Sex, saints and stereotypes🔗

Premanandas and Nithyanandas are products of our time

Vasanth Kannabiran

A FEW weeks ago there was some ex-citement over Nithyananda. He has now been arrested and is applying for anticipatory bail. A sting exposed him in a compromising position with a film actress. Stings and the ethics of stings need a separate discussion. Some ques-tions that arose in connection with Nithyananda were: should there be such a puritanical attitude about sex? Why should swamis be forced to be celibates? Were Nithyananda's human rights to pursue sexual activity with a consenting adult and his right to pri-vacy not being violated? It is interest-ing how every argument that is put forward to protect the rights of ordi-nary citizens like the expansion of the rights of sexual minorities and other marginalised groups or people with dis-ability, mental or physical, are not picked up quickly enough but we grow politically correct for the Premanandas and Nithyanandas.

Some read it as an attempt to deni-grate and hurt the sentiments of a re-ligious group. All the sectarian senti-ments surge up to confuse people and the media. In an attempt to enlarge the question and not invite BJP ire, one TV channel went overboard discussing the case of child abuse in Catholic church-es, which has been admitted as a distor-tion by the church and the demand for the lifting of the condition of celibacy, which is a perfectly justifiable request by some sections of the Catholic Church. (I am sure there are distor-tions in Muslim and Buddhist institu-tions, which never see the light of the day.)

What is ugly and condemnable about Nithyananda or Premananda (and sev-eral of their predecessors) is that they assume the garb of sanyasis, which im-plies both celibacy and renunciation of worldly values and then proceed to abuse the women who come to them expecting some measure of spiritual guidance and comfort. The breach of

faith is what matters here. In a rapidly globalising world where people are tor-tured by insecurities about their wealth, health and life, and are looking for quick fix solutions to their troubles the Nithyanandas are spawned

The old peetas and the gurus were never referred to as godmen, but only as spiritual teachers and guides. The problem is that Hindu Dharma does define sanyasa as celibacy. Renuncia-tion is a fundamental principle. Even his food is bhiksha, three handfuls of cooked rice mixed and placed before him once a day. In his quest for Mok-sha, the sanyasi becomes a source of enlightenment and spiritual solace to those who flock to him. You can always worship directly in a temple, the priest is not required to be a celibate. There is no Puritanism here. But compare the cellphones, laptops, tapes, dollars and gadgets in his possession when he was caught. He could be an IPL chief or a terrorist. And so globalisation equal-ises us all! Erasing the distinction be-

We need to understand that the greed, violence, hate and insecurity that cloud our minds cannot be dispelled by these creatures who sell god as a commodity to be conjured up by a few cheap magic tricks

tween the secular and the sacred. It is part of the phenomenon that puts Ha-numan in underwear and Ganesha in pantyhose. The market is god.

But the Premanandas and Nithyanandas are products of our time. Nithyananda got signed agree-ments for non-disclosure from the women he used. What a godman this is. His money is all in his personal name and is exempt from tax in India as donation. He is involved, as many new age godmen are, in money laun-dering, commerce, scams and traffick-ing and has reduced religion to a com-modity. Nithyananda can have all the sex he wants and enjoy all the rights of an ordinary citizen when he is an ordinary citizen. When he claims extraordinary powers. And uses them with criminal intent to defraud the people. Then he is entitled to a defence which will add to the coffers of some famous lawyer, as Premananda did. But Premananda was convicted and that is where we need to say Satyame-

va jayate. Proudly and loudly.

We need to understand that the greed, violence, hate and insecurity that cloud our minds and our vision cannot be dispelled by these creatures who sell god as a commodity to be con-jured up by a few cheap magic tricks. But we are in a hurry. We need quick fixes, like liposuction and synthetic salvation. Where is the time to reflect, meditate, seek the true path? We are in too much of a hurry and our needs spawn these monstrosities. We need to see that god is here and now. In our hands and hearts. Not in the false dreams and euphoria that these bro-kers conjure up. We need to pick up our brooms and sweep out the rot. We must build the future, not our bank balances. We need to sift what is important from what seems urgent. Milton's phrase 'Blind Mouthes' describes our men of god. Mouths to swallow but no vision to lead their flock.

(The author is a writer and feminist based in Hyderabad)

New Indian Express, 6 May 2010: After months of obscene coverage, the New Indian Express dehumanizes His Divine Holiness

2010-05-06