‘Godman’ Nithyananda Bans Travellers From India To ‘Kailasa’ Due To COVID Surge

Self-styled godman Nithyananda has banned travellers from India entry into ‘Kailasa’, the ‘island nation’ he claims to have founded in 2019.

In his Presidential Mandate, Nithyananda said in a statement that devotees from India, Brazil, Malaysia and European Union nations won’t be allowed to visit his island until further notice, due to the rising COVID-19 cases amid the second and third wave.

“KAILASA’s #PresidentialMandate Executive order directly from the #SPH for all the embassies of #KAILASA across the globe. #COVID19 #COVIDSecondWaveInIndia #CoronaSecondWave #Nithyananda #Kailaasa #ExecutiveOrder,” read tweet accompanying the statement.

Nithyananda has been hiding on the island, located off the coast of Ecuador, since 2019, NDTV reported. He is absconding ever since he faced charges of rape and abduction in Indian courts.

Founder of the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Trust — which has temples, gurukulas and ashrams in several countries – Nithyananda sought refuge from the United Nations and subsequently announced the founding of his own self-proclaimed island nation ‘Kailasa’.

Netizens found the “executive order” amusing, and retweeted the statement with laughing emojis.

In the past, Nithyananda has posted videos and tweets about his ‘Hindu sovereign nation’, which has its own cabinet and Prime Minister.

The island, which has a dedicated website, says: “Kailasa is a nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus from around the world who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries.”

Nithyananda, who refers to himself as ‘Supreme Pontiff’ of Kailasa, has also launched a ‘Reserve Bank of Kailaasa’, with its currency being ‘Kailashian dollars’.