Fake ‘Hindu nation’ indulges in real land grabbing in Bolivia
They call themselves emissaries of the world’s first “sovereign nation” for Hindus, complete with their own passports, currency, and even a “cosmic constitution.”
Their leader, a self-proclaimed holy man, claims to possess miraculous powers, including the ability to guide reincarnation and ensure that billionaires are not reborn as paupers.
But this week, the fantastical story of the so-called United States of Kailasa collided head-on with reality in Bolivia, reports the New York Times.
Last week, Bolivian authorities arrested 20 individuals associated with Kailasa, accusing them of “land trafficking” after they negotiated 1,000-year leases with Indigenous groups in the Amazon rainforest.
The agreements, which granted sweeping rights over vast tracts of land—including airspace and natural resource extraction—were swiftly declared void.
The accused were deported not to their fictional homeland but to their actual countries of origin, including India, the United States, Sweden, and China.
“Bolivia does not maintain diplomatic relations with the alleged nation ‘United States of Kailasa,’” Bolivia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in an official communiqué. Attempts to reach Kailasa’s “press office of the Holy See of Hinduism” for comment went unanswered.
The origins of Kailasa: A guru on the run
The bizarre saga of the United States of Kailasa traces back to at least 2019, when its founder, Swami Nithyananda—a fugitive spiritual leader also known as His Divine Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism—fled India amid allegations of rape, torture, and child abuse.
Born Arunachalam Rajasekaran in southern India, Nithyananda rose to prominence as a Hindu monk who built a sprawling empire of ashrams across India and internationally. Known for his grandiose claims, he linked himself to ancient religious lineages and boasted supernatural abilities, such as curing blindness through a “third eye” or delaying sunrises by 40 minutes.
“I am a totality of unknown in your life. I’m the manifest of un-manifest,” Nithyananda declared in one sermon. “The moment you sit in front of me, enlightenment starts.”
In perhaps his most audacious pitch, Nithyananda promoted what he called “the world’s first inter-life reincarnation trust management.” Under this scheme, billionaires like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett could invest billions into a trust managed by Nithyananda, who claimed exclusive knowledge to ensure their wealth would follow them into future lives. “It is possible Bill Gates will be born very poor, Warren Buffett may be born in some African village as a very poor guy,” explained an associate during a public discussion.
When legal troubles mounted in India, Nithyananda dismissed the charges as part of an anti-Hindu conspiracy “to grab my land.” He fled the country, reportedly settling somewhere in South America or the Caribbean before resurfacing years later with an extraordinary proclamation: he had founded the United States of Kailasa, reviving ancient Hindu kingdoms under his leadership.
A fictional nation goes global
On its official website, where “free e-citizenship” can be obtained with just a few clicks, the United States of Kailasa claims sovereignty over territories “in the Andean region.” Nithyananda, now in his late 40s, openly admits that creating the nation provides him with immunity from prosecution.
“Many people asked me, ‘Swami ji, why did you leave such a huge empire you built in India and are sitting in a corner?’” he says in a video, referring to himself using an Indian honorific. “The answer is immunity—it makes me non-prosecutable as the head of my own state.”
Over the years, Kailasa has occasionally surfaced when its representatives caused embarrassment for politicians worldwide. In 2023, a senior official in Paraguay resigned after signing a memorandum of understanding with Kailasa. Similarly, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka rescinded a sister-city agreement with the fictitious nation days after announcing it in a ceremony.
In Bolivia, however, the group’s ambitions reached new heights—or depths. According to Bolivian officials, Kailasa emissaries arrived on tourist visas and secured a photo opportunity with President Luis Arce. There is no evidence that Nithyananda himself was present, but his followers managed to negotiate suspiciously long-term leases with Indigenous communities.
The scandal unfolds
An investigation by the Bolivian newspaper El Deber revealed how Kailasa representatives had approached Indigenous groups, including the Baure, under the guise of offering aid following devastating forest fires late last year. Conversations initially focused on conservation efforts and modest payments, eventually evolving into a draft lease spanning 1,000 years and covering land three times the size of New Delhi.
Pedro Guasico, a leader of the Baure community, recounted how his group reluctantly agreed to the deal after being promised nearly $200,000 annually for protecting their territory. However, upon reviewing the English-language contract, they realized it granted Kailasa extensive rights, including control over airspace and natural resources.
“We made the mistake of listening to them,” Guasico told reporters by phone. “They offered us that money as an annual bonus for conserving and protecting our territory, but it was completely false.”
Reality strikes back
With the scandal exposed, Bolivian authorities acted swiftly, arresting those involved and declaring the leases invalid. The incident highlights the dangers posed by organizations operating under the guise of spirituality or cultural revival while pursuing dubious—and sometimes illegal—agendas.
For the United States of Kailasa, the Bolivia debacle serves as a stark reminder that no amount of fabricated sovereignty can shield its members from accountability. Whether led by genuine belief or opportunistic ambition, the group’s actions have left a trail of controversy, exploitation, and shattered illusions. As investigations continue, questions remain about how far-reaching Nithyananda’s influence truly is—and whether other nations will fall prey to his schemes.
