Assassin Attempted to Rape me in the Temple🔗

I still cannot forget the vengeful look in the eyes of the assassin who came to the temple with a clear motive of chasing me away at any cost - even if it was my rape and murder.

In April 2014, Ma Nithya Jyotikananda Swami was a young Sanyasi (Hindu monk) in her early 20's. She was sent as a representative of Nithyananda Peetham to Sri Somanatha Swami Temple & Aadheenam (temple-monastery complex) when His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda was appointed as its Mathadipati (spiritual and legal head) in Thiruvarur, South India.

I thought the temple was the safest place in the world

2015

She recounts the terrifying ordeal when she was unsuspectingly attacked in a place that she considered to be her safe haven - temple. Defenceless and unaware, an attack took place on her that will be etched in her memory for the rest of her life:

“One evening, I was alone in the temple. The other sanyasis had gone to offer spiritual healing to patients in a nearby hospital. I was sitting in the hall when I saw a man walking into the temple, wearing a tracksuit. There was a large signboard which said that photography is prohibited inside the temple. In spite of that, he casually walked around taking pictures in the temple. He looked suspicious since he didn’t come in traditional attire. Moreover, he ignored the rules of the place. It was evident that he had not come with the intention to worship. He was walking around, laughing and talking loudly with another man.

I approached him and requested him not to take pictures. He retorted in a threatening way, that he would not only take pictures of the temple but of me also!”