Kerala Authorities Investigate 'Samadhi' Burial of Self-Proclaimed Swami Amidst Suspicion of Wrongdoing
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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11 (NationPress) A strange case in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district has generated public outcry as police are seeking authorization to exhume the remains of a self-proclaimed swami, reportedly buried by his family after he had attained samadhi.
The situation centers on 78-year-old Gopan Swami, a former head-load worker from Neyyattinkara, who operated a modest temple adjacent to his residence. On Friday, Gopan's sons, Sanandan and Rajasenan, allegedly buried him after asserting he had achieved samadhi — a spiritual state of perpetual meditation.
However, the burial has raised eyebrows among locals, who accuse the family of fabricating the event for personal gain. Several residents suspect foul play, alleging that the Swami might have been murdered.
“Gopan and his family capitalized on superstitious beliefs through their temple for their own benefit. This samadhi spectacle appears to be a scheme to enhance the temple’s reputation,” stated a group of locals, calling for the burial site to be investigated.
Rajasenan, Gopan’s younger son, refuted the allegations, maintaining that his father’s burial adhered to religious practices and his expressed desires.
“Our father was not an ordinary individual; he possessed extraordinary powers,” Rajasenan asserted.
“He had made preparations long before, even acquiring the dalakallu (seat) and padmapeedam (pedestal) for his samadhi rituals. On Thursday at 11:30 a.m., he departed this world while seated in meditation,” he continued.
Rajasenan clarified that the family conducted all prayers and rites following Hindu traditions before constructing the tomb.
Locals disclosed that Gopan established the temple in 2016 as a trust with community backing. However, disputes caused the temple to shut down for two years. It later reopened under Gopan’s exclusive management, with his family overseeing its operations.
In response to public unrest, the Kerala Police have launched an investigation and have requested the district collector's permission to exhume the body. If granted, the remains will undergo an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.
This incident has rekindled discussions on the exploitation of religious beliefs and practices, with many awaiting the police investigation's findings to reveal the truth.
