Fugitive Indian godman Nithyananda and his life story: In pictures

Who is Nithyananda: Nithyanda, also called Paramahamsa Nithyananda was born 1977–1978 in Tiruvannamalai, India) is a self-styled Hindu Swami from Tamil Nadu and is the founder of a trust Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, which has temples, gurukulas, and ashrams across many countries. Nithyananda has been subject to widespread negative reception, having broadcast a range of nonsensical pseudoscientific claims over his spiritual sessions. He has been also facing prosecution on charges of rape and child abuse.

Early life: Nithyananda was born A. Rajasekaran, in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu to father Arunachalam and mother Lokanayaki.

Controversies, sex tape: In 2010, an Indian news channel broadcast a sex tape of Nithyananda and two others including actress Ranjitha, who was one of his followers; the tape was subsequently shared by many top-tier television channels. Nithyananda's ex-driver Lenin Karuppan owned up to filming them clandestinely, he allegedly lost faith in his guru after seeing him sleeping around with other women. Nithyananda and Ranjitha had claimed the video to be fabricated and accused the news channel of extortion; however, an investigation by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Bengaluru confirmed that Nithyananda and Ranjitha were in fact the two people shown in the tape.

Another controversy, pseudo-scientific claims: Nithyananda's speeches have gathered widespread negative reception in the Indian press, having broadcast a range of pseudo-scientific claims, including claims of delaying Sun to rise for 40 minutes, his ability to make cows speak in Tamil and Sanskrit, and explaining Einstein’s theories.

Swami Nithyananda is currently a fugitive: India’s Gujarat Police is looking for the self-styled godman. The case involves the alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his "ashram" (monastery) in Ahmedabad. A website, Kailaasa.org, has popped up suggesting that he has founded his own country and designed its flag, constitution and emblem. The website declared that the fugitive godman has declared a 'Hindu sovereign nation' and even has a Cabinet, along with a Prime Minister.

Powers: Nithyananda claims to have discovered over 400 esoteric powers expressible by humans, and alleges of having initiated his disciples into 60 such powers including kundalini and third-eye awakening. He has since asserted of opening the third eye, for anyone, free of charge by 2021. He also claimed that person will be able to see through smog and wall. Disciples of Nithyananda claim that he gave initiations through 'third eye' to a class of 82 blind children, thus curing them of blindness.

Rape accusation and child abuse: Nithyananda has been accused of raping a disciple over a five-year period, during her stay in the ashram. In June 2018, a Karnataka trial court received charges against Nithyananda. He faces trial under Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 420 (cheating), 114 (criminal abetment), 201 (disappearance of evidence, giving false information), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and other charges under the Indian Penal Code. Along with Nithyananda, several ashram associates are facing charges related to the case. All of the accused pleaded not guilty.

Becoming a fugitive: On November 20, 2019, Gujarat Police claimed that Nithyananda fled India after not choosing to attend several court hearings.

Setting up a sovereign state as a fugitive: Even as India’s Gujarat Police is looking for self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda, in an alleged case of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram in Ahmedabad, Kailaasa.org suggests that he has founded his own country, with its own flag, constitution and emblem.

The website, Kailaasa.org confirmed that the fugitive godman has infact declared a 'Hindu sovereign nation' and even has a cabinet along with a Prime Minister. It has also called for donations for the country and through it, an opportunity to gain citizenship of the "greatest Hindu nation", Kailaasa. According to cyber experts, the website was created on October 21, 2018 and it was last updated on October 10, 2019. The website has been registered in Panama with its IP located in US's Dallas.

It is not clear where the 'Kailaasa' nation is geographically located. The website explains: "Kailaasa is a nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus from around the world who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries." Many reports point that it is on a private island that he allegedly bought from Ecuador and is near Trinidad and Tobago. "Though the Kailaasa movement is founded in the United States, and spearheaded by members of the Hindu Adi Shaivite minority community, it is created for, and offers a safe haven to all the world's practicing, aspiring or persecuted Hindus, irrespective of race, gender, sect, caste, or creed, where they can peacefully live and express their spirituality, arts, and culture free from denigration, interference and violence," it read.

The new nation offers an enlightened living for all of humanity which is rooted in the principle of Advaita or Oneness. It also offers a temple-based ecosystem, science of third eye, yoga and meditation and gurukul education system. According to the website, the Hindu nation also has its flag known as 'Rishabha Dhvaja', which features Swami Nithyananda himself, along with Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Kailaasa is also set to have several government departments including education, treasury, commerce, and so on. But what stands out is a 'Department of Enlightened Civilisation' which will work on reviving Sanatana Hindu Dharma. This 'country' also claims to eventually have a 'Dharmic Economy', and a Hindu Investment and Reserve Bank, where cryptocurrency will be accepted.

Kailaasa.org also proclaims that it has its own passport and one can apply to be a citizen of Kailaasa. "The citizens will be given a Kailaasa passport which, by the grace of Paramashiva, the holder of this passport is allowed free entry in all eleven dimensions and fourteen lokas, including Kailaasa," it states. Nithyananda is also accused of allegedly raping his former disciple under the garb of spirituality. Last month, Gujarat Police arrested two of his associates, and also booked him under charges of abduction, wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code. He also faces charges under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

Followers believe Nithyananda has the ability to open the third eye of millions of people.