Swami Nithyananda

"Nithyananda" redirects here. For other uses, see Nityananda (disambiguation).
Swami Nithyananda
Born (1978-01-01) 1 January 1978
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India[1][2]
Nationality Indian
Titles/honours Mahamandaleshwar of Nirvani Akhada[3]
Founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam
Philosophy Advaita Vedanta
Quotation I am not here to say I am God—Aham Brahmasmi. I am here to prove that you are God—Tat Tvam Asi.

Swami Nithyananda, better known as Paramahamsa Nithyananda,[4] is a spiritual guru[5] and Mahamandaleshwar of Maha Nirvani Akhada.[3] He is also the founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam headquartered in Bengaluru, India.[6] His organization spans 50 countries with 10 million followers worldwide.[7]

Biography

Early life

He was born with the name Rajasekaran on 1 January 1978 in Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.[1] He was the second child of Arunachalam and Lokanayaki.[1] Nithyananda claims to remember his birth: "It was neither dark nor light-filled; an indeterminate color covered planet Earth. Suddenly a bright and brilliant light appeared from a region, which I now see as Southern India. I entered into that light in the form of a brilliant meteor. The very next sight that I perceived with my inner eye was Arunachala, and I knew that I had assumed the body once more; I had entered the womb of my mother. It was a conscious birth. I entered into the body at 11:45 pm. I took a muhurta, which is a period of about 45 minutes in the Hindu system of time measurement, to settle into the body."[8]

Nithyananda Biography

Nithyananda says that when he was around 9 years old he regularly met Arunagiri Yogiswara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, at his Samadhi within the premises of Arunachala temple at Tiruvannamalai and that they talked for hours day after day. According to Nithyananda, Arunagiri eventually told him, "Dear one, you and I are one. We can never get separated. But the play is over. You will not miss me any longer. We are one" and the form of Arunagiri Yogiswara merged into his body and disappeared.

According to Nithyananda when he was about 12 years old a meditation technique given to him by Annamalai Swamigal resulted in his "awaken[ing] to the realization that I was one with the whole of Existence and everything was I!" Nithyananda says that the effects of this experience, that he now calls satori, lasted for about three days and was the beginning of a new phase of spiritual development in his life. He says that it has enabled him to see all around him whenever he wishes.[9]

Name change

According to Nithyananda, he changed his name from Rajashekar after a mystical experience in which Mahavatar Babaji appeared to him in a darshan and gave him the name Nithyananda.[10] Responding to the question, "who called you Paramahamsa?", (a Sanskrit religio-theological title of honour applied to Hindu spiritual teachers of lofty status who are regarded as having attained enlightenment), Nithyananda said "The Mahavatar Babaji in his mystical darshan".[10]

Teachings and Meditation Programs

Nithyananda's teachings are based on the Upanishads and Kamika Agama, advaita vedanta, bhakti, yoga, meditation and kriyas.[11] His discourses on Indian scriptures include Shiva Sutras, Jain Sutras Brahma Sutras, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads.

Nithyananda conducts meditation programs spanning 1 to 21-days.[12] His discourses are available through live internet video streaming, through Nithyananda TV and also broadcast by selected television companies.

eN education

Nithyananda's organisation includes a number of "Enlightening Nithyanandam based Spiritual Education" (eNBSE) programs and schools with the stated mission "To create a quantum intelligent civilization based on consciousness, compassion, creativity and confidence in at least 10 million children".[13]

Nithyananda Gurukul

Nithyananda Gurukul is a residential school within the ashram in Bidadi. According to nithyananda.org, the curriculum includes "standard academics", "brain yoga for balanced neurological growth", "Vedic mathematics", an "Emphasis on Ecological awareness and connection with the planet that sustains us" and an "Awareness of beauty cultivated through creative performing and graphic arts".[14]

Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam

Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Worldwide

Nithyananda established an Ashram at Bidadi, near Bangalore on 1 January 2003 called Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, with the stated mission of reviving Vedic tradition and sharing his enlightenment experience. The ashram offers programs on meditation, yoga and healing which are often conducted by Nithyananda.

The ashram has been involved in a number of social initiatives including disaster relief activities for hurricane Thane,[15] relief work during the floods in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in 2009,[16] donations for victims of fire accident at the fireworks factory in Sivakasi in 2009[17] and deaths of pilgrims at Amarnath in 2012.

Awards and honours

Nithyananda at Kumbh Mela

Works

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nithyananda may have forged birth documents". Deccan Herald. 24 March 2010.
  2. ↑ About the Master and Mission (Self Published)
  3. 1 2 Sanjay Pandey, Lucknow, 13 February 2013, DHNS: (13 February 2013). "Nithyananda feted at Mahakumbh". Deccanherald.com. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  4. ↑ http://nithyananda.org/
  5. ↑ Beary, Habib (13 June 2012). "BBC News – India police quiz guru Nithyananda over assault claims". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Meditation holds key to peaceful life: Paramahamsa Nithyananda". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Medical tests exonerate Nithyananda of rape charge?". dnaindia. 15 Oct 2014.
  8. ↑ Nithyananda-Vol-1.
  9. ↑ "Nithyananda's Enlightenment Experience at the foothills of Arunachala – Inner Awakening Dec 2009". LifeBlissFoundation. 2009.
  10. 1 2 Deepak Thimaya (2 July 2012). "The Unexpurgated Nithyananda Interview". Outlook (magazine).
  11. ↑ Nithya Kriyas for Diseases and Disorders
  12. ↑ Kalpataru: Manifest your destiny
  13. ↑ "About Us: eN Education: Enlightening Nithyanandam based Spiritual Education ( eNBSE)". nithyananda.org.
  14. ↑ "Nithyananda Gurukul". nithyananda.org.
  15. ↑ Thane Cyclone Relief Works
  16. ↑ Flood Relief Charitable Services by Nithyananda Global Initiatives
  17. ↑ Nithyananda Pledges 5 Million Rupees To Sivakasi Fire Accident Relief
  18. ↑ "Hindu University in US expands Vedic base". Rediff News. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  19. ↑ Watkins' Spiritual 100 List for 2012, Mind Body Spirit, Feb 2012
  20. ↑ http://www.ndtv.com/south/controversial-godman-nithyananda-sacked-as-junior-pontiff-502276
  21. ↑ http://www.nithyananda.org/news/us-federal-court-issues-nearly-half-million-dollar-judgement-against-false-victim-aarthi-s-rao
  22. ↑ http://www.dhyanapeetam.org/news/lenin-karuppan%E2%80%99s-false-case-against-swami-nithyananda-quashed-hon%E2%80%99ble-high-court-karnataka
  23. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/HC-relief-for-godman-Nithyananda/2016/07/22/article3541046.ece
  24. ↑ "Swami Nithyananda earns another title at Mahakumbh". Lucknow, India: India Today. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
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