Silence reigns at Nithyananda’s ashram in Bangalore

Locked gates, lonely gatekeepers, a few stray cows, and silence. That’s what the Sree Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam is all about today.

Bewilderment reigns at the ashram in Bidadi, once a bustling place but now bereft of any activity.

The “spiritual seclusion” that Swami Nithyananda has adopted seems to have shrouded his ashram premises as well. According to the gatekeepers, nobody is left in the ashram with the exception of a few volunteers and policemen.

The gates of the dhyanapeetam are manned by a handful of volunteers. They are wary of nosy reporters and curious passersby, and only the white-robed seniors among them are allowed to speak to those who knock at the gate.

The bolts are unlocked only for authorised vehicles and telephone calls to ashram authorities go unanswered. Even their public relations officer prefers to keep mum.

The situation was similar at the dhyanapeetham. It was only after an hour and much cajoling that the most senior person among the volunteers, 33-year-old Santhosh, stepped out to talk to DNA.

It was with seemingly infinite patience that he explained to us, “None of the ashram authorities are here, neither are the devotees. As you can see, it is almost empty. Except for a few volunteers and policemen manning our gates, there is nobody.”

Pointing to a half-complete colossal building inside the ashram gates, he said, “That was being built to provide housing to our devotees, who used to come here for dhyana. Even the construction has stopped.”

Incidentally, the dhyanapeetham website had uploaded a video last week, stating that the ashram had resumed its usual activities. However, in view of the situation at the ashram now, nothing looked farther from reality.

When asked about the whereabouts of the “sadhakas” of the dhyanapeetam, who the swami had endorsed as the managers of the ashram on a video made available online, the gatekeepers just shrugged.

Even the Muneeshwara temple on the ashram premises, they said, was closed. “Earlier, it was open to all. The villagers and devotees could come in at any time and pray,” they said. The ashram store, where devotees could buy rudrakshas (praying beads), panchaloha bracelets and other spiritual gear, was also closed.

However, Nithyananda still commands his place on the pedestal among the more faithful. Santhosh, who came to the ashram seeking spiritual solace six months ago, still remains the devotee he always was. “My faith hasn’t been shaken by the scandal. Swamiji had foreseen this current controversy three years ago. In a public gathering, he had warned the devotees of impending trouble,” he said. However, he did not elaborate any further on the matter.