How self-styled godman Nithyananda tried to take over Bolivia to establish Hindu nation ‘Kailasa’

Accused of abducting children, sexual assault, and abuse, self-styled godman Nithyananda left India in 2019 and has not returned since.

But that is not all. He also claimed to have established a new nation called ‘ Kailasa’.

Delegates representing this so-called country even turned up at a United Nations event in 2023 and posed for photographs with several world leaders.

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However, a new bombshell report now claims that the ‘ United States of Kailasa’ may have finally hit a wall.

So, what exactly happened? The report points to recent developments in Bolivia that appear to have brought the group’s shady dealings into the spotlight.

In this report, we take a closer look at what happened in Bolivia, what we have learnt so far about Nithyananda’s make-believe nation, and where the controversial godman is now.

Did Nithyananda try to take over Bolivia?

Representatives of ‘Kailasa’ describe themselves as emissaries of the world’s first “sovereign nation” for Hindus, with its own passports and a “cosmic constitution.”

They have also claimed to have created a currency made of sacred gold, overseen by a so-called “reserve bank.”

However, these claims appear to have come to an end.

Last week, Bolivian authorities said they had detained 20 people linked to Kailasa. They were accused of “land trafficking” after brokering 1,000-year leases with Indigenous communities for large sections of the Amazon, according to The New York Times.

The agreements were declared null and void, and those linked to Kailasa were deported - not to their imaginary country, but to their actual countries of origin, including India, the United States, Sweden, and China.

In a statement, Bolivia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Bolivia does not maintain diplomatic relations with the alleged nation ‘United States of Kailasa.’”

The nation said that members of the group allegedly attempted to seize land belonging to Indigenous communities in Bolivia.

Bolivia’s Immigration Director, Katherine Calderon, said during a press conference, “This sect entered Bolivia as tourists, arriving at different times through various entry points. Some individuals had been in Bolivia since November 2024, while the majority entered in January 2025.”

Reports suggest that the deportation came after an investigation by the Bolivian newspaper El Deber, which was published on March 16. It revealed that three Indigenous groups had signed lease agreements with Kailasa for approximately 4.8 lakh hectares of public land.

Pedro Guasico, a leader of the Baure, one of the affected Indigenous groups, told The New York Times that contact with Kailasa representatives began in 2024 when they offered assistance during forest fires.

They reportedly negotiated for access to land “three times the size of New Delhi,” and the Baure agreed to a 25-year lease in exchange for an annual payment of nearly $200,000.

Bolivia’s Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio, said that Nithyananda’s fictional nation signed 1,000-year lease agreements with the Indigenous communities of Baure, Cayuba, and Esse Eha. According to The News Minute, the agreement granted Kailasa full autonomy and exclusive rights to all resources within the leased territory.

“As per the agreement, the United States of Kailasa will have all rights to resources within the land and is guaranteed full autonomy with the territory. As per the agreement the fictitious United States of Kailasa agreed to pay $108,000 per year,” he said.

The story of Kailasa

It all began in 2019 when the self-proclaimed godman fled India after facing accusations of rape, torture, and child abuse.

His whereabouts after leaving India remain unknown.

A few years later, he resurfaced with a bold claim - he had established the ‘United States of Kailasa,’ which he described as a revival of ancient Hindu kingdoms.

The website of this so-called nation, where “free e-citizenship” is available at the click of a button, claimed its sovereign territory was “in the Andean region.”

Kailasa claims to be dedicated to reviving a temple-based way of life, providing universal free healthcare and education, promoting vegetarianism and gender equality, and addressing global warming.

It also aims to incorporate yoga, meditation, and the gurukul education system into the daily lives of its citizens, according to its website.

The ‘nation’ lists English, Sanskrit, and Tamil as its official languages, while its professed religion is Sanatana Hindu Dharma.

In 2023, representatives of ‘Kailasa’ attended a United Nations meeting, where they demanded protection for the “supreme pontiff of Hinduism.”

The gathering, organised in Geneva by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), featured a video of one representative, a woman in a saree and turban, praising her ‘country’s’ sustainable development efforts.

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Who and where is Nithyananda?

Nithyananda, born Arunachalam Rajasekaran, is originally from Tamil Nadu. He gained attention in the early 2000s after establishing an ashram near Bengaluru.

Over time, he expanded his influence, building a vast network of ashrams across India and in cities around the world.

Known for making grand claims, he linked himself to ancient religious and royal lineages. He also claimed to possess miraculous abilities, such as enabling the blind to see through a “third eye” and delaying the sunrise by 40 minutes.

He has even professed to have control over reincarnation, promising billionaires that his guidance would ensure they are not born into poverty in their next life.

In 2010, he made headlines after a video of him in a compromising position with an actress went viral.

He was later arrested and charged with rape. In a separate case, he was arrested again and charge-sheeted on similar charges.

As allegations of rape and sexual assault mounted and authorities pursued legal action against him, Nithyananda dismissed the cases as part of an anti-Hindu conspiracy, claiming they were an attempt “to grab my land.”

Recently, on April 1, his representatives issued a statement rejecting reports of his death.

The statement, released by Kailasa, insisted that Nithyananda is “alive, safe, and active,” The News Minute reported.

Speculation about his death surfaced after his nephew, Sundereshwar, allegedly claimed that Nithyananda had passed away.