16 May 2012
When His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda was appointed the successor of Madurai Aadheenam, He decided to revive the four temples under the Aadheenam in Thanjavur, from cleaning up the temple grounds to doing Kumbh Abishekam. After the clean up, Paramahamsa Nithyananda along with the 292nd Pontiff, Arunagirinatha Paramsariyar Swamigal, decided to visit the temples. During their visit they announced a range of services to be provided shortly to the people of Kanjanur, including clean drinking water, hygienic toilets and drainage facilities, and a 20-bed hospital whose construction has already started. At this time, local rowdies, who were occupying the property illegally, viciously attacked them.
Press Meet:
Addressing a press meet at Madurai Aadheenam along with his predecessor Srila Sri Arunagirinatha Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal within a few hours after the incident, Paramahamsa Nithyananda condemned the disgraceful incident which was neither spiritually nor legally permissible. “Just think about it, we need to fight to enter our own temple!,” he observed.
It may be recalled that both the offending maths had been part of a group that passed a resolution earlier this month, questioning the coronation of Paramahamsa Nithyananda as the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam. As such a resolution could not be upheld legally, the two Aadheenams had resorted to such illegal measures to disrupt the law. Strongly condemning the incident, which he revealed to be a planned assault, Paramahamsa Nithyananda held Dharmapuram Aadheenam and Tiruppananthal Matham wholly responsible for the assault and requested that those responsible for the violence be arrested.Soon after the press meet, both Madurai Aadheenam pontiffs left for Kanjanur village to assess the situation. Tomorrow a silent rally will be held by devotees and supporters to protest against the incident. Madurai Aadheenam would also request police protection for its appointees in anticipation of further such violence.
Declaring that such untoward incidents would not stop Madurai Aadheenam from continuing with its social service activities, Paramahamsa Nithyananda announced that free medical camps and meditation camps would be held every alternate weekend at Madurai Aadheenam. The current annandaanam facilities were also being expanded to accommodate more people. Paramahamsa Nithyananda also revealed that the first overseas branch of Madurai Aadheenam would open shortly at two locations viz. San Jose and Los Angeles in California, USA.