Paramahamsa Nithyananda was subjected to religious prosecution as He was denied his spiritual rights to do Atmartha Puja. 2000 year old tradition of unbroken puja to the linga of Madurai Aadheenam was forcibly halted by the CID.
In March 2010, His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda was subjected to a media trial by making viral an infamous video depicting Him in morphed images. The media launched an aggressive and offensive campaign, targeting the public image of His Divine Holiness, Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The atmosphere created was reeking with distrust and betrayal. Such a hype of hatred was created which led to the illegal arrest and imprisonment of Paramahamsa Nithyananda. As if this was insufficient, it gave great pleasure to the sadistic police officials responsible for handling this case to inflict unnecessary emotional trauma to Paramahamsa Nithyananda.
Confiscating his rudraksha beads mala which he uses for chanting purposes, throwing bucket of cold water in his cell floor so the body is cold and wet, not permitting him to have his food brought for him from his ashram, taking away his shivalinga and being responsible for breaking the 2000 year old tradition of worshiping this holy relic – all out of spite with no other particular agenda. Misuse of power of position and behaving in inhumane way towards humans are violations of basic human rights. Such atrocities were borne by one who had not even been charged of any crime.
It still continues eight years after the event awaiting justice in the court of law.
Bangalore Mirror publishes an article in 2012 titled, “Denied His Shivalinga in cop custody, Nithyananda fasts through the night”o
The police took away Swamiji’s rudrakah mala which he has had ever since Parivrajaka days. Police refused his rudrakasha to wear and Shivalinga to worship. Swamiji had a fight in court to get the Rudraksh back. The shivalinga had been worshipped by various being for an unbroken period of 2000 years. Finally because of illegal arrest and police atrocities, the 2000 year old tradition got broken.
While Paramahamsa Nithyananda initiates thousands into doing shiva puja, He himself was denied the right to do puja while being illegally arrested.