However, the self-styled godman continued to claim he was part of the mutt and declared his own appointment after Arunagirinathar’s death.Īrunagirinathar, who headed the monastery for over 30 years, was a living example for communal harmony. Nithyananda, who was appointed as junior pontiff of the famed Madurai Aadheenam in 2012 by Arunagirinathar, was removed from the post within a few months on the charges of misconduct.

Nithyananda, the controversial godman wanted by Karnataka Police in a slew of cases including those relating to sexual harassment of inmates of his monastery, had last week appointed himself as the head of the Madurai Aadheenam. The mutt said there was no controversy in the appointment as Nithyananda was not even a member of the Aadheenam. As per the tradition, Harihara Desika Gnanasambantha Paramacharaya, who was declared as junior pontiff by Arunagirinathar, took charge in a simple ceremony,” the mutt said. “The coronation ceremony went off peacefully. The new chief succeeds Arunagirinathar, the 292nd head of the Madurai Aadheenam, who passed away on August 13. The Madurai Mutt was established 1,500 years and revitalized by Thirugnana Sambandhar, one of the celebrated poet-saints of the Tamil Shaivite tradition. Harihara Desika Gnanasambantha Paramacharaya took his chair at the Madurai Aadheenam on Monday in the presence of pontiffs from various aadheenams across the state. The centuries-old Madurai Aadheenam (monastery) on Monday coronated Harihara Desika Gnanasambantha Paramacharaya as its 293rd chief, notwithstanding claims by fugitive self-styled godman Nithyananda that he was the head of the mutt.

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