Nithyananda

Nithyananda (born Arunachalam Rajasekaran; 1 January 1978) is an Indian spiritual leader and a self-styled godman. He has been described by several media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph, as a controversial figure and cult leader. He is the founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, a trust that owns temples, gurukulas, and ashrams in many countries. He is also the founding head of the micronation of Kailaasa. Following charges of rape and abduction filed in Indian courts, Nithyananda fled India and has remained in hiding since 2019. He is the subject of a court-issued non-bailable warrant relating to the allegations. Nithyananda is also wanted since 2019 for unrelated fraud charges in France. In 2020, he announced the founding of his own self-proclaimed island nation called Kailaasa, though some evidence suggests he had been promoting the idea for around 20 years. A number of mainstream news outlets, inside and outside India, and a TV documentary series on Discovery+ have referred to the organisation as a cult, its leader as a conman, and his micronation of Kailaasa a scam; although his organization has denied any wrongdoing.