Swami Nithyananda undergoes treatment for injury

After the fall from grace, the swamy has had a fall. Paramahamsa Nithyananda, the controversial spiritual guru, on Tuesday fell and broke his right forearm while on his customary morning ride astride his favourite horse in his ashram in Bidadi.

Nithyananda underwent treatment for the injury in the afternoon at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. He is expected to lead the sat-sang on Wednesday at the Bidadi ashram.

It is believed that the 11-year-old horse Shashivarna lost patience with Nithyananda and threw him off.

Bakthikananda, a female a devotee of Nithyananda, said Shashivarna the horse was in different mood on Tuesday morning.

Sources said there were about 24 devotees eager to receive blessings from Nithyananda at 7am on Tuesday and as they rushed in, the horse may have been upset. It took 15 minutes to rein in Shashivarna after the incident.

“The noise and hubbub distracted his horse as he fell down on his right arm,” said Dr Sudarshan Ballel, medical director, Manipal Health Enterprises. “It is a simple fracture. He is otherwise healthy and fine. If everything goes fine, he may be discharged on Tuesday itself,” said Dr Ballel.

Poojas and prayers, including Mrityunjaya japa, Dhanvantri japa and Navakshari japa, were carried out at the Anandeshwara temple in the ashram for the speedy recovery of Nithyananda.