I was Punched Badly for Recording the Violence on🔗

my Camera

Sri Nithya Mayatitananda Swami was assaulted while recording a planned attack by the media mafia at Nithyananda Peetham, Bengaluru Aadheenam (monastery). Below is the series of events showing how he is attacked by a Suvarna TV reporter, who was part of the attack on Bengaluru Aadheenam.

Sri Nithya Mayatitananda Swami is a sanyasi of Nithyananda Order. Before taking up the spiritual lifestyle, he was a software engineer by profession and experienced working with Tata Consultancy. He joined the aadheenam (temple-monastery complex) in 2010 where he takes care of video production.

“In 2010, I left my house and came to the Aadheenam to live a spiritual life, have a peaceful mind and to experience the ultimate state of enlightenment. It’s very disgusting that I have been attacked, physically harmed and had to hear abusive statements from conspirators out to harm Swamiji. I love Swamiji and His teachings, which make me experience the ultimate.

I have been enjoying living the aadheenam (monastic) lifestyle but I don't understand why certain elements in our society are against us practicing spirituality. What did I do to them? I am a citizen of this country and it is my basic right to have freedom to practice my religion." -Sri Nithya Mayatitananda Swami

“I never believed the scandal of that fake video when it got released because I knew about Swamiji very well. Since it was being telecast continuously on Television channels - my relatives, parents, friends and my colleagues started believing it to be true and started abusing me. Not only that, they didn't allow me to wear my mala or to watch Swamiji's satsangs. I was continuously abused in the workplace and by my relatives. There was a lot of confusion among the devotees not knowing what to believe and trust.

Before I came to stay at the aadheenam, rumors had been spreading everywhere that Swamiji won't be heading the aadheenam (temple-monastery complex) anymore. It's going to be handed over. Where would I go? I believed that living in the aadheenam is my life. I didn't know what to do. I can't cry in front of my friends. I was crying in the bathroom at work, unable to sit at my desk, and prayed to Swamiji: ‘Please do something to stop this nonsense.’ One part of my heart believed that this rumor would be stopped in a few days but it continuously went on. I felt relief when I heard the news that Swamiji would be released from prison. The very next day I visited the aadheenam and got blessings from Swamiji.”

“On 7 June 2012, Swamiji called for a press meet to share important legal news: US Courts ordered the medical records of false rape accuser, Aarthi Rao, to be sent to the Indian Police and Courts. This incriminating evidence was pivotal, showing that she carried 4 STDs which would prove that Swamiji was innocent.

Many members of the media were present - it was time that the public heard the truth in the false case against Swamiji. We were all so happy for this victory and our spirits were high! Little did we know that the very media that was to share this good news already had a plot in place to kill Swamiji instead. The ring leader was a Suvarna TV reporter, Ajit Hanamakkanavar.

This Ajit stood up and began questioning Swamiji along with 2-3 other reporters supporting him. I saw this and something told me to walk over to the camera near me and started filming - focusing on him.

Meanwhile, Ajit was trying to hand over a large envelope to Swamiji but something was not right. He was there as a press person but what was he trying to do approaching the stage? Our addhenavasis (aadheenam residents) moved to stop him. When he was asked to leave or sit down as a press person, his supporters began shouting. He was still trying to move towards the stage, which is a threat to Swamiji.

It was a huge chaos as our people were moving Ajit outside of the hall. So much yelling was happening by the press outside who were clearly trying to instigate violence, sticking their hands in the faces of our people, yelling abusive words, basically for no reason. These people were invited to our home and only supposed to gather and report the news. Why have they started harassing us? I looked in vain for the the police who were in plain clothes - they just stood and watched the show. What protection was this?

Ajit was being escorted towards the aadheenam gate with his supporters who continued shouting and being aggressive. One of Ajit’s supporters suddenly noticed me. That person, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, started shouting at me. He did not want me focusing the camera on them. I ignored him and kept filming. My mind was racing thinking why this aggressive behavior for a simple press meet and even then, we peacefully were asking them to leave.

The soon to be attacker in the striped shirt persisted, now speaking abusive, hateful words to me. At the same time, other men came out of nowhere joining the throng. One of them assaulted a female sanyasi, hitting her hard in the chest. Things were moving fast and that terrorist journalist came at me in a rage. He threw up his hands, growling as moved towards me. I felt a jump in my stomach as his angry eyes fixed on me. He came at me, trying to take the camera from my hands! He was attacking me, hitting me in the face and kicking me. As I lost my grip on the camera, he ripped it from my hands, violently throwing it to the ground.

A local devotee stepped forward to film using his phone but they tried to snatch it from him. In the tussle, his phone broke. It was clear that they did not want anyone other than them to record the events. They were actually recording the attack and simultaneously reporting it on television, showing it as if we were the ones beating them up. It felt surreal to witness; I could not believe this was actually happening. My ears were ringing and I was so dazed after he hit me in the face. I could feel the hot blood dripping from my chin.

Below is the series of events showing how Sri Nithya Mayatitananda Swami is attacked by the Suvarna TV reporter, who was part of the attack on Bengaluru Aadheenam. He is seen snatching the camera and kicking Sri Nithya Mayatitananda Swami. The whole attack has been captured.

Sri Mayatita is seen filming the incident

Sri Mayatita following along filming the Suvarna TV reporters

The reporter attacks Sri Mayatita, ripping out the camera and kicking at him.

Injuries sustained by Sri Nithya Mayatitananda Swami Read more about the bloody attack:

http://www.nithyananda.org/news/flash-news-suvarna-channel%E2%80%99s-thugs-assault-nithyananda-administrator?page=19#gsc.tab=0