Media supports H.H Paramahamsa Nithyananda coronation as 293rd Pontiff
Many discerning print, TV and online media have come out in support of H.H. Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s coronation as the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam.
Here are some of the major newspaper reports from different media houses.
“Nithyananda is back, as Head of Revered Mutt
“Nithyananda scored a spiritual coup of sorts after being coronated as the new head of what is claimed to be the oldest Hindu organisation, the Saivite mutt known as the Madurai Aadheenam.
The present pontiff of the Aadheenam, Arunagirinatha Gnanasambandha Desigar, placed a gold-plated crown and read out the declaration anointing Nithyananda as the 293rd head of the mutt at a ceremony held at the headquarters of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam on the outskirts of Bangalore on Friday.
He has been bestowed with the formal title, ‘293rd Guru Maha Sannidhanam Srila Sri Paramahamsa Nithyananda Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal’. – Indian Express”
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions would be established at the respective locations where the Madurai Adheenam had property and all details with regard to the assets with the mutt would be released in a year’s time, said Nithyananda on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference at the Madurai Mutt, along with the senior head Arunagirinatha Gnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya, the junior rejected allegations made by some Hindu organisations that puja was not performed at the mutt. A video clipping of puja being performed in the mutt was also telecast on a screen.
Nityananda stated that Hindu organisations should not work against the interests of Hindus. Earlier in the day, heads of four mutts — Kumaramasamy Adigal of Pollachi Adheenam, Chaturagiri Swamigal, Subramania Swamigal of Tirupparankundram and Atma Chaitanya Maharaj of Tiruchendur — who visited the mutt said that Nityananda’s appointment as Madurai Adheenam would be the beginning of a new phase in the mutt’s 2,000-year history. Till now Madurai Adheenam was confined to a small circle and “we are all confident that the young pontiff Nityananda will take it to the international level to spread Saivism and Hinduism.”
When questioned on charges faced by him, they said that it was not new for pontiffs to face challenges and obstacles. All these allegations against him were results of a larger political conspiracy. “He will face them strongly and emerge victorious.” All the four pontiffs said that soon a public function would be organised in Chennai to honour Nityananda for becoming the 293th head of the ancient Madurai Adheenam. – The Hindu”
Schools to be built in 100 villages: Nithyananda
“I will take efforts to build schools in 100 villages on behalf of the mutt. Colleges would also be opened in several places,” Nithyananda told reporters soon after being crowned by the senior pontiff Arunagirinatha Desikar. “The Madurai Adheenam is a big ocean. I am just a drop in it and it gives me delirium to be part of the ancient mutt. I will strive to spread the legacy of mutt across the world,” he said. Nithyananda said that he would take initiatives to renovate and perform consecration for four temples administered by the mutt. “Round-the-clock ‘annadhanam’ would be served. I had offered Rs one crore as ‘patha kanikkai’ soon after I was chosen as the successor. I would offer Rs 4 crore more. He also staunchly denied the allegations against him and said that he was falsely implicated in the case. – The Times of India
Hindu Maha Sabha chief voices support for Nithyananda
The president of the All-India Hindu Maha Sabha (AIHMS) who was in Madurai on Monday, created a flutter by expressing solidarity with the Madurai Adheenam and Nithyananda. Sakkarapani Maharaj, the president of the sabha, and general secretary Indira Deepaji were in Madurai to visit the mutt. After meeting the present pontiff and Nithyananda, he spoke to media persons, saying, “Nithyananda is taking great efforts to form a strong base for Hinduism across the world. The AIHMS is fully supportive of his efforts,” he said. All mutt heads who were now opposing Nithyananda will start supporting him very soon, he added. – The Times of India
Madurai Adheenam defends decision to appoint Nithyananda
Rebuffing the remarks of Kanchi Seer on the anointment of Nithyananda as the 293rd Pontiff of Madurai Mutt, the present Mutt head (Aadheenam) Sri Arunagirinatha Jnanasambanda Desiga Paramacharya Swamigal categorically said ‘there was no going back on his decision to appoint Nithyananda as his successor.’ Talking to newsmen here the Pontiff said ‘once enthroned as junior Pontiff cannot be dethroned.’ There is no change in my decision. I am empowered to appoint the junior Pontiff, he said. When he was deeply worried about appointing a successor, Lord Shiva suggested the name of Nithyananda in his dream. He praised Nithyananda for spreading the principles of Hinduism and Saivism world over and involved himself in religious activities. – Chennai Online
Nithyananda coronated as 293th head of Madurai Aadheenam
Guru Maha Sannidhanam Gnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal, the 292nd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, declared Nithyananda as his successor at a press conference held today at Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam’s international headquarters in Bidadi, about 35 km from here.
The current pontiff read out the affidavit declaring that ‘we hereby declare, nominate, enthrone, coronate and appoint Paramahamsa Nithyananda, as 293rd Guru Maha Sannidhanam of Madurai Aadheenam,also called as Tirugnanasambanda Swamigal Adheenam. We hereby coronate with the title His Holiness the 293rd Guru Maha Sannidhanam Srila Sri Paramahamsa Nithyananda Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal’.
The current pontiff declared Nithyananda as his lawful successor, descendant and inheritor of Madurai Adheenam, Tirugnanasambanda Swamigal Adheenam, having all the powers, duties, obligations, ritual and customary rights that is being performed, enjoyed, vested in the Madurai Aadheenam.
He also declared Nithyananda as his lawful successor to deal with all the movable and immovable properties of the Tirgnanasambanda Swamigal Adheenam, which includes over 1250 acres of land, several temples and properties owned by the Aadheenam in India and abroad. The legendary Madurai Aadheenam has existed since time immemorial.
However, it was revived around 1500 years ago by the young enlightened incarnation Tirujnana Sambandar, one of the four visionary saints of South Indian Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy. The Aadheenam is established in Madurai, one of the oldest cities of India with a history dating all the way back to Tamil Sangam period. The presiding deities of Madurai are Shiva and Devi in their incarnations as Chokkanathar and Meenakshi, enshrined in the world-famous Madurai Meenakshi-Sundareshwara temple.
According to the rules and regulations of the Madurai Aadheenam, only hereditary Saiva Vellalars (the religious community to which Nithyananda belongs) are selected as the pontiffs of this ancient and premier religious institution. The pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam is known by the title ‘Guru Maha Sannidhanam’ and inherits great responsibility in carrying forward the traditions of Tirujnana Sambandar’s sacred work.
The spiritual services offered by Madurai Aadheenam are well-known throughout India. According to Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy,everything is preordained according to the judgment of Lord Shiva. Nithyananda made an offering of Rs one crore towards Madurai Aadheenam’s spiritual activities. – Chennai Online
The 292nd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, Sri Arunagirinatha Gnanasambanda Desikar, filed an affidavit in the Madras High Court Bench in Madurai on Thursday refuting allegations that he was under the illegal custody of Nithyananda.
Responding to a Habeas Corpus Petition by one T Gurusamy Desikar, seeking a direction to police to produce him in person and set him free from ‘illegal custody’ of Nithyananda, he said the HCP had been filed for cheap publicity. He had been meeting devotees, general public, media and had even issued public statements, the adheenam said.
The adheenam, Arunagiri Gnanasambandha Desiga Paramacharya Swami, claimed he was fully empowered to appoint his successor and the filing of HCP “is an abuse of power of law.”The affidavit, filed through his counsel Veera Kathiravan, stated that the petitioner had no locus standi to file such a case and that it was a clear abuse of process of law.
It also accused the habeas corpus petitioner of filing the case with the intention of gaining publicity.“I have been meeting the devotees every day at my Madurai Aadheenam. I also met all the general public and press people and gave a public statement on May 2 in Madurai in order to clear all unwarranted rumours. But the conduct of the petitioner is insulting, scandalous and motivated by malice. – Chennai Vision
Petition seeking Nithyananda’s removal as Mutt Head dismissed The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation demanding the removal of Nithyananda as head of the Madurai Adheenam, saying the matter was to be decided by a HR & CE joint commissioner or a civil court. Meanwhile, Arunangirinatha Desikar hit out at Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi for criticising the anointment of Nithyananda. “I strongly object to the comments made by the Kanchi acharya regarding the anointment of Nithyananda as my successor. It was unwarranted,” he said. – The Times of India
Bench dismisses cases against Nithyananda The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday dismissed two cases filed in connection with the recent coronation of Nithyananda of Bidadi in Karnataka as the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam by the 292nd pontiff Sri Arunagirinatha Sri Gnanasambanda Desikar. A Division Bench of Justice M. Sathyanarayanan and Justice D. Hariparanthaman dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by T. Gurusamy Desikar (80), manager of Dharmapuram Mutt here, on the ground that there was no material to prove that Gnanasambanda Desikar was in illegal custody of Nithyananda. – The Hindu
The judges said that the contents of an affidavit filed by the 292nd pontiff, through his counsel Veera Kathiravan, would clearly prove that he was neither under the control nor illegal custody of any person and that the present case had been filed with the sole intention of gaining publicity.In his affidavit, Gnansambanda Desikar had claimed that the HCP had been filed with “imaginary information without verifying the essential facts and actual truth.” He reserved his right to prosecute the petitioner for having brought disgrace to the Adheenam by filing such a case. The two judges also dismissed a public interest litigation petition filed by M. Solaikannan (33) of Hindu People’s Party on the ground that this case too had been filed for the sake of publicity.“This court is not satisfied with the credentials of the petitioner,” the Bench said. It further pointed out that the petitioner, if really aggrieved, could approach the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department under the Section 59 of the HR and CE Act, which provides for removal of a trustee of a Math, seeking removal of Nithyananda from the post of Madurai Adheenam. – The Hindu
Swami Nithyananda relieved, PIL against Godman dismissed The self-proclaimed godman Swami Nithyananda must be relieved as the Madurai High Court in Tamil Nadu dismissed a PIL against him on Thursday, May 10.Seer of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal earlier had opposed Nithyananda’s appointment as the junior pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam and had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Swami. Nithyananda was declared 293rd pontiff of “Madurai Aadheenam” at Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam in Bidadi. The mutt is an ancient Hindu religious organisation.Nithyananda vowed to fulfill all responsibilities of the Aadheenam, revive the Shaiva tradition and also make the Aadheenam an international religious organisation. – One India News
Relief for Nithyananda: Madras HC dismisses plea
In a relief to controversial godman Nithyananda, a Madurai bench of Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against the appointment of Nithyananda as the Madurai Adheenam head.M Solaikannan of the Hindu People’s Party had filed the petition alleging that the self-styled godman had used illegal means to take the present pontiff Arunagirinatha Gnanasambanda Desikar under his custody. – Dailybhaskar.com Nithyananda dares mutt heads to install CCTVs in their rooms Self-styled Godman Nithyananda has hit back at Hindu religious heads and mutts in Tamil Nadu for opposing his anointment as the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam, the oldest Saivite mutt.Ever since the announcement of his succession to 292nd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam, Arunagirinatha Desikar a fortnight back, Nithyananda chose to go soft on the religious outfits and heads of mutts who opposed his nomination and was only defending his anointment stating that the allegations leveled against him were false. But on Tuesday, he came down hard on religious leaders who opposed him posing a challenge if they were ready to install CCTV cameras in all the rooms of their mutts’ premises for public to view their activity.”I am ready to install surveillance cameras in my rooms. Are the individuals who oppose me ready to install the cameras so that their activities could be monitored round the clock? Let a neutral body monitor the cameras so that the activities of all mutt heads would become transparent,” he challenged during a press conference.”The true colours of the persons opposing me would be out if such cameras were installed,” he charged. “There are about 800 mutts in India. Only 13 are opposing. The individuals opposing me have not contributed anything to Hinduism,” Nithyananda said, reiterating that he would not buckle down under pressure. Seated alongside the senior pontiff, Nithyananda said that a library would be set up by the Madurai mutt to promote Tamil and Saivism. In the backdrop of the controversy over the vast resources of the mutt and the donations he had paid the mutt, Nithyananda said that in a year all the asset details of the mutt would be posted online. The transactions of the mutt would also be uploaded regularly in a bid make the functioning of the mutt transparent, he said. – Indiatimes.com
Nithyananda plans to file Defamation Suit (The Hindu)
Sole Prerogative (The Hindu)
Hindu Maha Sabha supports Nithyananda (Zee News)
Actor Ranjitha to sue Kanchi Acharya
Ranjitha files suit against Kanchi Seer
Actor Ranjitha files defamation suit against Kanchi Seer