Swami Nithyananda Quits as Chief of Ashram, Associated Trusts

Swami Nithyananda, who has been in news for his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, has announced that he has decided to qui as head of his Dhyanapeetam ashram and from all trusts associated with it, and to live a life of ‘spiritual seclusion’ for an indefinite time, reported PTI.

“I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time….and to enable the Dhyanapeetam to function with such amended agenda as may be necessary, I am resigning as the head of the Dhyanapeetam and from all the trusts associated with it,” he was quoted as saying while addressing his followers on his official website.

“In view of the developments in the last three weeks following the media reports about me as the head of Dhyanapeetam, (located at Bidadi near Bangalore), I had met some of the leading acharyas of Hindu Dharma at Haridwar Kumbh Mela,” Nityananda, who faces criminal cases, including that of rape, was quoted as saying.

Swami said that he had briefed them on fact and fiction regarding the incidence aired on TV channels, report said.

“Candidly discussing what had happened, I had sought their spiritual and moral support, guidance for me, and their views on the future course of Dhyanapeetam.”

“I had also undertaken that I would act entirely in accordance with their counsel,” the swami was quoted as saying.

“I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time, to which the acharyas have agreed in principle,” he was quoted as saying.