22. Poisoning to kill His Divine Holiness: 1st plot to assassinate

25 Dec 2009, Bengaluru Aadheenam, South India

It was the largest yearly celebration - the birth star anniversary (called 'Avatar Jayanti') of His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda, awaited and attended by lakhs of followers at the Bengaluru Aadheenam, the spiritual headquarters of the worldwide movement.

December 2009, Birth Star celebration at Bengaluru Aadheenam, where His Divine Holiness is seen amidst scores of followers in a public congregation.

The 10-day long celebrations involved several meditation programs, temple rituals, special food servings, cultural programs and humanitarian offerings. Several thousands of volunteers continuously served the people.

On December 23, 2009, after the evening celebrations of the day, at around 10pm, His Divine Holiness was in the main meditation hall giving public darshan (individual blessings) to the thousands gathered. He personally attended to each person, healing and spiritually guiding them.

In the Hindu tradition, the Guru (spiritual master) directly accepts the offerings from the disciples as a way to relieve them of their karma (absolving their unfulfilled past actions). Upholding this sacred tradition, on the occasion of the Birth Star celebration, His Divine Holiness made himself personally available to humanity and accepted their offerings directly with His own hands.

Devotees and followers travelled across miles, awaiting this special occasion to offer their best to their revered Guru. The offerings varied across fruits, grains, clothing, spiritual items etc. that have special spiritual significance in the Hindu culture.

December 2009, the Birth Star celebration (Avatar Jayanti) of His Divine Holiness during the 'darshan' (individual blessings), where several thousands received personal blessings from Him.

It was then, during that ongoing darshan amidst thousands of people being individually attended by His Divine Holiness along with His personal secretaries by the side to steer the moving queues of people, that the most unsuspected incident happened.

A lady named 'Aarthi Rao' walked towards His Divine Holiness holding a small bag and made a request to Him to drink a glass of juice, which she claimed she made personally as an offering to Him.

Although it was a strange request, given that customarily no personally prepared items of this nature were generally received, His Divine Holiness still accepted this offering, not denying the reverence of the people.

In a moment, His Divine Holiness took the glass from the woman to drink the juice, much to the dismay of His secretaries. As He drank the first sip, He instantly sensed that the juice did not smell or taste of a fruit; it tasted pungent and strong, having traces of bitterness on the palate, as if spoilt, with a metallic odour. Just with a single sip, as the liquid flowed through the food tract, a mix of burning and irritation sensation was felt followed by body chills and shivering.

Shortly after, His Divine Holiness retired to his quarters close by, feeling nausea, difficulty in breathing and exhaustion. Within two hours, His secretary and caretaker, Dr. Sri Nithya Pranananda, who is a physician, started noticing unusual symptoms in His Divine Holiness such as excessive body sweating, vomiting, severe stomach pain, heavy breathing and restlessness with high blood pressure and heart rate. He immediately administered medicines. Sri Nithya Pranananda understood this as a life emergency and a team of trusted doctors were called.

The doctors and medical experts rushed to attend to save the life of His Divine Holiness, as His bodily symptoms became unusual and traumatic.

December 2009: Dr. Sri Nithya Pranananda, the secretary and physician of His Divine Holiness at Bengaluru Aadheenam seen alongside Him.