The initial brouhaha has died down at the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam. But what about the ashram dwellers and the peace they once enjoyed, ask Mohan Kumar BN and Soumya Menon.

It does not take long for one to realise that the long-drawn drama of the alleged sex scandal involving Swami Paramahamsa Nithyananda and a Tamil actress has affected his disciples who have been staying at the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam for almost a decade.

Their feelings of desolation were felt from the moment I entered the ashram, situated in Bidadi at Ramanagaram district, 40 km from Bangalore city.

The usually crowded ashram, with hundreds of devotees attending various programmes, looked deserted, the atmosphere subdued with just a few ashramites going about their activities. They were speculative and cautious after allegations arose indirectly questioning the credibility of the teachings at the ashram.