Hindu outfits protest Nithyananda's appointment as Mutt head

"The mutt has set a wrong precedent by suddenly announcing the new head without consulting the disciples and heads of other mutts. Nithyananda should have been appointed after being cleared of the charges against him," Arjun Sampath, President of Hindu Makkal Katchi, which took part in the protest, said.

"We were not even allowed to meet the senior pontiff alone and were asked to talk to him in the presence of 200 disciples," Sampath said.

Another outfit, Hindu Munnani, also decried Nithyananda's appointment, claiming he lacked the necessary training to carry out rituals.

"The present pontiff was appointed after being trained in religious rituals for four years. Nithyananda lacks the training," a member of the outfit said.

 

VHP and BJP, however, chose to stay away from the controversy, saying it was for the senior pontiff to decide if Nithyananda's appointment was right or wrong.

"I don't think we should interfere with the affairs of the mutt," BJP leader Pon Ramakrishnan said.

Nithyananda, who formally took over as pontiff today, later told reporters he was honoured to be a part of the 2,500-year-old mutt and said protests against his appointment were being being instigated by people who did not understand him properly.

"The protests are being carried out by people who don't understand me or my teachings properly," he said.

The mutt's senior pontiff defended his decision, saying it was his prerogative to choose his successor and "none can interfere with the decision".

Earlier, both pontiffs offered worship at the famous Meenakshi temple. Nithyananda is the first person outside the Saiva Velalar community to be appointed as Mutt chief.

Nithyananda had landed in controversy after a video footage showing him in a compromising position with an actress was telecast by local TV channels in March 2010.

He was arrested on April 21, 2010, from Solan in Himachal Pradesh. He was granted bail on June 11, 2010, by the Karnataka High Court. PTI SSN APR