You Can't Trust the Swami - Trust Yourself

Godmen are on the rise. Many of them are involved in sex scandals. One godman has been arrested for running a sex racket in south Delhi last week and is remanded to police custody. Video footage of another godman indulging in sexual acts with women was telecast by Tamil TV channels last week. Here is all you may want to know about the two self-styled godmen.

- Who is Swami Nityananda?

Swami Paramhansa Nityananda is a 32-year-old self-styled godman, staying in a sprawling 29-acre ashram in Bidadi, about 30 km from Bangalore in Karnataka.

- What is his background?

He hails from Tamil Nadu. His devotees claim the swami's goal is to spread the inner science of enlightenment by delivering physical health, mental wellness and spiritual awakening to all beings irrespective of their race, gender or nationality. The swami's mission is to enlighten the people through yoga and meditation.What is his business?

The godman has founded "Nithayananda Mission" as a part of a worldwide movement for meditation and peace. He claims to have about 1,000 branches across 33 countries and about two million followers the world over. He has a number of ashrams "Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam" in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Pudducherry.

- How was he exposed?

Certain Tamil TV channels on Wednesday telecast video footage of the godman indulging in sexual acts with two women, including one Tamil actress who has played leading role in many films and TV serials. The swami was shown fondling and kissing the women and in a compromising position with them in turns. It was followed by arson as enraged mobs ransacked his ashrams, smashing his portraits, banners, billboards.

- What will happen to him now?

His ashram sources say legal course of action is being worked out. The video footage shown by news channels were not shot in the ashram. Rather, swami's enemies hatched a conspiracy to malign and blackmail him. His whereabout is not yet known. But his disciples say the swami will return to the ashram soon.

- Who is Swami Bhimanand?

Shiv Murat Dwivedi, 39, alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanandji Maharaj Chitrakootwale is a self-styled godman who preaches spirituality while running a prostitution racket in south Delhi.

- What is his background?

Dwivedi belonged to Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh. He came to New Delhi in 1988 and worked as a security guard at a five-star hotel in Nehru Place. He later worked for a massage parlour at Lajpat Nagar. He was arrested for carrying out prostitution 1997 and 1998. Dwivedi then changed his appearance and started calling himself Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale.

- What is he accused of?

Dwivedi started holding religious discourses and congregations and even got a video CD titled "Shri Sai Amrit Varsha" released. He even wrote for a magazine. He constructed a 200-bed hospital and a huge temple in Chitrakoot. The godman apparently has high-end clients and contacts not just in India but also in Las Vegas in the US. Six of his diaries recovered reveal names of 100 high-profile policemen, politicians and bureaucrats, besides prostitutes. Sreemurath Diwedi alias Baba is said to have earned a daily income of Rs 1.5 lakh. But his diaries also show that he was due to receive Rs 25 thousand crore out of which he had received Rs 125 crore. Delhi Police is investigating if he was into gambling abroad and involved in any other business there.

- How was he exposed?

Dwivedi was based at a Sai Baba temple in Badarpur in Delhi and gradually started a flourishing flesh trade racket in the guise of leading a spiritual life. He was arrested on February 26 along with two men and six women including two air hostesses, in the age group of 19 to 30 years from Saket in south Delhi for running a sex racket.

- What will happen to him now?

Dwivedi is under police custody now. The law will take its own course as Dwivedi along with his accomplices will be trialed in court of law, according to Delhi Police.

For now it looks like Swami Bhimananda can only call the Gods for help.