suggests, “Also, as a matter of principle, regardless of whether or not he is guilty of the morality charge, I felt opposed to spurious criminal charges being piled up by the irresponsible media just to create sensationalism.” In what way was the media irresponsible? They took a very credible videotape and aired it for the public to see. It’s about time that everyone knows what a sham operation Nithyananda is conducting under the guise of religion. Swami has duped thousands of people in so many ways. This is just one that happened to get exposed. Don’t blame the media. Blame Swami Nithyananda for engaging in less-than-moral behaviour. No one is “doing” this to Nithyananda, he did it to himself.
Mr. Malhotra spins a tale of conspiracy that Nithyananda was “targeted” for being very popular, healing many people, and not being a Brahmin. I have to point out the obvious that he actually isn’t that popular. The reason for the high YouTube ratings was because Nithyananda’s people were told by him to constantly click on the highest star rating for all his video and to surf the web regularly and squash any dissent immediately. As far as healing goes, most if not all of the stories of healing are exaggerated claims by Nithyananda’s people and none can be verified without any doubts. Not being Brahmin is one of the most ridiculous claims because there are thousands of non-Brahmins who are in the Hare Krishna movement all over the world and no one harasses them for being non-Brahmins.
Talking to Nithyananda’s people, Mr. Malhotra felt, “I had a difficult time to get dependable information, and the stories kept changing not only over time but also between one person and another within the group. I could not tell if there was a cover up and if new lies were fabricated to cover prior lies. In such an atmosphere one cannot tell which individuals might have a separate stake and vested interest from the group.” Yes, Mr. Malhotra, welcome to what the rest of us already know – that this organization run by Swami Nithyananda is a cult and nothing that is said by him or by his people is credible. Most everything is either a lie or an exaggeration!
Mr. Malhotra says in his article, “One factor is that the swami’s approach was too conservative for some and too liberal for others. It is too filled with deities, symbols and rituals of a very orthodox kind for the aesthetic taste of modern global gurus who propagate a whitened, Westernized “clean” Hinduism that is abstract and metaphysical but devoid of imagery associated with “primitive paganism.” At the other end of the spectrum are orthodox Hindu leaders who find his idea of youthful dancing, celebration, and liberal atmosphere to be not “real” Hinduism.” You see, Mr. Malhotra, Swami Nithyananda intentionally embraces all forms of Hinduism so that he can appeal to any individual anywhere and attract them and their accompanying dollars into his fold. Don’t misunderstand me – Swamiji doesn’t care about Hinduism, he only pretends to embrace Hinduism in order to profit himself in any way he can.
The best part of Mr. Malhotra article that we can all agree on is where he stated, “I have personally recommended to Swami Nithyananda that the best course at this stage would be for him to resign completely from his organization.” Finally, Mr. Malhotra, we can agree on something! "While it is understandable that you have an eager interest in supporting Hindu dharma, please support real Hindu dharma and do not be blinded to take the side of a false guru like Swami Nithyananda."
Follow your dharma. Use your common sense. Listen to your inner-conscience, and follow the Truth. Come out of this trap, and escape from this fake and fraudulent cult scam.
