Kailaasa

Reporting in 2023 by New York magazine suggested that Kailaasa-related activities had been pursued by Nithyananda for at least 20 years, including various attempts to convince American, Canadian, and other places to enter into "sister city" arrangements with and other forms of acknowledgement of Kailaasa, which has resulted in several scandals from local to national levels.{{cite web |last=Stieb |first=Matt |date=23 March 2023 |title=How a Fake Hindu Nation Scammed Its Way Across America |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/03/how-a-fake-hindu-nation-scammed-newark.html |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=New York |department="Intelligencer" department}}

In December 2019, Nithyananda claimed that he had created a new "Hindu nation" microstate called Kailaasa (also known as Shrikailasa & United States of Kailaasa{{cite news |author= |date=30 November 2023 |title=Paraguay official resigns after signing agreement with fictional country |url=https://apnews.com/article/kailasa-paraguay-india-hindu-chamorro-bec1acb8178cfe645392f0f1aae75a58 |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=AP News |publisher=Associated Press}} or USK{{cite news |last=Sebastian |first=Meryl |title=Nithyananda's Kailasa: UN to ignore remarks of fugitive India guru's fictional country |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64807659 |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=BBC News}}) and claimed to issue passports, currency, and other documents.{{Cite web |last=Pinto |first=Nolan |date=3 December 2019 |title=Rape-accused Nithyananda buys island, sets up own nation Kailaasa near Ecuador |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/where-is-rape-accused-self-styled-godman-nithyananda-the-answer-lies-in-a-new-nation-1624879-2019-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321163709/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/where-is-rape-accused-self-styled-godman-nithyananda-the-answer-lies-in-a-new-nation-1624879-2019-12-03 |archive-date=21 March 2023 |access-date=29 December 2020 |work=India Today}}{{Cite web |date=4 December 2019 |title=Fugitive rape-accused Nithyananda declares his own Hindu island nation 'Kailaasa' near Ecuador |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/world/rape-accused-nithyananda-declares-hindu-nation-kailaasa-ecuador/story/391472.html |access-date=4 December 2019 |work=Business Today |location=Noida, India}}{{Cite web |title=Nithyananda buys island, forms own 'nation' called 'Kailaasa' |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/12/03/nithyananda-buys-island-forms-own-nation-called-kailasa.html |access-date=28 December 2020 |work=The Week |location=Kochi, India}}{{Cite web |date=2 September 2022 |title=Life in danger: Rape-accused Nithyananda seeks medical asylum in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rape-accused-nithyananda-seeks-medical-asylum-in-sri-lanka-1995805-2022-09-02 |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=India Today}} In his announcement he said, "Kailaasa is a nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus around the world who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries".{{Cite web |date=2019-12-03 |title=On The Run From Law, Nithyananda Establishes His Own 'Nation' Called 'Kailaasa' Near Ecuador |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/on-the-run-from-law-nithyananda-establishes-his-own-nation-called-kailaasa-near-ecuador-2410593.html |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=News18 |language=en}} Nithyananda claims that Kailaasa is the world's only sovereign Hindu nation.{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Himanshu |date=21 December 2020 |title=Rape accused Nithyananda cites assassination threats for not coming back to India |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nithyananda-cites-assassination-threats-india-1751531-2020-12-21 |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=India Today}} Kailaasa has also been described as a network of non-governmental organisations spanning three continents.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Ankit |date=21 August 2020 |title=Exclusive: Behind Nithyananda's Kailaasa empire, a hidden maze of companies and NGOs |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/exclusive-behind-nithyananda-kailaasa-empire-hidden-maze-of-companies-and-ngos-1713691-2020-08-21 |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=India Today}}{{Cite web |title=Nithyananda says 29 people applied to live in Kailasa, launches 'E-embassy' plan |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/12/23/nithyananda-says-29-people-applied-to-live-in-kailasa-launches-e-embassy-plan.html |access-date=24 April 2021 |work=The Week |location=Kochi, India}}

A statement by someone identified as the press secretary of Kailasa said that the country "was established much in the spirit of a country like the Sovereign Order of Malta, a borderless service-oriented nation", and the MoneyControl website reporting this (based on CBS News coverage) also stated that Kailasa "is operated through a group of NGOs from multiple countries",{{cite news |title=Does Kailasa exist? Where is it located? Nithyananda representatives respond |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/does-kailasa-exist-where-is-it-located-nithyananda-representatives-respond-10277861.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230412180147/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/does-kailasa-exist-where-is-it-located-nithyananda-representatives-respond-10277861.html |archive-date=12 April 2023 |access-date=12 April 2023 |work=MoneyControl}} suggesting (along with "Kailaasa is a nation without borders") that it does not exist as geographical territory. By contrast, India Today reported (relying largely on self-published promotional material at Kailaasa.org), that Nithyananda had bought an island off the coast of Ecuador for Kailasa; however, the 2019 article also said it was "near Trinidad and Tobago", which is physically impossible since those islands are on the opposite side of the South American continent from Ecuador.

In August 2020, Nithyananda announced the Reserve Bank of Kailaasa and released its official gold currency, the Kailashian dollar. He said the design of the coins was inspired by the currency of "the ancient 56 Hindu nations".{{Cite web |date=29 August 2020 |title=Reserve Bank of Kailasa: What is Nithyananda's 'central bank and currency'? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/reserve-bank-of-kailasa-everything-you-need-to-know-about-nithyanandas-central-bank-and-currency-6566774/ |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=The Indian Express}} He said that the bank would be structured on the lines of the Vatican Bank.{{Cite news |date=21 December 2020 |title=Rape accused Nithyananda cites assassination threats for not coming back to India |url= |work=India Today}}{{Cite web |date=22 August 2020 |title=Nithyananda launches Reserve Bank of Kailasa: How a fugitive rape-accused is building his own 'nation' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nithyananda-reserve-bank-of-kailasa-fugitive-rape-accused-1713828-2020-08-22 |work=India Today}}{{Cite web |last=Rockwell |first=Lew |title=The World Banking System Has a New Competitor |url=https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/09/no_author/the-world-banking-system-has-a-new-competitor/ |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=LewRockwell.com}}{{Cite web |date=30 August 2020 |title=Is he a 'nutty' godman or is Nithyananda a Hinduism icon in New India? |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/is-he-a-nutty-godman-or-is-nithyananda-a-hinduism-icon-in-new-india |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=National Herald}}{{Cite web |date=24 August 2020 |title=Reserve Bank of Kailasa, Kailashian Dollar: All you need to know about Nithyananda's 'central bank and currency' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/reserve-bank-of-kailasa-kailashian-dollar-all-you-need-to-know-about-nithyanandas-central-bank-and-currency-877027.html |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=Deccan Herald}}{{Cite web |date=22 August 2020 |title=Rape Accused, Fugitive Godman Nithyananda Launches Reserve Bank of Kailasa on Ganesh Chaturthi 2020 |url=https://www.india.com/news/india/rape-accused-fugitive-godman-nithyananda-launches-reserve-bank-of-kailasa-on-ganesh-chaturthi-2020-4119289/ |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=India.com}} In December 2020, Nithyananda announced that Kailaasa had begun issuing three-day visas for tourists.{{Cite web |date=19 December 2020 |title=Absconding godman Nithyananda offers 3-day visa to 'nation' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/absconding-godman-nithyananda-offers-3-day-visa-to-nation/story-lnZiV5PSL07tuvOtgsZeTL.html |access-date=28 December 2020 |work=Hindustan Times}} According to his announcement, visa-holders will have to travel from Australia aboard a newly launched private chartered-flight service, Garuda, and all visitors will be provided with food and accommodation during the course of their stay.{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Ashutosh |date=18 December 2020 |title=Nithyananda, absconding rape accused, announces visa for Kailasa, flights from Australia |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nithyananda-absconding-rape-accused-announces-visa-for-kailasa-flights-from-australia-1750676-2020-12-18 |access-date=28 December 2020 |work=India Today}}

On 19 April 2021, citing COVID-19 cases across the world, Nithyananda banned travel to Kailaasa from India, Brazil, Europe, and Malaysia.{{Cite web |title=Nithyananda Bans Travellers From India To 'Kailasa', Cites COVID-19 Surge |url=https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/nithyananda-bans-travelers-from-india-to-kailasa-cites-covid-19-surge-2419576 |access-date=23 April 2021 |work=NDTV.com |publisher=New Delhi Television}}{{Cite web |date=23 April 2021 |title=Fugitive godman Swami Nithyananda bans Indians from entering 'Kailasa' over Covid surge |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/apr/22/fugitive-godman-swami-nithyananda-bans-indians-from-entering-kailasa-over-covid-surge-2293433.html |access-date=23 April 2021 |work=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web |title=COVID surge: Nithyananda shuts borders of Kailasa to India travellers |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2021/04/22/covid-surge-nithyananda-shuts-borders-of-kailasa-to-india-travellers.html |access-date=23 April 2021 |work=The Week |location=Kochi, India}} On 7 June 2021, media reported that while answering a disciple during a Amman reading, Nithyananda said that COVID would end when he is received in India with respect and performs pilgrimage to all Shakti Pitha.{{Cite news |title=Covid-19 Pandemic Will End Only When I Land in India, Claims Nithyananda |url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-pandemic-end-only-133400220.html |access-date=8 June 2021 |work=Yahoo! News |department=India subsite}}{{Cite web |title=ഇന്ത്യയിൽ കോവിഡ് തീരും, ഞാൻ അവിടെ കാലുകുത്തുമ്പോൾ: നിത്യാനന്ദ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2021/06/08/covid-19-pandemic-will-end-only-when-i-land-in-india-claims-nithyananda.html |access-date=8 June 2021 |work=Malayala Manorama |language=ml}}{{Cite web |title=ভারতের মাটিতে পা দিলেই পালাবে করোনা! আজব দাবি স্বঘোষিত ধর্মগুরু স্বামী নিত্যানন্দের |url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/world/covid-19-pandemic-will-end-only-when-i-land-in-india-claims-nithyananda/ |access-date=8 June 2021 |work=Sangbad Pratidin |language=bn}}{{Cite web |title=நான் காலடி எடுத்து வைத்தால் இந்தியாவை விட்டு கொரோனா ஓடிவிடும்... சாமியார் நித்யானந்தா சர்ச்சை பேச்சு..! |url=https://tamil.asianetnews.com/politics/if-i-come-to-india-corona-virus-will-run-away-says-nithyananda--quafsx |access-date=8 June 2021 |work=Tamil.AsianetNews.com |publisher=Asianet News Network |language=ta}}

In August 2022, a representative for Nithyananda wrote to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to request political asylum citing Nithyananda's ill-health. The letter contained an offer to invest in Sri Lanka on condition of asylum being granted and the donation of medical equipment required for treatment. The request demanded the establishment of political ties with Kailaasa so that an air ambulance would transport Nithyananda as a head of state.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/rape-accused-nithyananda-medical-asylum-in-sri-lanka-1996078-2022-09-03 |title=Rape-accused Nithyananda seeks medical asylum in Sri Lanka |date=3 September 2022 |type=Television production |publisher=India Today}}

Nithyananda approached the United Nations again, through a woman identifying herself as Vijayapriya Nithyananda and claiming to be the "permanent ambassador" to the UN of his new country of Kailaasa, at 23 February 2023 open public meetings of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, complaining in testimony and a written submission about persecution of "the people of Kailasa", seeking international recognition for Kailaasa as the "first sovereign state for Hindus", and claiming Nithyanada to be the "supreme pontiff of Hinduism". The UN was reported to have ignored the Kailaasa submission as "irrelevant".

In November 2023, the chief of staff of Paraguay's agricultural ministry was replaced after the government discovered that he had signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of Kailaasa.{{cite news |last=Aitken |first=Peter |date=2 December 2023 |title=South American official fired after signing agreement with country made up by Indian 'holy' conman |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/south-american-official-fired-signing-agreement-country-indian-holy-conman-report |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=Fox News}}

In 2023, Newark mayor Ras Baraka invited Kailasa to city hall to join in a "cultural trade agreement".{{Cite news |last=Mashal |first=Mujib |last2=Trigo |first2=María Silvia |last3=K.B |first3=Pragati |date=2025-04-03 |title=The Country Was Fake. But Its Land Grab in Bolivia Was Real. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/world/asia/united-states-of-kailasa-bolivia.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} City officials, including Baraka, took photos and signed documents to make Newark a sister city with Kailasa. Newark City Hall called the scam a "regrettable incident," a council member referred to it as an "oversight," and Newark residents expressed embarrassment that city officials did not bother to perform a basic Google search to determine whether "Kailasa" was a real country or city.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/newark-sister-city-scam-kailasa/|title = City of Newark falls for Sister City scam: "Whose job was it to do a simple Google search?"| website=CBS News |last=Bauman |first=Ali |date=March 8, 2023}}

In March 2025, officials in Bolivia said they had arrested 20 people associated with Kailasa. The officials accused those arrested of "land trafficking" after they negotiated 1,000-year leases with Indigenous groups for swathes of the Amazon rainforest. Those arrested were deported to their home countries, including India, the United States, Sweden, and China.{{Cite news |last=Mashal |first=Mujib |last2=Silvia Trigo |first2=María |last3=K.B. |first3=Pragati |date=2025-04-03 |title=The Country Was Fake. But Its Land Grab in Bolivia Was Real. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/world/asia/united-states-of-kailasa-bolivia.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |language=en}}

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Category:Micronations