Swami Nithyananda Scandal: The Real Story and Tragedy

Kolkata (Gaea Times) - Swami Nithyananda’s intimate video is common knowledge in most of India today and among his devotees worldwide. There has been repeated and continuous airing his videos in Telegu news channels, videos involving his intimacy with Tamil actresses like Ranjitha. As most of you realize that intimacy of two adult human beings in the privacy of their abode is not a crime in any country, rather the act of filming such a video without their consent is (see Erin Andrews video scandal and subsequent veridict for example). However that is not what enraged the Indians.

In India we even accept that politicians, police and public servants will be corrupt (with exceptions obviously) and will not blink to even vote them to power! Our expectations have been lowered by years of corrupt public servants and politicians, even beyond what rest of the world can imagine.

However India will not tolerate one thing: it expects its religious leaders to be pious and beyond reproach. The real scandal is that Nithyananda was found to be having normal sexual life while preaching celibacy or lust-free-life for others. We expect our religious leaders to be celibate in most cases (unless they are married when they embarked on this path) and purer than Virgin Mary; that is our litmus test for religious leaders.

Swami Nithyananda admitted his presence in the videos while talking about being in “trance” which I find hard to believe and so will you if you look at the videos. Everyone now assumes the title of Paramhansa or Swami. His posture, his deceit is what the real tragedy is, not his sexual act. Nithyananda has right to be a human, not a spiritual leader which he professes to be. He has humiliated Indian spiritual leaders by assuming fake titles and postures belonging to a real leader. However the likes of Nithyananda does not define religion nor can affect it.

The only graceful thing which Nithyananda can do now is quit his position and assume an ascetic life to redeem himself to himself above all.

This also highlights the need to persevere to find a true Guru for spiritual guidance and not just go after anyone who can give sweet talks. Anyone can read the scriptures and start explaining the age old but evergreen concepts, we don’t need Nithyananda for that. However only the enlightened can show the way and guide when questions arise and when followers appear to lose their way or patience. A real Guru is needed in the journey to enlightenment but when such a Guru is not available, it is better to use the books by real spiritual leaders like Swami Vivekananda or (Adi) Shankaracharya for guidance rather than go after anyone who professes to be a Guru. A Guru should be well tested before you repose your full faith and devotion to him.