Madurai Aadheenam

Aadheenam founded by Meenakshi and Sundareshwara

Madurai Temple is one of the most important, oldest temples of India with a tremendous archaeological and architectural value. The temple is a well known international tourist attraction and very important place for Hindu pilgrims. Next, to the Meenakshi temple, Madurai Aadheenam is located. Aadheenam directly translates to an ancient community, specifically an ancient community living around a temple. Madurai Aadheenam’s roots directly source from the personified super-consciousness that appeared on the human plane. It was founded by Lord Shiva, the Cosmic Father, and Devi Parvati, the Cosmic Mother, in their incarnations as Sundareshwara’and Meenakshi. It was only about 1500 years ago that the child incarnation, the son of the Lord, Thiru Jnanasambandar revived Madurai Aadheenam. From the time of Thiru Jnanasambandar the history of Madurai Aadheenam that is referred to as Thiru Jnanasambandar Aadheenam was recorded. The Aadheenam’s rare and sacred lineage of Masters has been careful, systematically carried over in an unbroken progression from ages. The chosen emissaries of Lord Shiva and Devi, the Maha Sannidhanams (pontiffs) of Madurai Aadheenam are the direct representatives of the cosmos. On 27 April 2012, His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda was anointed the successor and 293rd Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, by Sri La Sri Arunagirinatha Swamigal, the 292nd and current Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam.

His Divine Holiness’ position as Junior Pontiff under Fire

Due to pressure of a power lobby, the government filed a case on 18 October 2012 against the 292nd Pontiff for mismanagement and questioned the appointment of Paramahamsa Nithyananda as junior pontiff of the aadheenam. They left His Divine Holiness out of the case, not giving Him a right to argue against, which is unheard in the legal field. After getting the interim injunction the Government stopped coming for the trial and for 6 long years they just dragged the case along without giving justice and thwarting every attempt by Paramahamsa Nithyananda to have His say in the case. On 19 October 2012, only one day after RH&CE filed the case, the 292nd Pontiff also succumbs to pressure of certain parties with vested interests and tries to revoke the appointment, which is illegal. Next in late 2017 a writ petition is filed to prevent His Divine holiness even to enter His place of worship, Madurai Aadheenam. In the end, after 7 long years, His Divine Holiness is at least allowed to argue in the case filed against Him.

Origin’s of Madurai Aadheenam

Aadheenam directly translates to “ancient community,” specifically ancient community living around a temple. Madurai Aadheenam, found in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, is the most ancient of the ancient communities. According to His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda, it is the world’s oldest religious organization.

Madurai Aadheenam’s roots directly source from the personified super-consciousness that appeared on the human plane. It was founded by Lord Shiva, the Cosmic Father, and Devi Parvati, the Cosmic Mother, in their incarnations as ‘Sundareshwara’ and ‘Meenakshi.”

It was only about 1500 years ago that the child incarnation, the son of the Lord, Thiru Jnanasambandar revived Madurai Aadheenam. He is the source of all spiritual lineages of the Vedic tradition and all other religions. From the time of Thiru Jnanasambandar the history of Madurai Aadheenam that is referred to as “Thiru Jnanasambandar Aadheenam” was recorded.

Thiru Jnanasambandar Tastes Devi’s Breast Milk

When Jnanasambandar was three years old, his parents took him to Lord Shiva’s temple at Sirkazhi. At the holy temple tank, Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati Devi – Sundareshwara and Meenakshi gave their darshan (divine vision) to Him. The Cosmic Mother Devi fed him with her enlightening milk. His father saw drops of milk on the child’s mouth and asked who had fed him, whereupon the boy pointed to the sky and responded with the song ‘Todudaya Seviyan’, emitting the very the first verses of the “Tevaram“.

Each Enlightened Master or Incarnation radiates the energy of enlightenment in their own unique expressions. Thiru Jnanasambandar, being a great Master, his bio-memory itself was never disconnected from the Cosmic Consciousness. That is why within 3 years he remembered his original state.

Jnanasambandar’s body was established in enlightenment. When he started feeling that the individual identity may start happening in him, he felt deeply disturbed. He wanted to remain in cosmic consciousness. He strongly cried out and expressed his suffocation, uncomfortable feeling towards the cosmos. The moment he expressed his suffocation, the cosmos has to respond, the cosmos has to appear, the cosmos expresses itself. That is why the Cosmic Mother, Prakriti, nature opened up herself to Thiru Jnanasambandar and poured her essence into him. Giving breast milk is a representation of this ultimate truth.

That is the story of the famous ‘enlightenment milk’ called as Jnanapaal. When cosmos poured her essence into Thiru Jnanasambandar, he became enlightened. Overflowing with gratitude in deep samadhi, extraordinary sacred sentiments started expressing itself.

There is no philosophy in Jnanansambandar’s expression. Devotion and Gratitude is the center philosophy of Madurai Aadheenam.

Evolution of Shaiva Siddhanta Philosophy

The philosophy of Saiva Siddhanta evolved after Thiru Jnanasambandar’s advent and took shape in the 13^th century nearly 800 years after the revival, not even the establishment of Madurai Aadheenam. Saiva Siddhanta directly acknowledges the young son-incarnation, Thiru Jnanasambandar as the first and foremost apostle of the Saiva philosophy. So, all the philosophies whether it is Vedanta or Siddhanta evolved from Thiru Jnanasambandar, the founding reviver of Madurai Aadheenam. Thus, Madurai Aadheenam is founded purely on Vedic tradition.

The great literature beautifully authenticates the truth that from time immemorial Madurai Aadheenam exists.

Madurai Aadheenam belongs to Vedic Tradition. Vedanta and Siddhanta, Siddha tradition and all said and unsaid philosophies are branches of Madurai Aadheenam.

Source of Siddha Tradition, Meenakshi & 18 Siddhas – the official deity

Madurai Aadheenam directly being the one eternal source of all traditions is also the straight source of the Siddha Tradition. The Siddha tradition is the science of making extraordinary possibilities into reality. Adi Shakti, the Cosmic Mother Meenakshi who is herself the Purna Avatar, complete incarnation of Devi manifested extraordinary siddhis, the divine powers expressing her power of enlightenment for the benefit of humanity.

The grand Siddha tradition took birth from Meenakshi Devi. Siddha is a Master who doesn’t have a perishable identity, and because of it has eternal identity. His identity is made out of the material which is imperishable.

Being the forebearer of this life-giving lineage, Meenakshi Devi is a great Siddha, the Siddha of Siddhas. And so, She is the Istadevata – the sacred cherished divinity called as ‘vaalai’ (girl) for all the 18 Siddhas, such as Sri Patanjali Siddhar, Sri Agasthya Siddhar, to name a few.

The official deity of Madurai Aadheenam is Meenakshi with the 18 Siddhas.

The Pontiffs, Guru Maha Sannidhanams

Being a witness to the growth of human civilization on the planet, the Aadheenam’s rare and sacred lineage of Masters has been carefully, systematically carried over in an unbroken progression from ages. The chosen emissaries of Lord Shiva and Devi, the Maha Sannidhanams (pontiffs) of Madurai Aadheenam are the direct representatives of the cosmos.

The pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam is known by the title ‘Guru Maha Sannidhanam’ and inherits great responsibility in carrying forward the traditions of Thiru Jnanasambandar’s sacred work. There is no tenure for this position and it is a lifetime honor

Allegations against Swami Nithyananda

Legal Timeline of the Madurai Adheenam

Phase 1: The Coronation

On 27 April 2012, His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda was anointed the successor and 293rd Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, the oldest religious organization in the world, by 292nd Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam.

“Our 293rd Gurumaha Sannidhana Sri La Sri Paramahamsa Nithyananda Paramacharya Swamigal is also a deep, not only deep, the deepest disciples of Saint Thirugnansambhandar. Not only that, he may be called as an avathara of Thirugnanasambandara”  said Sri La Sri Arunagirinatha Swamigal, the 292nd Pontiff when coronating His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda, as the Junior Pontiff or the 293rd Pontiff to-be of the Madurai Aadheenam, the oldest religious organization in the world. He would further go on to say in many interviews that Paramahamsa Nithyananda is the most qualified person for the post and that no one else had such knowledge, eloquence, grace or accomplishments as Him.

292nd Pontiff saying that Paramahamsa Nithyananda is a Avatar of Thiru Jnanasambandar

He also acknowledged that Paramahamsa Nithyananda has met GurumahaSannidhanam in 2002-2003 and became his disciple and had since then done a lot of work for Shaivism including giving profound lectures on Shiva Sutras – one of the most ancient and deep texts of Shaivism. He further stated that Paramahamsa Nithyananda was from one of the communities, Saiva Vellalar, from which Pontiffs could be appointed and that He not only met but far exceeded all the requirements to be his successor.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda was coronated as per the customs and traditions of the Madurai Aadheenam and performed the duties of the Junior Pontiff and started administering all the temples and streamlining the work. From the moment of His appointment, Paramahamsa Nithyananda provided Annadaan (free food) for up to 3500 people daily. He also provided free multi-speciality medical camps, daily spiritual healing and satsangs, and regular meditation classes for all the locals. With the anointing of Paramahamasa Nithyananda as the 293rd Pontiff, Madurai Aadheenam saw the dawn of the Shaivite Renaissance.

The work of recovering the many properties of Madurai Aadheenam that was being illegally occupied upset many who were profiting by the negligence. Slowly, many of them started to file suits against Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Those who were misled by the fake extortion video that SunTV had released a couple of years ago, without considering the real facts, felt Paramahamsa Nithyananda was not an appropriate candidate to be the Pontiff.

As many as 6 Writ Petitions were filed from May to Oct 2012 asking for Paramahamsa Nithyananda to be removed as the Junior Pontiff. All petitions were thrown out as baseless. At the time of His appointment, parties with vested interest formed what they called the “Madurai Aadheenam Retrieval Committee,” which included other aadheenams that were trying to wrest control of Madurai Aadheenam from the hands of the current Pontiff. Collectively, they passed a resolution against Paramahamsa Nithyananda and sponsored many of the puppets who filed the cases against Him which were ultimately ruled in Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s favor. However, many years later they would find a sponsor who would proceed with their sinister plans.

The Tamil magazines and weeklies carried many unsubstantiated tales by these anti-Hindu forces, alleging illegal happenings in the aadheenam. They claimed that many artefacts were stolen and that the Aadheenam had tiger skins and elephant tusks illegally. Many imaginary fables were published, including a tale about drugs laced in the prasada (sacred offering after a ritual).

Fortunately, the judiciary, undeterred by public misinformation, threw out all these absurd and unsubstantiated allegations.

Phase 2: The Government Harassment

Owning to pressure from vested parties and the power lobbies, the Government on 18.10.2012 filed a case against the 292nd Pontiff for financial mismanagement. Furthermore, they questioned the appointment of Paramahamsa Nithyananda as the Junior Pontiff –something which in many Judgements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the High Court of Madras have been ruled to be outside the purview of the HRCE.

On 19.10.2012 – Just ONE day after the collusive case was filed by the HRCE – due to pressure from the Government and life threats, the senior Pontiff decided to revoke Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s appointment. This too was completely against the law as the Supreme Court has clearly ruled in many previous judgements that the appointment of the Junior Pontiff was not like a “will” which could be revoked at the pleasure of the person writing it but a “nomination.” Hence it cannot be revoked arbitrarily.

Not only did the Government file this illegal case asking for removing of a Junior Pontiff but it did not include Paramahamsa Nithyananda into the case against Him. Instead, it was just the Government against the 292nd Pontiff – two colluding parties. They went ahead and got an interim order in IA 966 of OS 1000 of 2012 against Paramahamsa Nithyananda staying the functioning of the Trust Deed and the Affidavit of Appointment. This order which was taken without giving Paramahamsa Nithyananda a right to argue is unheard of in the legal field!

After getting this interim injunction the Government stopped coming for the trial and for 6 long years they just dragged the case along without giving justice and thwarting every attempt by Paramahamsa Nithyananda to have His say in the case. Paradoxically, the case was not filed against Paramahamsa Nithyananda but against the 292nd Guru Mahasannidhanam for financial irregularities. However, in the interim order still allows the 292nd Pontiff to administer the Madurai Aadheenam.

Meanwhile, on 6.11.2012, the 292nd Gurumahasannidhanam filed a suit to remove Paramahamsa Nithyananda from the post of the 293rd pontiff and requesting the trust deed and the appointment affidavit be declared as void. Similarly, Paramahamsa Nithyananda had filed a case on 31.1.2013, declaring this cancellation as void, allowing Him to perform rituals. 

Subsequently, the 292 Gurumahasannidhanam on 21.04.2016 appointed one Thirunavukarasu as a junior pontiff and Paramahamsa Nithyananda challenged that appointment. That appointment was also challenged by one Manoj Kumar in WP 8232 of 2016 and both are awaiting adjudication. Thirunavukarasu has left the Madurai Aadheenam denouncing his disputed position and hence these two suits maybe infructuous.

Phase 3: Vendetta against Paramahamsa Nithyananda

In late 2017, the Senior Pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam fell seriously sick and was hospitalized for many days.  Given the ill health of the 292 Gurumahasannidhanam and the fact that most required rituals are not being performed in the Madurai Aadheenam for many years now, Paramahamsa Nithyananda filed a petition, requesting the Madurai Police to give Paramahamsa Nithyananda protection to perform His religious duties as the Junior Pontiff and to perform Annadhan in the premises of the Mutt. The Judge who heard the arguments orally confirmed our position but detailed orders were reserved.

Immediately, after that in an attempt to thwart that ruling, Jagatalapratapan, one of the interlopers who had filed a Writ Petition in 2012, acting on behalf of many interested parties including other Aadheenams filed a Writ Petition, requesting  that Paramahamsa Nithyananda be prevented from entering the Madurai Aadheenam Mutt.

In spite of innumerable points against the validity of the petition and the constitutional violation of preventing one from entering His place of worship, on 05.03.2018 the Court passed an order upholding the Writ and preventing us from entering the Madurai Aadheenam! It also concluded, again without a shred of evidence based on random media news which seemed to have influenced everyone, that Paramahamsa Nithyananda had many criminal and civil cases against him and that there was a problem with his “character.” Such unfounded statements unrelated to fact were completely unbecoming of the highest court of the State.

Phase 4: Glimpse of Justice

Fortunately for the cause of Justice, in June 2018, the impugned order of the High Court in Writ Petition by a Division bench of the Madras High Court. While the appeal is still pending disposal, it was heartening that the onerous strictures of the order are no longer binding on Paramahamsa Nithyananda and his disciples till the case is disposed.

Following this, another order was passed cancelling the earlier order of the lower court, barring Paramahamsa Nithyananda from participating in the case against. Paramahamsa Nithyananda, after 7 LONG years, is allowed to argue the case presented against him. Once again justice will prevail and once more Paramahamsa Nithyananda will be recognized as the Pontiff to be of the Madurai Aadheenam.