Swami Nigamananda
Encyclopedia
Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa (18 August 1880— 29 November 1935) ' onMouseout='HidePop("70004")' href="/topics/Brahmin">Brahmin
family, in the hamlet of Kutabpur
in Nadia district
(at present Meherpur district
in Bangladesh
). His followers idealized him as their worshiped and beloved thakura(ठाकुर).
Nigamananda was a sannyasi of the Shankar's
cult. After his ordination as a sannyasi, he came to be known as Paribrajakacharya Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva(परिब्राजकाचार्य परमहंस श्रीमद स्वामी निगमानंद सरस्वती देव).
Nigamananda also was a sadguru and a sadhu
from India. He was a yogi
and a hindu
spiritual leader, well known in Eastern India. He was also an Indian hindu
guru, a hindu
philosopher, associated with the shakti
cult, and was viewed as a perfect spiritual master for tantra
, gyan
, yoga
and prema or bhakti
In 1930 India
n spiritual writer, social reformer Durga Charan Mohanty
met Swami Nigamananda at Nilachala Kutir
Puri
and recognized him as sadguru for the first time in Orissa
. He wrote a lot of books for Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
Puri, founded by Swami Nigamananda in 1934, and translated Swamiji's writings from Bengali
to Oriya
language. Under Mohanty's encouragement, more than hundred Nigamananda ashram
s have been opened at difference places of Orissa
, which are running now. He continued to spread the message of Swami Nigamananda till his worldly departure on 7 Dec 1985 at Biratunga
.
Swami Nigamananda's followers believe that he achieved siddhi
(perfection) in four different sadhana
s (spiritual disciplines): tantra
, gyan
, yoga
and prema
. Based on these experiences, he wrote five books in the Bengali language
: Brahamcharya Sadhana (ब्रह्मचर्य साधन), Yogi Guru (योगिगुरु), Gyani Guru (ज्ञानीगुरु), Tantrika Guru (तांत्रिकगुरु), and Premika Guru (प्रेमिकगुरु).(These books are now widely available in Oriya
, written by Durga Charan Mohanty
).
Nigamananda reportedly experienced the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
: Lotus or Water), per the wishes of his father, Bhuban Mohan Bhattacharya, and the advice of his father's guru, Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati
. At the age of thirteen (1893) he lost his mother "Manikya Sundari Devi", who died of cholera, causing him to fall into depression. In 1894-95 he passed the student scholarship examination and studied at Meherpur High School
. In 1895 he took admission at Dhaka Asanulla Engineering College
for studying survey. In 1897 his father married him to a thirteen year old girl named "Sudhansubala Devi" of Halisahar
. He completed his study in 1899 and joined a service in the District Board of Dinajpur, the estate of Rani Rashmoni
to earn his sustenance. As noted, at the end of Vadra
, 1901 (approximately five years after marriage) when he was serving as the supervisor of the Narayanpur
Estate (Zamindari), in one night suddenly Nalinikanta saw the shadowy image of "Sudhansubala Devi"(his wife) standing at the table glowering and silent while she was supposed to be away at Kutabpur
(Nalinikanta's village) at that time. He went to Kutabpur to inquire and came to know that "Sudhansubala Devi" had died just an hour before he saw her image at Narayanpur(Nalinikanta's work place), again an emotional blow to Nalinikanta. He attempted to reach his wife through occult science
, but in vain.
to the Theosophical Society at Adyar
. He ascertained all the hypotheses and exercises that theosophy
could offer and through a medium, was able to talk to Sudhansubala Devi(his wife) but Nalinikanta could not see her physically. With the experience, he was not satisfied at all. He came to know by a discussion with the members of the Society that the knowledge about the phenomena of "life and death" was the perquisite of the Hindu
yogi
s. With such realization he began to search a true yogi
who would fulfill his desire to meet his dead wife and teach him more about "life after death".
with a brilliant aura around him. He woke up to find the sadhu actually standing beside his bed. The sadhu handed him a leaf with a mantra
written on it and then vanished. Nalinikanta asked many to understand the meaning of the mantra
. Finally he met Bamakhepa, a famous tantrik
, of Tara Pitha
, Birbhum district
. Nalinikanta took initiation from him and was directed to chant said mantra for 21 days. Under Bamakhepa’s guidance he had physical darshan
of Maa Tara Devi in the form of "Sudhansubala Devi". This darshan
led him to another mystery. He saw Tara Devi coming out of his body and again mingling with him. To solve this mystery, Bamakshepa advised him to attain the knowledge of Advaita from a vedantic guru. In 1902 Nigamananda traveled again to search a jnani guru. and met "Satchidananda Saraswati", who was a guru from vedantic order, at the holy place of Pushkar
in the state of Rajasthan
(India). He instantaneously realized that "Satchidananda Saraswati" was the sadhu who had given him the tara mantra
in his dream. Nalinikanta became his disciple,
and learned all the theories of Brahma (god as the formless one), Brahma Sutras
and Vedanta
, was initiated by the Satchidananda into renunciation and according to the principle changed his name to Nigamananda.
Satchidananda directed Nigamananda to undertake pilgrimages to the four institutions (Char Dham
) of religious seats and realize for himself the significance of each, as the Hindu
s held these places of worship as very dear to them for their sacredness. After pilgrimages, he arrived back to the ashram
.
On his arrival at the ashram, Sachidanand reviewed Nigamananda’s Pilgrimages and said : My boy! You have travelled widely and seen the religious places and acquired knowledge and experience. All that I had to teach you has been accomplished but it is for you now to put my teachings in to practice. You have to experience for yourself the truth of your being and this can only be done through concerted efforts as well as the practice and observance of you Yogic principles. Thus you now have to seek out a guru
who will provide you the proper guidance in this line.
Again Nigamananda went out to seek a guru
. In 1903 he met a "yogi guru" (yoga
master) - whom he called "Sumeru Das Ji" (otherwise known as Koot Hoomi Lal Singh or Kuthumi). Under Sumeru Das Ji's guidance he learned the secrets of yoga.
After hard practice Nigamananda was able to master savikalpa samadhi
(the trance in which the Yogi loses his body consciousness and acquires a transcendental consciousness while his individual identity is still retained) in the month of Poush
,1904 . Soon after Nigamananda desired to experience the state of Nirvikalpa
- the most advanced of Yogic Samadhis. Nigamananda followers are believe that he did enter by way of this Samadhi
and was returned into his body with the residual consciousness of "I am the Master or Guru"
at Kamakshya
, in Guwahati
Assam
(Nilachal Hill) . and in yoga he had visualized and practically understood in his own body the Vedic
knowledge he had learned from his guru
, Satchidananda.
As noted, in 1904, it was Kashi (now known as Varanasi
, in U.P., India), one night Goddess Annapurna
appeared in his dream and said, his knowledge is limited to formless God and not gone beyond that, hence he was still unfulfilled or incomplete. Nigamananda was awakened from his slumber and soon he became alive to the facts of the case as indicated to him by Goddess Annapurna. So he went to Gouri Devi, (a siddha
yogini
). She accepted him as a disciple
and taught him bhakti or prem
(eternal nature of divine love play) to realize this
physical world as the transformation of god in bhava
sadhana
.
As Swami Nigamananda through a long and continued search discovered his Guru, same principle was followed by many of his disciples to find him out. A few such stories are narrated by his disciples.
to see Kumbha Mela
in 1904 and learned that his master Sachidandand was in the area, staying with Sankaracarya of Sringeri Matha and become anxious to see his guru. Nigamananda went to Sankaracarya's camp, where he found the mahant (superior) sitting on an elevated throne surrounded by 125 sadhu
s, including his guru
"Sachidananda". Seeing him, Nigamananda went to first pay his respects to his guru, and only afterwards to the higher-ranking mahant
. The sadhus were upset by this perceived disrespect in not honoring the "mahant" first, but in response Nigamananda quoted the scripture : Manathaha Shri Jagannatha Madguru Shri Jagadguru Madatma Sarvabhutatma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha (मनाथह श्री जगन्नाथ मदगुरु श्री जगदगुरु मदात्मा सर्वभूतात्मा तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः) and said My guru is highest in whole world. Nigamananda further explained to the "sadhu" assemblies that on the basis of the Vedanta philosophy there was no difference between his "Guru" (Shri Sachidanand Saraswati) and "Jagadguru" (Shri Shankarcharya).
Jagadguru Sankaracarya endorsed this response and recognized Nigamananda as one who had achieved spiritual enlightenment.
According to instruction of Jagadguru, Nigamananda was conferred with the title paramahansa
, then came to known as "Paribrajakacharay Paramahansa Shree Mad Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva"(परिब्राजकचार्य परमहंस श्री मद स्वामी निगमानंद सरस्वती देव).
, Orissa
. He died in Calcutta on 29 November 1935.
Swami Nigamananda's followers have continued to honor his memory, and gather together on, annual congregation (sammilani), ceremonial occasions. In 1997, a fire broke out at a gathering of 12,000 who had come together to commemorate Swami Nigamananda at Madhuban grounds, on the outskirts of Baripada
in Orissa
. The fire and ensuing stampede killed 177 devotees. His ashram
at Halisahar
, and Sundarbans are places of pilgrimage.
In order to realize these objectives he enjoined upon his devotees to:
In order to achieve the above objectives he initiated several thousand interested men and women of all walks of life and taught them his unique spiritual practices devoid of any sectarian bias in the form of a complete package of worship, prayer and meditation. He encouraged his disciples to meet periodically in groups (Sangha
) of three or more for offering prayer and worship to the Guru, exchanging spiritual experiences, chanting of "jayaguru"(जयगुरु ଜୟଗୁରୁ) (a non-sectarian word meaning "Glory due to the Master", which he invented), reading spiritual books and dwelling on the ideas therein, devising ways and means for the management of the Math
and the Ashram
s and pledging to lead the life of a spiritually inspired ideal householder. He had advised his disciples that, the glory of God or Guru is experienced through the medium of these syllable, "Jayaguru" one can reach at God through this name since God is the Guru or Master of the Universe. People belonging to any sect or creed can accept this name without any detriment to their progress in the religious life.
cult. The Vedanta philosophy due to the Shankaracharya
had been studied by Nigamananda after he was initiated as a Samnyasi of that Order.
Swami Nigamananda's core teaching were, guru
and istha are one and identical and to follow the ideals of Lord Shankar
and the path of Lord Gaurang
. Though he also indicated the philosophical treaties propounded by Lord Shankar is hard to be practiced by the people of this age but it is easier to tread the path of devotion shown by Lord Gaurang. His view was Shankar
and Gaurang
which is a sweet combination of Gyan
and Bhakti
can lead the world in the right way.
According to Swami Chetanananda Saraswati, Nigamananda's philosophy and teachings as described below:
Avatar and Sadguru
According to view of "Chetanananda Saraswati", Swami Nigamananda never admitted that he was God-incarnate or an Avatar
(अवतार) although many of his disciples fancied to identify him as one. He stated that an incarnation is an exclusive descent of God on earth to uphold spiritual order in a region, country or even the whole world. Although he could, the Avatar ordinarily does not enlighten or guide individuals, per se. Through his agency righteousness is established and demoniac forces are destroyed at large. Swami Nigamananda wanted that he should be treated as a Sadguru (a perfect spiritual Master, also one form of God) who, on account of his long quest over succession of births and deaths, attained to the knowledge of his Swaroop स्वरुप (true or potential nature, i.e., supreme universal consciousness). There is scriptural evidence to show that Gautam himself had to pass through many births before acquiring the qualities to realise the truth and become the great Buddha
! Swami Nigamananda further pointed out that an "Avatar" does not always remain in the state of super-human consciousness so as to be able to take part in Leela
i.e. divine play!
Sadguru, Jagadguru and God
According to Swami Nigamananda the disciple should take his Guru (a Sadguru, of course) to be the Jagadguru (or the World Master, the Purushottama
) and not an ordinary human being, in tune with Lord Krishna's statement in the Bhagavadgeeta :
Also like in Patanjali's
aphorism: "By contemplating on the form of one who has no attachments, concentration of mind is attained", Swami Nigamananda advised his disciples to meditate on his physical form such that all the admirable qualities and attributes in him would get automatically transferred into their beings and fashion their souls. Further he assured that because he had, by triple modes of spiritual practice, simultaneously experienced the nature of Brahman
(ब्रह्म), Paramatma
(परमात्मा) (supreme universal self) and Bhagawan(भगवान) (Personal and universal Godhead) as the ultimate spiritual goals of the seekers, his true disciples also would simultaneously have such experience. That, he said, "was his only expectation from his disciples and he would love to wait for the day to see that fulfilled".
Order of Spiritual Attainments
According to Swami Nigamananda, the theory of self realization requires expanding the individual self to the status of the supreme universal self and it can be directly practiced only by the most competent among the aspirant Samyasis by means of precise intellectual inquiry, analysis and deep meditation, although the service to the Master holds the key to success in such pursuits as well. However, Nigamananda pointed out that true transcendental divine love and ecstasy could be properly experienced by the most fortunate ones only after they had attained monistic realisation of the supreme as declared by Lord Krishna himself in the Bhagavadgeeta:
Reconciliation of Monistic and Dualistic Pursuits
Unlike some other saints who recognized and preached a diversity of equally valid doctrines for self / God realisation and as many valid paths to attain to those, Swami Nigamananda suggested the realisation of oneness of self and the supreme universal self (or Parabrahman-परंब्रह्म) as the true and the highest goal of human life.
And the path leading to it, in the case of most aspirants, is one of true devotion for the perfect spiritual Master (Sadguru) who initiates them. Rendering personal Service to the Master and invoking his grace through prayers, chanting and simple meditation are the chief modes of spiritual practice for them. They will thus, not only acquire non-dualistic realization knowing, for sure, that their Master is a realised soul (Brahmajnani-ब्रह्मज्ञानी) and trying to live up to his teachings, but also experience bliss due to intense love for him in course of time, when they are enabled to participate in his Leela (love play-लिला) for helping others to achieve self/God realisation.
Swami Nigamananda pointed out that the path shown by Gouranga Mahaprabhu
who practiced and preached unconditional devotion and love for God was rather narrow, in as much as it was directed to Sri Krishna as the only God. In order to broad-base that path, Swami Nigamananda suggested to take the Master as an embodiment of Sri Krishna (or any other deity whom the aspirant loved), in which case the guide himself becomes his goal. In this way Swami Nigamananda convincingly formulated a reconciliation of the two apparently contradictory creeds, one due to the great Shankaracharya
, the founder of the monistic school of Vedanta philosophy and the other due to Gauranga Mahaprabhu
who advocated the principle and practice of apparent duality between the devotee and God. After all, Swami Nigamananda pointed out that in the path of devotion and love the aspirant has to subdue or tame his ego adequately and hence he attains to the same stage as that of the monistic aspirant whose ego loses its identity on attaining to his goal. In the former case, the individuality of the devotee is reduced to a trifling, overpowered by personal god-consciousness, whereas in the latter the aspirant loses his self-consciousness in the ocean of impersonal universal consciousness.
Jnanachakra
Nigamananda pointed out that although the doctrine of monistic vedanta
philosophy treats the supreme reality in terms of oneness of individual and universal consciousness, it does not systematically explain the structure of the material creation which, on the other hand, is done by Samkhya philosophy.
But this latter does not treat the supreme reality as well. Similarly, whereas Christianity emphasises on service and surrender as means to god realization, the Indian philosophy of Poorva Mimamsa prescribes various ritualistic actions for the attainment of personal and collective happiness despite cycles of birth and death.
By means of a Jnanachakra(ज्ञानचक्र) chart (the spheres of spiritual cosmology) which he visualized and presented in a pictorial form, Swami Nigamananda identified different layers of human consciousness inter-woven in the microcosm (body) and the macrocosm (the universe) and pointed out the levels which the aspirants of different spiritual orders and sects may ultimately reach. In this chart he placed Sri Krishna and Sri Radha
(or the Guru-गुरु and Yogamaya-योगमाया) in the transition between the non qualified (Nirguna) Brahman
(निर्गुण ब्रह्म) and qualified (Saguna) Brahman
(सगुण ब्रह्म), which he called as the Nitya or the Bhavaloka (भाव लोक). (Yogamaya
is a form of divine power, which incessantly attracts the earth-bound souls and helps them realise their true blissful nature and participate in the divine play
).
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are furnished here:
(जीवनमुक्त उपासना), which he believed could lead the sadhaka
to quick self-realisation.
is of three kinds viz. Kriyaman
, Sanchita
and Prarbdha
.
When the results of one's labour is enjoyed during his life time is called Kriyaman
; if he dies before enjoying the fruits of his labour, it is called Sanchita
Karma
or accumulated labour. As he takes rebirth to enjoy the balance of accumulated Karma
of the past life this is called Prarbdha
. By virtue of one's Sadhana
, the effects of Kriyaman
and Sanchita
can be wiped out during one's own life but it is not possible to erase out the effects of Prarbdha
Karma. So long as a person is possessed with worldly ambitions he is sure to take the endless journey of birth and death. Jivtma
leaves the gross body to travel sometime in the astral world which is called the spirit world or Pret
Lok. After undergoing some of its Karmic
effects, it returns to the gross world with a gross body for the fulfillment of his further desires that he had during his last incarnation. How it moves from one world to another being ignorant of the same is a matter of great mystery. Yogies can perceive the mystery clearly and tell the past Sanskar
of Jiva
.
Swami Nigamananda said, one should remember all the time that he has to die one day. We do not know at what moment death will visit us. Before working on good or evil deeds one should also remember that he has to die one day and that day is not very far off. Death will drive out from one's mind the anxiety for sense pleasure and evil thoughts. Man would refrain from committing any act of injustice on poor if he thinks of this. Attachment to wealth and relations will then fail to dominate the feelings of man. All the earthly matters to which man is tied so much will continue to remain as they are even after his departure from this world. Only the spiritual wealth that has been earned during one's life time remains as an asset to the individuals. Those who have acquired wealth and learning by virtue of their intellect and have puffed with pride on account of this will submit to the God of death meekly when that particular hour comes. Being drunk with pride, some persons ill-treat their fellow brethren who have been ill placed in their life without giving the least thought that they will be paid back in the same coins at an appropriate time with compound interest. A day is awaiting for them when they will be left in the deserted crematory ground with the beasts and birds around who will joyously waiting to feast upon his flesh and worn-out tissues. Their inert bodies will lie there in silent submission to these beings. If one thinks of this all the evil thoughts will disappear from his mind. Those who are blind to the truth of life and have plunged themselves in the temporary pleasures of the world will be able to change their course of life if the foregoing lines get into their mind. Those of you have become wise enough and quite alert to the truth will not be afraid of death and they will accept it as a passage to the superior world.
, the theories and techniques can be found in his book "Yogi Guru". Out of them few produced here:
Hatha yoga and Laya yoga
According to Swami Nigamananda the practice of Hatha Yoga
can be carried out when the body is made fit for the purpose the body should be cleansed first of the impurities through Sat Sadhna i.e. the six elementary practices of Yoga. Hatha Yoga
is completely different from Laya Yoga
. The practices of Hatha Yoga
can make the body strong which can enable it to survive for a period of about four hundred years or more, whereas Laya Yoga
helps the aspirant to attain union with the supreme. If the body is not kept purified both externally and internally through the practices of Hatha Yoga
, the succeeding steps of Laya Yoga
would yield no result.
Dharana and dhyan
Swami Nigamananda taught that, since the breathing system is closely connected with the intricate workings of the mind, practice of Pranayama
leads to regulate the breath and thereby maintains tranquility of mind. Mind is subjected to forces of disturbed thoughts owing to the irregularity in the process of breathing. He said
I had applied myself to the higher practices of Yoga
, thereafter, i.e. Dharana
and Dhyan
(mediation). The Sadhaka
is likely to peril his life if he does not take assistance of another during these advance practices. During the practices of Dharana
, the Sadhaka
experiences his own progress and when the estimated height in Sadhana
is achieved, he enters into the successive step of progress. While being absorbed in the practice of Dhyan
, the Sadhaka
may cross over to the state of Samadhi
and it is not predictable when he is to stumble across this state of consciousness. Till the experience of Samadhi
, the Sadhaka
goes on groping in the darkness where Guru
comes to his aid to steer him through the difficult passages of Yoga
.
Sampragyant samadhi
Nigamananda pointed out that if earlier practices are perfected, the succeeding steps yield good and a biding results. These practices are under one's own control. At that state the Sadhaka would enter in to Samadhi is a matter of his own experience and could experience the awakening of Kundalini. The upward and downward motion of Kundalini
is called Sampragyant Samadhi.
Ashram
in 1905 (1312 BS) at Kodaldhoa in Garo Hills
, which is called now "Garohill-Yogashrama"(गारोहिल योगाश्रम). His famous yoga
book "Yogi Guru" (योगिगुरु), was written and composed here in 14 days of time as noted.
at Jorhat
to fulfill his three missons i.e. To propagate Sanatana Dharma (spreading eternal religion), spreading true education and serve everybody as god incarnate,
He took a plot of land of Jorhat
in Sibsagar district
and founded this ashram there on Akshaya Tritiya
, in the month of Baishakh (in 1319 BS according to Bengal calendar). This was called “Shanti Ashram”
or Saraswata Matha(सारस्वत मठ),which went by the name of Assam-Bengal Saraswata Matha
(आसाम बंगीय सारस्वत मठ) in the later years.
Rishi
Vidyalaya
was an important school founded under this Matha
for Yoga
training to students.
Retirement
Swami Nigamananda initiated ten of his devout disciples into Samnyas in the tradition of the "Saraswati" by order due to the great Sankaracharya, the juniormost among whom were "Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati
" (an erudite scholar, philosopher and writer who became famous as Anirvan later on) and "Swami Prajnananda Saraswati". Swearing in Swami Prajnanandaji as the Mahant
and Trustee of the "Saraswat Matha and Ashrama Establishments". Swami Nigamananda retired and resided in Nilachala Kutir
in Puri
for several years, till 1935 CE.
100 Years of Saraswata Matha (1912–2011)
This Institution(Shanti Ashram)
or "Saraswata Matha" founded by Swami Nigamananda in 1912(1319 BS) now steped into hundred years of its life on Akshaya Tritiya
Baishakh, 2011 (1418 BS), i.e. 6 May 2011.
He expressed his views stating that this Matha
is very dear to my heart, I can sacrifice my life hundred times for the sake of this Matha
, Puri
, Orissa
. Puri is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham
pilgrimages also known as city of Lord Jagannath. Nigamananda believed Lord Jagannath as "symbol of truth" and liked very much to the culture of Lord Jagannatha of Puri
, as it embodies in itself the culture of truth, unity and integrity. He spent his rest 12 years of life in Puri.
The day 24 August 1934(Friday), fullmoon
day (Sravan Purnima) Friday,Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
(NSS - नीलाचल सारस्वत संघ - ନୀଳାଚଳ ସାରସ୍ବତ ସଂଘ ପୁରୀ ) was established by Swami Nigamananda himself at Nilachala Kutir
(नीलाचल कुटीर-ନୀଳାଚଳ କୁଟିର), Puri
. The Oriya
devotees gathered there to celebrate his birthday. He advised these people to form a religious circle among them. As per his wishes some devotees started an association for religious talk and thus "Nilachala Saraswata Sangha" (the Sangha
)
came into existence by the gradual growth of the group discussion and prayer, to fulfill the triple objectives as, (1)leading an Ideal family life, (2)establishment of combined power and (3)sharing of feelings.
He instituted five Ashrams in five divisions of undivided Bengal
, they are Purba Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Moinamati, Comilla (Bangala Desh), now at Tripura
, Madhya Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Kalni, Dacca, now Purbasthali
Bardhaman district
, Uttar Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Bogra
, Pachima Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Kharkusama, Midnapore
, Dakhina Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Halisahar
, 24 Paragans.
Swami Nigamananda installed Jagat Gurus Ashan(जगत गुरु आसन), in the year 1915 at Kokilamukh, Jorhat
, Assam
. and established many Ashrams and made thousands of disciples in the Guru-shishya tradition
.
.
books, called "Saraswata Granthavali" (सारस्वत ग्रंथावली). These are : "Brahmacharya Sadhan"(ब्रह्मचर्य साधन), "Yogiguru"(योगिगुरु), "Tantrikguru"(तांत्रिकगुरु), "Jnaniguru" (ज्ञानीगुरु), and "Premikguru"(प्रेमिकगुरु) which dealt with the fundamentals of theory and practical methods of almost all the modes of sadhana
(spiritual practice) prevalent in Sanatan Dharma. Nigamanananda's followers believe that, these books are useful to any faith follower on the earth and if practiced carefully will lead a man to definite success in spiritual pursuit. By D C Mohanty
's pioneer effort these books were translated from Bengali
to Oriya
.
, founded by Ramananda Chatterjee
, on 26 December 1938.
Other few Nigamananda collection of spiritual books are 'Maayer Kripa'(मायेर कृपा), "Vedanta Vivek"(वेदांत विवेक) and "Tattvamala"(तत्वमाला).
Sammilani
(भक्त सम्मिलनी), congregation of devotees, in order to strengthen the various prayer groups, discuss the need for having the Guru
in one's life, review the well-being of "Samnyasis" living in the ashram
s, help solve problems pertaining to them and the ashram
s as a whole, provide welfare services, such as schools, if any, for the communities and finally to organise spiritual meetings in order to hold lectures by enlightened speakers on contemporary problems of public spiritual life. All these activities are intended, Nigamananda pointed out, to help in the spiritual advancement of the disciples such that they will be able to attain peace and true happiness in life.
He categorized the "Bhakta Sammilani" into two parts one is Sarbabhouma i.e. Country wide (सर्बभौम भक्त सम्मिलनी) and other is Pradeshika i.e. State wide(प्रादेशिक भक्त सम्मिलनी) The first Sarbabhouma Bhakta Sammilani was established by Swami Nigamananda at Kokilamukh, Jorhat
, Assam
in 1915, and first "Pradeshika Bhakta Sammilani" was held in the year 1947 by "Nilachala Saraswata Sangha, Puri" at Ankoli in the district of Ganjam
, Orissa
during full moon day of Maagha
.
Swami Nigamananda had instructed to each of his disciples and devotees to assemble in the Sammilani every year to enjoy the divine pleasures from the eternal fount of bliss that overflows from the assembly of devotees. He had also introduced for the women disciples a different prayer day in the Annual "Sammilani" where they alone could participate and exchange their views."
He said in one of "sammilani" as noted that my devotees are fully aware that I am pleased to see them congregated in this Sammilani
, once in a year during the X-mas
. Such gathering would bring fame to the Maths
and it would also do good to the world at large
Oriya Literature
Bengali Literature
LIBRARY Collections
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family, in the hamlet of Kutabpur
Kutabpur
Kutabpur , a village in Nadia district , situated to the south of the Western bank of the river Bhairab, where the indigo godown was once built. Year back, the English merchants were engaged in the trade of indigo on the banks of Bhairab...
in Nadia district
Nadia District
Nadia district is a district of the state of West Bengal, in the north east of India. It borders with Bangladesh to the east, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts to the south, Bardhaman district to the west, and Murshidabad district to the north....
(at present Meherpur district
Meherpur District
Meherpur is a district in South-western Bangladesh which is also the smallest district of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Khulna Division. Before 1984, it was a part of Kushtia district. Meherpur is a historical district in Bangladesh because of the fact that the Proclamation of Independence was...
in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
). His followers idealized him as their worshiped and beloved thakura(ठाकुर).
Nigamananda was a sannyasi of the Shankar's
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
cult. After his ordination as a sannyasi, he came to be known as Paribrajakacharya Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva(परिब्राजकाचार्य परमहंस श्रीमद स्वामी निगमानंद सरस्वती देव).
Nigamananda also was a sadguru and a sadhu
Sadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
from India. He was a yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
and a hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
spiritual leader, well known in Eastern India. He was also an Indian hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
guru, a hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
philosopher, associated with the shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
cult, and was viewed as a perfect spiritual master for tantra
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
, gyan
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
, yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and prema or bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
In 1930 India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n spiritual writer, social reformer Durga Charan Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty (Oriya:ଦୁର୍ଗା ଚରଣ ମହାନ୍ତି, Hindi: दुर्गा चरण महांति (1912–1985) was an Oriya Indian "Dharmic writer" (spiritual writer), born in 1912 at "Biratunga",(बिरतुंग), a village under block Gop, near Konark, Orissa. His father "Shri Gunanidhi...
met Swami Nigamananda at Nilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir Hindi: नीलाचल कुटिर) is a religious residence, formerly owned by Swami Nigamanananda, located in the holy city of Puri, India on the shores of the turbulent Bay of Bengal...
Puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
and recognized him as sadguru for the first time in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. He wrote a lot of books for Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
Nilachala Saraswata Sangha , Oriya : ନୀଳାଚଳ ସାରସ୍ବତ ସଂଘ, Hindi : नीलाचल सारस्वत संघ a religious organization, was founded by Swami Nigamananda Paramahans, exclusively for his household devotees in Orissa on 24 August 1934, Full Moon day, on his birthday, at Nilachala Kutir, Puri, India.NSS is one...
Puri, founded by Swami Nigamananda in 1934, and translated Swamiji's writings from Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
to Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
language. Under Mohanty's encouragement, more than hundred Nigamananda ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
s have been opened at difference places of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, which are running now. He continued to spread the message of Swami Nigamananda till his worldly departure on 7 Dec 1985 at Biratunga
Gop (Biratunga)
Gop is a town and a notified area committee under jurisdiction of Puri district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is one of the main block covered under Puri district. It is famous for the Sun temple, Kathiawar comprises square sanctum circumscribed by double courtyards...
.
Swami Nigamananda's followers believe that he achieved siddhi
Siddhi
is a Sanskrit noun that can be translated as "perfection", "accomplishment", "attainment", or "success". The term is first attested in the Mahabharata. In the Pancatantra, a siddhi may be any unusual skill or faculty or capability...
(perfection) in four different sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
s (spiritual disciplines): tantra
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
, gyan
Gyan
GYAN or Gyan may refer to:* Gyan , a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to 'knowledge' in English.* Global Youth Action Network, a youth empowerment organization* Gyan , the debut album by Gyan EvansPeople named Gyan:...
, yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and prema
Love of God
Love of God are central notions in monotheistic and polytheistic religions, and are important in one's personal relationship with God and one's conception of God ....
. Based on these experiences, he wrote five books in the Bengali language
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
: Brahamcharya Sadhana (ब्रह्मचर्य साधन), Yogi Guru (योगिगुरु), Gyani Guru (ज्ञानीगुरु), Tantrika Guru (तांत्रिकगुरु), and Premika Guru (प्रेमिकगुरु).(These books are now widely available in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
, written by Durga Charan Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty (Oriya:ଦୁର୍ଗା ଚରଣ ମହାନ୍ତି, Hindi: दुर्गा चरण महांति (1912–1985) was an Oriya Indian "Dharmic writer" (spiritual writer), born in 1912 at "Biratunga",(बिरतुंग), a village under block Gop, near Konark, Orissa. His father "Shri Gunanidhi...
).
Nigamananda reportedly experienced the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
Childhood, studies and service life (1880 — 1901)
At his birth, Nigamananda was named Nalinikanta (নলিনীকান্ত, ନଳିନୀକାଂତ, नलिनीकांत - meaning in HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: Lotus or Water), per the wishes of his father, Bhuban Mohan Bhattacharya, and the advice of his father's guru, Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati
Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati
Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati was a noted 19th century sannyasin and saint of Varanasi, India. He wandered over India for thirteen years before settling in Anandabag near the Durga Mandir, in 1868...
. At the age of thirteen (1893) he lost his mother "Manikya Sundari Devi", who died of cholera, causing him to fall into depression. In 1894-95 he passed the student scholarship examination and studied at Meherpur High School
Meherpur District
Meherpur is a district in South-western Bangladesh which is also the smallest district of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Khulna Division. Before 1984, it was a part of Kushtia district. Meherpur is a historical district in Bangladesh because of the fact that the Proclamation of Independence was...
. In 1895 he took admission at Dhaka Asanulla Engineering College
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
for studying survey. In 1897 his father married him to a thirteen year old girl named "Sudhansubala Devi" of Halisahar
Halisahar
Halisahar is a city and a municipality under Bijpur/ Naihati police stations of Barrackpore subdivision. in North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.It was formerly known Kumarhata. It has an...
. He completed his study in 1899 and joined a service in the District Board of Dinajpur, the estate of Rani Rashmoni
Rani Rashmoni
Rani Rashmoni was the founder of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, and remained closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa after she appointed him as the priest of the temple...
to earn his sustenance. As noted, at the end of Vadra
Bhadro
Bhadro is the fifth month in the Bangla Calendar.Bhadro marks the beginning of the Autumn season. According to the modified calendar developed by the Bangla Academy, the month of Bhadro has 31 days. Bhadro spans from mid August to mid September in the Gregorian Calendar....
, 1901 (approximately five years after marriage) when he was serving as the supervisor of the Narayanpur
Narayanpur
Narayanpur is a town located in Lakhimpur district of the north eastern Indian state Assam. It falls under Bihpuria constituency of Assam Legislative Assembly and under Narayanpur Police Station. Narayanpur is also the name of the development block....
Estate (Zamindari), in one night suddenly Nalinikanta saw the shadowy image of "Sudhansubala Devi"(his wife) standing at the table glowering and silent while she was supposed to be away at Kutabpur
Mahishya
Mahishya , also spelled as Mahisya, is a Bengali Hindu caste. Members of this caste are traditionally found in the Indian states of West Bengal and Orissa. Mahishyas are one of the predominant castes in West Bengal especially in the southern districts of Howrah, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur,...
(Nalinikanta's village) at that time. He went to Kutabpur to inquire and came to know that "Sudhansubala Devi" had died just an hour before he saw her image at Narayanpur(Nalinikanta's work place), again an emotional blow to Nalinikanta. He attempted to reach his wife through occult science
Occult science
Occult science is the systematic research into or formulation of occult concepts in a manner that follows - in its method or presentation - the way natural science researches or describes phenomena of the physical world....
, but in vain.
Turning point
This incident further drew him inwards. Before he had conclusion that death is the ultimate end of an individual. After this incident Nalinikanta started believing that there must be life after death. Nalinikanta became desperate to know all about the elusive phenomenons of life and death. These began to worry him all the time. This inquiry took him in ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
to the Theosophical Society at Adyar
Theosophical Society Adyar
The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the name of a section of the Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott to Adyar, an area of Chennai in 1883...
. He ascertained all the hypotheses and exercises that theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
could offer and through a medium, was able to talk to Sudhansubala Devi(his wife) but Nalinikanta could not see her physically. With the experience, he was not satisfied at all. He came to know by a discussion with the members of the Society that the knowledge about the phenomena of "life and death" was the perquisite of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
s. With such realization he began to search a true yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
who would fulfill his desire to meet his dead wife and teach him more about "life after death".
Spiritual experience (1902 — 1905)
As noted, one night in his dreams Nalinikanta saw a sadhuSadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
with a brilliant aura around him. He woke up to find the sadhu actually standing beside his bed. The sadhu handed him a leaf with a mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
written on it and then vanished. Nalinikanta asked many to understand the meaning of the mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
. Finally he met Bamakhepa, a famous tantrik
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
, of Tara Pitha
Tarapith
Tarapith is a small temple town near Rampurhat in Birbhum district of the Indian state of West Bengal, known for its Tantric temple and its adjoining cremation grounds where Tantric rites are performed...
, Birbhum district
Birbhum district
Birbhum district is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the northernmost district of Burdwan division—one of the three administrative divisions of West Bengal. The district headquarters is located at Suri...
. Nalinikanta took initiation from him and was directed to chant said mantra for 21 days. Under Bamakhepa’s guidance he had physical darshan
Darshan
or Darshan is a Sanskrit term meaning "sight" , vision, apparition, or glimpse. It is most commonly used for "visions of the divine" in Hindu worship, e.g. of a deity , or a very holy person or artifact...
of Maa Tara Devi in the form of "Sudhansubala Devi". This darshan
Darshan
or Darshan is a Sanskrit term meaning "sight" , vision, apparition, or glimpse. It is most commonly used for "visions of the divine" in Hindu worship, e.g. of a deity , or a very holy person or artifact...
led him to another mystery. He saw Tara Devi coming out of his body and again mingling with him. To solve this mystery, Bamakshepa advised him to attain the knowledge of Advaita from a vedantic guru. In 1902 Nigamananda traveled again to search a jnani guru. and met "Satchidananda Saraswati", who was a guru from vedantic order, at the holy place of Pushkar
Pushkar
Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated at 14 km North West from Ajmer at an average elevation of 510 metres , and is one of the five sacred dhams...
in the state of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
(India). He instantaneously realized that "Satchidananda Saraswati" was the sadhu who had given him the tara mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
in his dream. Nalinikanta became his disciple,
and learned all the theories of Brahma (god as the formless one), Brahma Sutras
Brahma Sutras
The Brahma sūtras , also known as Vedānta Sūtras , are one of the three canonical texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy. A thorough study of Vedānta requires a close examination of these three texts, known in Sanskrit as the Prasthanatrayi, or the three starting points...
and Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
, was initiated by the Satchidananda into renunciation and according to the principle changed his name to Nigamananda.
Satchidananda directed Nigamananda to undertake pilgrimages to the four institutions (Char Dham
Char Dham
The Chota Char Dham , is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas...
) of religious seats and realize for himself the significance of each, as the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s held these places of worship as very dear to them for their sacredness. After pilgrimages, he arrived back to the ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
.
On his arrival at the ashram, Sachidanand reviewed Nigamananda’s Pilgrimages and said : My boy! You have travelled widely and seen the religious places and acquired knowledge and experience. All that I had to teach you has been accomplished but it is for you now to put my teachings in to practice. You have to experience for yourself the truth of your being and this can only be done through concerted efforts as well as the practice and observance of you Yogic principles. Thus you now have to seek out a guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
who will provide you the proper guidance in this line.
Again Nigamananda went out to seek a guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
. In 1903 he met a "yogi guru" (yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
master) - whom he called "Sumeru Das Ji" (otherwise known as Koot Hoomi Lal Singh or Kuthumi). Under Sumeru Das Ji's guidance he learned the secrets of yoga.
After hard practice Nigamananda was able to master savikalpa samadhi
Savikalpa
Savikalpa-samādhi is one of the highest forms of minor state of samadhi. In Savikalpa samadhi, the human consciousness is dissolved and lost for a short period of time...
(the trance in which the Yogi loses his body consciousness and acquires a transcendental consciousness while his individual identity is still retained) in the month of Poush
Poush
Poush is the 9th month of both the Bangla calendar and the Nepali Calendar. It overlaps December and January of the Gregorian calendar. It is the first month of the winter season....
,1904 . Soon after Nigamananda desired to experience the state of Nirvikalpa
Nirvikalpa
Nirvikalpa is a Sanskrit adjective with the general sense of "not admitting an alternative", formed by applying the contra-existential prepositional prefix to the term .-Usage:...
- the most advanced of Yogic Samadhis. Nigamananda followers are believe that he did enter by way of this Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
and was returned into his body with the residual consciousness of "I am the Master or Guru"
at Kamakshya
Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth temple situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess as the Dasa Mahavidya, including Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,...
, in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
(Nilachal Hill) . and in yoga he had visualized and practically understood in his own body the Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
knowledge he had learned from his guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, Satchidananda.
As noted, in 1904, it was Kashi (now known as Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, in U.P., India), one night Goddess Annapurna
Annapoorna devi
Annapurna or Annapoorna is the Hindu Goddess of nourishment. Anna means food and grains. Purna means full, complete and perfect. She is a form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Annapurna is eulogised in Annada Mangal, a narrative poem in Bengali by Bharatchandra Ray.-City of Kashi:Annapurna is the...
appeared in his dream and said, his knowledge is limited to formless God and not gone beyond that, hence he was still unfulfilled or incomplete. Nigamananda was awakened from his slumber and soon he became alive to the facts of the case as indicated to him by Goddess Annapurna. So he went to Gouri Devi, (a siddha
Siddha
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara , have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies into a different kind of body dominated by...
yogini
Yogini
Yogini is the complete form source word of the masculine yogi- and neutral/plural "yogin." Far from being merely a gender tag to the all things yogi, "Yogini" represents both a female master practitioner of Yoga, and a formal term of respect for a category of modern female spiritual teachers in...
). She accepted him as a disciple
Chela
Chela has two main meanings. One derivation comes from Hindi from Sanskrit , meaning "slave" or "servant". In English, the word means a religious student or disciple...
and taught him bhakti or prem
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
(eternal nature of divine love play) to realize this
physical world as the transformation of god in bhava
Bhava
The term bhāva is often translated as feeling, emotion, mood, devotional state of mind. In Buddhist thought, bhāva denotes the continuity of life and death, including reincarnation, and the maturation arising therefrom...
sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
.
As Swami Nigamananda through a long and continued search discovered his Guru, same principle was followed by many of his disciples to find him out. A few such stories are narrated by his disciples.
Recognition as paramahamsa (1904)
Nigamananda went to AllahabadAllahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
to see Kumbha Mela
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
in 1904 and learned that his master Sachidandand was in the area, staying with Sankaracarya of Sringeri Matha and become anxious to see his guru. Nigamananda went to Sankaracarya's camp, where he found the mahant (superior) sitting on an elevated throne surrounded by 125 sadhu
Sadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
s, including his guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
"Sachidananda". Seeing him, Nigamananda went to first pay his respects to his guru, and only afterwards to the higher-ranking mahant
Mahant
A mahant is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery. The Hindi word mahant is from Prakrit mahanta-, from Sanskrit mahat "great". The priest, pundit, gyani, or pastor of any well-known religious place would be a mahant...
. The sadhus were upset by this perceived disrespect in not honoring the "mahant" first, but in response Nigamananda quoted the scripture : Manathaha Shri Jagannatha Madguru Shri Jagadguru Madatma Sarvabhutatma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha (मनाथह श्री जगन्नाथ मदगुरु श्री जगदगुरु मदात्मा सर्वभूतात्मा तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः) and said My guru is highest in whole world. Nigamananda further explained to the "sadhu" assemblies that on the basis of the Vedanta philosophy there was no difference between his "Guru" (Shri Sachidanand Saraswati) and "Jagadguru" (Shri Shankarcharya).
Jagadguru Sankaracarya endorsed this response and recognized Nigamananda as one who had achieved spiritual enlightenment.
According to instruction of Jagadguru, Nigamananda was conferred with the title paramahansa
Paramahamsa
Paramahamsa , also spelled paramahansa or paramhansa, is a Sanskrit religio-theological title of honor applied to Hindu spiritual teachers of lofty status who are regarded as having attained enlightenment. The title may be translated as "supreme swan," and is based on the swan being equally at home...
, then came to known as "Paribrajakacharay Paramahansa Shree Mad Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva"(परिब्राजकचार्य परमहंस श्री मद स्वामी निगमानंद सरस्वती देव).
Death (1935)
Swami Nigamananda spent the last fourteen years of his life in PuriPuri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. He died in Calcutta on 29 November 1935.
Swami Nigamananda's followers have continued to honor his memory, and gather together on, annual congregation (sammilani), ceremonial occasions. In 1997, a fire broke out at a gathering of 12,000 who had come together to commemorate Swami Nigamananda at Madhuban grounds, on the outskirts of Baripada
Baripada
Baripada is a city and a municipality in Mayurbhanj district in the state of Orissa, India. Baripada is the district headquarters. It is a place to stay and tour the Mayurbhanj region, a region with one of the most important wildlife parks of India , lush valleys, forest lands and scores of ancient...
in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. The fire and ensuing stampede killed 177 devotees. His ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
at Halisahar
Halisahar
Halisahar is a city and a municipality under Bijpur/ Naihati police stations of Barrackpore subdivision. in North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.It was formerly known Kumarhata. It has an...
, and Sundarbans are places of pilgrimage.
Mission
Swami Nigamananda's mission was:- (1) To propagate Sanatana Dharma, i.e. spiritual foundation of the Hindu religion, (सनातन धर्म प्रचार)
- (2) To spread the right kind of education among people (and publish spiritual literature with emphasis on character building), (सत् शिक्षा बिश्तार) and
- (3) To provide service to all created beings, in general, with the attitude of serving the indwelling God (नर देहे नारायण सेवा ).
In order to realize these objectives he enjoined upon his devotees to:
- (1) Lead an ideal family life (Adarsha Grihastha Jeevan Gathan (आदर्श गृहस्थ जीवन गठन)
- (2) Combine the power of spiritual associations (Sangha Shakti Pratishta) (संघ शक्ति प्रतिष्ठा)
- (3) Sharing or exchanging of spiritual feelings (Bhava Binimaya) (भाव बिनिमय )
In order to achieve the above objectives he initiated several thousand interested men and women of all walks of life and taught them his unique spiritual practices devoid of any sectarian bias in the form of a complete package of worship, prayer and meditation. He encouraged his disciples to meet periodically in groups (Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
) of three or more for offering prayer and worship to the Guru, exchanging spiritual experiences, chanting of "jayaguru"(जयगुरु ଜୟଗୁରୁ) (a non-sectarian word meaning "Glory due to the Master", which he invented), reading spiritual books and dwelling on the ideas therein, devising ways and means for the management of the Math
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
and the Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
s and pledging to lead the life of a spiritually inspired ideal householder. He had advised his disciples that, the glory of God or Guru is experienced through the medium of these syllable, "Jayaguru" one can reach at God through this name since God is the Guru or Master of the Universe. People belonging to any sect or creed can accept this name without any detriment to their progress in the religious life.
Philosophy and teachings
Nigamananda was a Sanyasi of the Shankar'sAdi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
cult. The Vedanta philosophy due to the Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
had been studied by Nigamananda after he was initiated as a Samnyasi of that Order.
Swami Nigamananda's core teaching were, guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
and istha are one and identical and to follow the ideals of Lord Shankar
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
and the path of Lord Gaurang
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
. Though he also indicated the philosophical treaties propounded by Lord Shankar is hard to be practiced by the people of this age but it is easier to tread the path of devotion shown by Lord Gaurang. His view was Shankar
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
and Gaurang
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
which is a sweet combination of Gyan
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
and Bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
can lead the world in the right way.
According to Swami Chetanananda Saraswati, Nigamananda's philosophy and teachings as described below:
Avatar and Sadguru
According to view of "Chetanananda Saraswati", Swami Nigamananda never admitted that he was God-incarnate or an Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
(अवतार) although many of his disciples fancied to identify him as one. He stated that an incarnation is an exclusive descent of God on earth to uphold spiritual order in a region, country or even the whole world. Although he could, the Avatar ordinarily does not enlighten or guide individuals, per se. Through his agency righteousness is established and demoniac forces are destroyed at large. Swami Nigamananda wanted that he should be treated as a Sadguru (a perfect spiritual Master, also one form of God) who, on account of his long quest over succession of births and deaths, attained to the knowledge of his Swaroop स्वरुप (true or potential nature, i.e., supreme universal consciousness). There is scriptural evidence to show that Gautam himself had to pass through many births before acquiring the qualities to realise the truth and become the great Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
! Swami Nigamananda further pointed out that an "Avatar" does not always remain in the state of super-human consciousness so as to be able to take part in Leela
Rasa lila
The Rasa lila or Rasa dance is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and her sakhis...
i.e. divine play!
Sadguru, Jagadguru and God
According to Swami Nigamananda the disciple should take his Guru (a Sadguru, of course) to be the Jagadguru (or the World Master, the Purushottama
Purushottama
Purushottama means "Supreme Purusha", "Supreme Being". Purushottama is also one of the names of the Vishnu. According to the Bhagavad Geeta, Purushottam is explained as above and beyond kshar and akshar purushas or as an omni-potent cosmic being...
) and not an ordinary human being, in tune with Lord Krishna's statement in the Bhagavadgeeta :
Also like in Patanjali's
Patañjali
Patañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice. According to tradition, the same Patañjali was also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a commentary on Kātyāyana's vārttikas on Pāṇini's Aṣṭādhyāyī as well as an unspecified work of medicine .In...
aphorism: "By contemplating on the form of one who has no attachments, concentration of mind is attained", Swami Nigamananda advised his disciples to meditate on his physical form such that all the admirable qualities and attributes in him would get automatically transferred into their beings and fashion their souls. Further he assured that because he had, by triple modes of spiritual practice, simultaneously experienced the nature of Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
(ब्रह्म), Paramatma
Paramatman
In Hindu theology, Paramatman or Paramātmā is the Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul or Spirit in the Vedanta and Yoga philosophies of India....
(परमात्मा) (supreme universal self) and Bhagawan(भगवान) (Personal and universal Godhead) as the ultimate spiritual goals of the seekers, his true disciples also would simultaneously have such experience. That, he said, "was his only expectation from his disciples and he would love to wait for the day to see that fulfilled".
Order of Spiritual Attainments
According to Swami Nigamananda, the theory of self realization requires expanding the individual self to the status of the supreme universal self and it can be directly practiced only by the most competent among the aspirant Samyasis by means of precise intellectual inquiry, analysis and deep meditation, although the service to the Master holds the key to success in such pursuits as well. However, Nigamananda pointed out that true transcendental divine love and ecstasy could be properly experienced by the most fortunate ones only after they had attained monistic realisation of the supreme as declared by Lord Krishna himself in the Bhagavadgeeta:
Reconciliation of Monistic and Dualistic Pursuits
Unlike some other saints who recognized and preached a diversity of equally valid doctrines for self / God realisation and as many valid paths to attain to those, Swami Nigamananda suggested the realisation of oneness of self and the supreme universal self (or Parabrahman-परंब्रह्म) as the true and the highest goal of human life.
And the path leading to it, in the case of most aspirants, is one of true devotion for the perfect spiritual Master (Sadguru) who initiates them. Rendering personal Service to the Master and invoking his grace through prayers, chanting and simple meditation are the chief modes of spiritual practice for them. They will thus, not only acquire non-dualistic realization knowing, for sure, that their Master is a realised soul (Brahmajnani-ब्रह्मज्ञानी) and trying to live up to his teachings, but also experience bliss due to intense love for him in course of time, when they are enabled to participate in his Leela (love play-लिला) for helping others to achieve self/God realisation.
Swami Nigamananda pointed out that the path shown by Gouranga Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
who practiced and preached unconditional devotion and love for God was rather narrow, in as much as it was directed to Sri Krishna as the only God. In order to broad-base that path, Swami Nigamananda suggested to take the Master as an embodiment of Sri Krishna (or any other deity whom the aspirant loved), in which case the guide himself becomes his goal. In this way Swami Nigamananda convincingly formulated a reconciliation of the two apparently contradictory creeds, one due to the great Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
, the founder of the monistic school of Vedanta philosophy and the other due to Gauranga Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
who advocated the principle and practice of apparent duality between the devotee and God. After all, Swami Nigamananda pointed out that in the path of devotion and love the aspirant has to subdue or tame his ego adequately and hence he attains to the same stage as that of the monistic aspirant whose ego loses its identity on attaining to his goal. In the former case, the individuality of the devotee is reduced to a trifling, overpowered by personal god-consciousness, whereas in the latter the aspirant loses his self-consciousness in the ocean of impersonal universal consciousness.
Jnanachakra
Nigamananda pointed out that although the doctrine of monistic vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
philosophy treats the supreme reality in terms of oneness of individual and universal consciousness, it does not systematically explain the structure of the material creation which, on the other hand, is done by Samkhya philosophy.
But this latter does not treat the supreme reality as well. Similarly, whereas Christianity emphasises on service and surrender as means to god realization, the Indian philosophy of Poorva Mimamsa prescribes various ritualistic actions for the attainment of personal and collective happiness despite cycles of birth and death.
By means of a Jnanachakra(ज्ञानचक्र) chart (the spheres of spiritual cosmology) which he visualized and presented in a pictorial form, Swami Nigamananda identified different layers of human consciousness inter-woven in the microcosm (body) and the macrocosm (the universe) and pointed out the levels which the aspirants of different spiritual orders and sects may ultimately reach. In this chart he placed Sri Krishna and Sri Radha
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
(or the Guru-गुरु and Yogamaya-योगमाया) in the transition between the non qualified (Nirguna) Brahman
Nirguna Brahman
Nirguna Brahman, signifies in Hindu philosophy the Brahman that pervades the Universe, considered without form , as in the Advaita school or else as without material form, as in Dvaita schools of philosophy.-Advaita:According to Adi Shankara, the famous reviver of Advaita...
(निर्गुण ब्रह्म) and qualified (Saguna) Brahman
Saguna brahman
Saguna Brahman came from the Sanskrit "with qualities" and Brahman "The Absolute".-Advaita:...
(सगुण ब्रह्म), which he called as the Nitya or the Bhavaloka (भाव लोक). (Yogamaya
Rasa lila
The Rasa lila or Rasa dance is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and her sakhis...
is a form of divine power, which incessantly attracts the earth-bound souls and helps them realise their true blissful nature and participate in the divine play
Rasa lila
The Rasa lila or Rasa dance is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and her sakhis...
).
Other key teachings
- To be able to get spiritually liberated one needs the help of a liberated person (a Master Sadguru or simply Guru). In the Hindu scriptures that person is known as the Guru. Without his grace or favor none can make any progress in the path leading to liberation. Also he who has attained the ultimate reality (Paramatman or Brahman) as one and the same as himself (the Atman) is the Guru.
- The Guru who helps in getting one liberated cannot be equated in importance to formal learning, pilgrimage or divinity. If we do not offer our deep devotion and love to Him, who else then is fit for getting our utmost respect?
- The Guru indeed is the embodiment of the essence of what the Vedanta teaches – the individual self (the Atman) is one and the same as the cosmic self (Paramatman or Brahman).
- A Sadguru never curses anyone. Even if He appears to be angry, that too is going to do good to the disciple. The advantage of depending on a Sadguru is unique. One doesn’t have the same advantage depending even on God because God never materializes to give instructions. The Guru in practice provides the required guidance leading the disciple to the ultimate goal.
- The Guru and the disciple are inseparable in a way. The Guru cannot exist without being a part of a true disciple’s personality or character.
- There are two pathways to attain spiritual liberation: one is by initiation into and observing the austerities of samnyas yoga and the other – by service rendered to a Sadguru Who has had realization of Brahman. The former is extremely arduous a path – the disciple must die in a sense even while he remains in his body. In other words, he has to loose his body consciousness. But if one unconditionally loves the Guru by way of rendering service to him sincerely, spiritual liberation may be obtained relatively easy.
- Nothing substantial can be achieved without Guru’s grace. I have been wandering far and wide like a bird as if with its voice box mutilated but have not had God coming and helping me. But the day I was able to have the grace or the benefit of the Guru (Who is God in human form), I started making real progress.
- The Guru, ‘the mantra’ that he gives during initiation and the disciple’s choicest divinity (or IstaPersonal GodA personal god is a deity who can be related to as a person instead of as an "impersonal force", such as the Absolute, "the All", or the "Ground of Being"....
) are one and the same. Unless the Guru becomes the choicest divinity the mantra received from Him looses its power.
- Acquisition of disciples through initiation is not Guru’s profession; it is the inspiration of His heart. The Guru initiates takes care and guides the disciple hoping that one day the disciple will get spiritually enlightened.
- The Guru is the embodiment of both the monistic (or non-dual) ideology due to the Great ShankaracharyaShankaracharyaShankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
and love divine as preached by Sri Sri Gouranga MahaprahbuChaitanya MahaprabhuChaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
. If the disciple submits himself to the Guru his latent characteristic attitude is bound to unfold. Spiritual life based on such a universal (non-sectarian) and sweet relationship between the Guru and the disciple can help harmonize the diverse faiths in the world.
Yoga, theories and techniques
Few Nigamananda's taught as noted by Durga Charan MohantyDurga Charan Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty (Oriya:ଦୁର୍ଗା ଚରଣ ମହାନ୍ତି, Hindi: दुर्गा चरण महांति (1912–1985) was an Oriya Indian "Dharmic writer" (spiritual writer), born in 1912 at "Biratunga",(बिरतुंग), a village under block Gop, near Konark, Orissa. His father "Shri Gunanidhi...
are furnished here:
Theory of jibanamukta upasana
One of Nigamananda's major concepts was the theory of Jibanamukta UpasanaJivanmukta
Jivanmukta is someone who, in the Advaita philosophy of Hinduism, has attained nirvikalpa samadhi - the realization of the Self, Parasiva - and is liberated from rebirth while living in a human body....
(जीवनमुक्त उपासना), which he believed could lead the sadhaka
Sadhaka
A sādhaka is someone who follows a particular sādhana, or a way of life designed to realize the goal of one's ultimate ideal, whether it is merging with brahman or realization of one's personal deity. The word is related to the Sanskrit sādhu, which is derived from the verb root sādh-, to accomplish...
to quick self-realisation.
Karmic theory
According to Swami Nigamananda, KarmaKarma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
is of three kinds viz. Kriyaman
Kriyamana karma
Kriyamana karma, in Hinduism, is the karma that human beings are creating in the present, the fruits of which will be experienced in the future.-See also:*Nishkam Karma*Prarabdha karma*Sanchita karma...
, Sanchita
Sanchita karma
In Hinduism, sanchita karma is one of the three kinds of karma. It is the sum of one's past karmas – all actions from one's past life follow through to the next life....
and Prarbdha
Prarabdha karma
Prarabdha Karma are the part of sanchita karma, a collection of past karmas, which are ready to be experienced through the present body ....
.
When the results of one's labour is enjoyed during his life time is called Kriyaman
Kriyamana karma
Kriyamana karma, in Hinduism, is the karma that human beings are creating in the present, the fruits of which will be experienced in the future.-See also:*Nishkam Karma*Prarabdha karma*Sanchita karma...
; if he dies before enjoying the fruits of his labour, it is called Sanchita
Sanchita karma
In Hinduism, sanchita karma is one of the three kinds of karma. It is the sum of one's past karmas – all actions from one's past life follow through to the next life....
Karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
or accumulated labour. As he takes rebirth to enjoy the balance of accumulated Karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
of the past life this is called Prarbdha
Prarabdha karma
Prarabdha Karma are the part of sanchita karma, a collection of past karmas, which are ready to be experienced through the present body ....
. By virtue of one's Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
, the effects of Kriyaman
Kriyamana karma
Kriyamana karma, in Hinduism, is the karma that human beings are creating in the present, the fruits of which will be experienced in the future.-See also:*Nishkam Karma*Prarabdha karma*Sanchita karma...
and Sanchita
Sanchita karma
In Hinduism, sanchita karma is one of the three kinds of karma. It is the sum of one's past karmas – all actions from one's past life follow through to the next life....
can be wiped out during one's own life but it is not possible to erase out the effects of Prarbdha
Prarabdha karma
Prarabdha Karma are the part of sanchita karma, a collection of past karmas, which are ready to be experienced through the present body ....
Karma. So long as a person is possessed with worldly ambitions he is sure to take the endless journey of birth and death. Jivtma
Jiva
In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is a living being, or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism which survives physical death. It has a very similar usage to atma, but whereas atma refers to "the cosmic self", jiva is used to denote an individual 'living entity' or 'living...
leaves the gross body to travel sometime in the astral world which is called the spirit world or Pret
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
Lok. After undergoing some of its Karmic
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
effects, it returns to the gross world with a gross body for the fulfillment of his further desires that he had during his last incarnation. How it moves from one world to another being ignorant of the same is a matter of great mystery. Yogies can perceive the mystery clearly and tell the past Sanskar
Sanskar
The Samskaras , are Vedic rites of passage finding varied acceptance among religious adherents of Hinduism, Jainism and some schools of thought in Buddhism...
of Jiva
Jiva
In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is a living being, or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism which survives physical death. It has a very similar usage to atma, but whereas atma refers to "the cosmic self", jiva is used to denote an individual 'living entity' or 'living...
.
Theory of process of thinking on death
Swami Nigamananda's insight into the mysteries of death would remain as a guideline for them to tread the path of virtue and justice and face the dragon of death without the least fear.Swami Nigamananda said, one should remember all the time that he has to die one day. We do not know at what moment death will visit us. Before working on good or evil deeds one should also remember that he has to die one day and that day is not very far off. Death will drive out from one's mind the anxiety for sense pleasure and evil thoughts. Man would refrain from committing any act of injustice on poor if he thinks of this. Attachment to wealth and relations will then fail to dominate the feelings of man. All the earthly matters to which man is tied so much will continue to remain as they are even after his departure from this world. Only the spiritual wealth that has been earned during one's life time remains as an asset to the individuals. Those who have acquired wealth and learning by virtue of their intellect and have puffed with pride on account of this will submit to the God of death meekly when that particular hour comes. Being drunk with pride, some persons ill-treat their fellow brethren who have been ill placed in their life without giving the least thought that they will be paid back in the same coins at an appropriate time with compound interest. A day is awaiting for them when they will be left in the deserted crematory ground with the beasts and birds around who will joyously waiting to feast upon his flesh and worn-out tissues. Their inert bodies will lie there in silent submission to these beings. If one thinks of this all the evil thoughts will disappear from his mind. Those who are blind to the truth of life and have plunged themselves in the temporary pleasures of the world will be able to change their course of life if the foregoing lines get into their mind. Those of you have become wise enough and quite alert to the truth will not be afraid of death and they will accept it as a passage to the superior world.
Yoga
Swami Nigamananda had written a great deal on YogaYoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, the theories and techniques can be found in his book "Yogi Guru". Out of them few produced here:
Hatha yoga and Laya yoga
According to Swami Nigamananda the practice of Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
can be carried out when the body is made fit for the purpose the body should be cleansed first of the impurities through Sat Sadhna i.e. the six elementary practices of Yoga. Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
is completely different from Laya Yoga
Laya yoga
Laya yoga , also called Kundalini Yoga, is the practice whereby the Kundalini energy is raised, and which is attainable through deep meditation . Laya Yoga helps the aspirant to attain union with the supreme consciousness...
. The practices of Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
can make the body strong which can enable it to survive for a period of about four hundred years or more, whereas Laya Yoga
Laya yoga
Laya yoga , also called Kundalini Yoga, is the practice whereby the Kundalini energy is raised, and which is attainable through deep meditation . Laya Yoga helps the aspirant to attain union with the supreme consciousness...
helps the aspirant to attain union with the supreme. If the body is not kept purified both externally and internally through the practices of Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
, the succeeding steps of Laya Yoga
Laya yoga
Laya yoga , also called Kundalini Yoga, is the practice whereby the Kundalini energy is raised, and which is attainable through deep meditation . Laya Yoga helps the aspirant to attain union with the supreme consciousness...
would yield no result.
Dharana and dhyan
Swami Nigamananda taught that, since the breathing system is closely connected with the intricate workings of the mind, practice of Pranayama
Pranayama
Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately, "extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to extend, draw out, restrain, or...
leads to regulate the breath and thereby maintains tranquility of mind. Mind is subjected to forces of disturbed thoughts owing to the irregularity in the process of breathing. He said
I had applied myself to the higher practices of Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, thereafter, i.e. Dharana
Dharana
Dhāraṇā is translated as "collection or concentration of the mind ", or "the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory", or "firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty"...
and Dhyan
Dhyana in Hinduism
According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra, written by Patanjali, dhyana is one of the eight limbs of Yoga, ....
(mediation). The Sadhaka
Sadhaka
A sādhaka is someone who follows a particular sādhana, or a way of life designed to realize the goal of one's ultimate ideal, whether it is merging with brahman or realization of one's personal deity. The word is related to the Sanskrit sādhu, which is derived from the verb root sādh-, to accomplish...
is likely to peril his life if he does not take assistance of another during these advance practices. During the practices of Dharana
Dharana
Dhāraṇā is translated as "collection or concentration of the mind ", or "the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory", or "firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty"...
, the Sadhaka
Sadhaka
A sādhaka is someone who follows a particular sādhana, or a way of life designed to realize the goal of one's ultimate ideal, whether it is merging with brahman or realization of one's personal deity. The word is related to the Sanskrit sādhu, which is derived from the verb root sādh-, to accomplish...
experiences his own progress and when the estimated height in Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
is achieved, he enters into the successive step of progress. While being absorbed in the practice of Dhyan
Dhyana in Hinduism
According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra, written by Patanjali, dhyana is one of the eight limbs of Yoga, ....
, the Sadhaka
Sadhaka
A sādhaka is someone who follows a particular sādhana, or a way of life designed to realize the goal of one's ultimate ideal, whether it is merging with brahman or realization of one's personal deity. The word is related to the Sanskrit sādhu, which is derived from the verb root sādh-, to accomplish...
may cross over to the state of Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
and it is not predictable when he is to stumble across this state of consciousness. Till the experience of Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
, the Sadhaka
Sadhaka
A sādhaka is someone who follows a particular sādhana, or a way of life designed to realize the goal of one's ultimate ideal, whether it is merging with brahman or realization of one's personal deity. The word is related to the Sanskrit sādhu, which is derived from the verb root sādh-, to accomplish...
goes on groping in the darkness where Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
comes to his aid to steer him through the difficult passages of Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
.
Sampragyant samadhi
Nigamananda pointed out that if earlier practices are perfected, the succeeding steps yield good and a biding results. These practices are under one's own control. At that state the Sadhaka would enter in to Samadhi is a matter of his own experience and could experience the awakening of Kundalini. The upward and downward motion of Kundalini
Kundalini
Kundalini literally means coiled. In yoga, a "corporeal energy" - an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, lies coiled at the base of the spine. It is envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent, hence a number of English renderings of the term such as 'serpent...
is called Sampragyant Samadhi.
Garohill Yoga Ashram
Nigamananda founded his first YogaYoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
in 1905 (1312 BS) at Kodaldhoa in Garo Hills
Garo Hills
The Garo Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India. They are inhabited mainly by tribal dwellers. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is located in this range. It is one of the wettest places in the world. The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.Garo Hills...
, which is called now "Garohill-Yogashrama"(गारोहिल योगाश्रम). His famous yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
book "Yogi Guru" (योगिगुरु), was written and composed here in 14 days of time as noted.
Saraswata Matha
Nigamananda founded "Shanti Ashram"(शांति आश्रम) in 1912Timeline of Jorhat
The timeline of Jorhat lists the important historical dates for the town of Jorhat in Assam.-Timeline:...
at Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
to fulfill his three missons i.e. To propagate Sanatana Dharma (spreading eternal religion), spreading true education and serve everybody as god incarnate,
He took a plot of land of Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
in Sibsagar district
Sibsagar district
Sibsagar district -- also known as Sivasagar -- is one of the 27 districts of Assam state in north-eastern India. Sibsagar city is the administrative headquarters of this district.-History:...
and founded this ashram there on Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej is a Hindu and Jain holy day, that falls on the third Tithi of Bright Half of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha....
, in the month of Baishakh (in 1319 BS according to Bengal calendar). This was called “Shanti Ashram”
Timeline of Jorhat
The timeline of Jorhat lists the important historical dates for the town of Jorhat in Assam.-Timeline:...
or Saraswata Matha(सारस्वत मठ),which went by the name of Assam-Bengal Saraswata Matha
Timeline of Jorhat
The timeline of Jorhat lists the important historical dates for the town of Jorhat in Assam.-Timeline:...
(आसाम बंगीय सारस्वत मठ) in the later years.
Rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
Vidyalaya
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
was an important school founded under this Matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
for Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
training to students.
Retirement
Swami Nigamananda initiated ten of his devout disciples into Samnyas in the tradition of the "Saraswati" by order due to the great Sankaracharya, the juniormost among whom were "Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati
Sri Anirvan
Anirvan or Sri Anirvan born Narendra Chandra Dhar was an Indian/Bengali/Hindu monk, writer, Vedic scholar and philosopher...
" (an erudite scholar, philosopher and writer who became famous as Anirvan later on) and "Swami Prajnananda Saraswati". Swearing in Swami Prajnanandaji as the Mahant
Mahant
A mahant is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery. The Hindi word mahant is from Prakrit mahanta-, from Sanskrit mahat "great". The priest, pundit, gyani, or pastor of any well-known religious place would be a mahant...
and Trustee of the "Saraswat Matha and Ashrama Establishments". Swami Nigamananda retired and resided in Nilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir Hindi: नीलाचल कुटिर) is a religious residence, formerly owned by Swami Nigamanananda, located in the holy city of Puri, India on the shores of the turbulent Bay of Bengal...
in Puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
for several years, till 1935 CE.
100 Years of Saraswata Matha (1912–2011)
This Institution(Shanti Ashram)
Timeline of Jorhat
The timeline of Jorhat lists the important historical dates for the town of Jorhat in Assam.-Timeline:...
or "Saraswata Matha" founded by Swami Nigamananda in 1912(1319 BS) now steped into hundred years of its life on Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej is a Hindu and Jain holy day, that falls on the third Tithi of Bright Half of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha....
Baishakh, 2011 (1418 BS), i.e. 6 May 2011.
He expressed his views stating that this Matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
is very dear to my heart, I can sacrifice my life hundred times for the sake of this Matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
Swami Nigamananda retired form his work and resided in Nilachala KutirNilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir Hindi: नीलाचल कुटिर) is a religious residence, formerly owned by Swami Nigamanananda, located in the holy city of Puri, India on the shores of the turbulent Bay of Bengal...
, Puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. Puri is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham
Char Dham
The Chota Char Dham , is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas...
pilgrimages also known as city of Lord Jagannath. Nigamananda believed Lord Jagannath as "symbol of truth" and liked very much to the culture of Lord Jagannatha of Puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
, as it embodies in itself the culture of truth, unity and integrity. He spent his rest 12 years of life in Puri.
The day 24 August 1934(Friday), fullmoon
Full Moon
Full moon is a lunar phase.Full Moon may also refer to:- Literature :* Full Moon , a novel by P. G. Wodehouse* Full Moon o Sagashite or Full Moon, a manga* Full Moon Press, an American small-press publisher...
day (Sravan Purnima) Friday,Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
Nilachala Saraswata Sangha
Nilachala Saraswata Sangha , Oriya : ନୀଳାଚଳ ସାରସ୍ବତ ସଂଘ, Hindi : नीलाचल सारस्वत संघ a religious organization, was founded by Swami Nigamananda Paramahans, exclusively for his household devotees in Orissa on 24 August 1934, Full Moon day, on his birthday, at Nilachala Kutir, Puri, India.NSS is one...
(NSS - नीलाचल सारस्वत संघ - ନୀଳାଚଳ ସାରସ୍ବତ ସଂଘ ପୁରୀ ) was established by Swami Nigamananda himself at Nilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir
Nilachala Kutir Hindi: नीलाचल कुटिर) is a religious residence, formerly owned by Swami Nigamanananda, located in the holy city of Puri, India on the shores of the turbulent Bay of Bengal...
(नीलाचल कुटीर-ନୀଳାଚଳ କୁଟିର), Puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
. The Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
devotees gathered there to celebrate his birthday. He advised these people to form a religious circle among them. As per his wishes some devotees started an association for religious talk and thus "Nilachala Saraswata Sangha" (the Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
)
came into existence by the gradual growth of the group discussion and prayer, to fulfill the triple objectives as, (1)leading an Ideal family life, (2)establishment of combined power and (3)sharing of feelings.
Guru Braham Ashrams
Swami Nigamananda established Guru Brahama Ashrams(गुरु ब्रह्म आश्रम) where people from any faith can come here and pray god in his own way.He instituted five Ashrams in five divisions of undivided Bengal
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency originally comprising east and west Bengal, was a colonial region of the British Empire in South-Asia and beyond it. It comprised areas which are now within Bangladesh, and the present day Indian States of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa and Tripura.Penang and...
, they are Purba Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Moinamati, Comilla (Bangala Desh), now at Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
, Madhya Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Kalni, Dacca, now Purbasthali
Purbasthali
Purbasthali is a village with a police station in Kalna subdivision of Bardhaman district. It is located 120 km north from Kolkata. Also known as Chupi Char, it lies on the banks of a large oxbow lake created by the Ganges river and is only a few km from the old and holy town of Nabadwip. The...
Bardhaman district
Bardhaman District
'Bardhaman district is a district in West Bengal. The headquarter of the district is Bardhaman, though it houses other important industrial towns like Durgapur and Asansol...
, Uttar Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Bogra
Bogra
Bogra is a town, and one of the oldest towns in northern Bangladesh. It is a centre of commerce and trade within the Bogra District and located under the Rajshahi Division. Bogra is sometimes described as the nerve centre of Northern Bangladesh. Amongst many notable activities, it has been hosting...
, Pachima Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Kharkusama, Midnapore
Midnapore
Midnapore is the district headquarters of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River . This area had taken a pioneering role in India's freedom struggle...
, Dakhina Bangala Saraswat Ashram at Halisahar
Halisahar
Halisahar is a city and a municipality under Bijpur/ Naihati police stations of Barrackpore subdivision. in North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.It was formerly known Kumarhata. It has an...
, 24 Paragans.
Swami Nigamananda installed Jagat Gurus Ashan(जगत गुरु आसन), in the year 1915 at Kokilamukh, Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. and established many Ashrams and made thousands of disciples in the Guru-shishya tradition
Guru-shishya tradition
The guru-shishya tradition, lineage, or parampara, denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. It is the tradition of spiritual relationship and mentoring where teachings are transmitted from a guru...
.
Other foundations
Followers of Nigamananda run numerous schools and educational institutions in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Saraswata Granthavali
Swami Nigamananda had written and published a series of BengaliBengali
Bengali may refer to something of, from, or related to Bengal, the region roughly divided between West Bengal, Tripura and Bangladesh.* Bengali people, a major linguistic group in South Asia* Bengali Hindu people, the ethnic group native to eastern India....
books, called "Saraswata Granthavali" (सारस्वत ग्रंथावली). These are : "Brahmacharya Sadhan"(ब्रह्मचर्य साधन), "Yogiguru"(योगिगुरु), "Tantrikguru"(तांत्रिकगुरु), "Jnaniguru" (ज्ञानीगुरु), and "Premikguru"(प्रेमिकगुरु) which dealt with the fundamentals of theory and practical methods of almost all the modes of sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
(spiritual practice) prevalent in Sanatan Dharma. Nigamanananda's followers believe that, these books are useful to any faith follower on the earth and if practiced carefully will lead a man to definite success in spiritual pursuit. By D C Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty
Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty (Oriya:ଦୁର୍ଗା ଚରଣ ମହାନ୍ତି, Hindi: दुर्गा चरण महांति (1912–1985) was an Oriya Indian "Dharmic writer" (spiritual writer), born in 1912 at "Biratunga",(बिरतुंग), a village under block Gop, near Konark, Orissa. His father "Shri Gunanidhi...
's pioneer effort these books were translated from Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
to Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
.
Arya Darpan
Nigamananda also published Arya Darpan(आर्य दर्पण), a monthly magazine on sanatana dharma and believed to be intended for disseminating non-sectarian spiritual knowledge among the masses who are apt to be misguided by narrow religious faith lacking in a rational basis. Many essays on important topics relating to religious and scriptural matters have been included in this magazine.Thakurer Chithi
Advising to his desciples, Nigamananda had written numerous letters, out of them hundred letters are collected and stored in a book called "Thakurer Chithi"(ठाकुरेर चिठी). This information is being published in a Calcutta based magazine Modern ReviewModern Review (Calcutta)
Modern Review was the name of a monthly magazine published in Calcutta since 1907.Founded by Ramananda Chatterjee, the Modern Review soon emerged as an important forum for the Indian Nationalist intelligentsia. It carried essays on politics, economics, sociology, as well as poems, stories,...
, founded by Ramananda Chatterjee
Ramananda Chatterjee
Ramananda Chatterjee was founder, editor, and owner of the Calcutta based magazine, the Modern Review. He has been described as the father of Indian journalism.- Early life :...
, on 26 December 1938.
Other few Nigamananda collection of spiritual books are 'Maayer Kripa'(मायेर कृपा), "Vedanta Vivek"(वेदांत विवेक) and "Tattvamala"(तत्वमाला).
Bhakta Sammilani
Swami Nigamananda introduced among his devotees, both householders and Samnyasis to annually meet in a conference which was called BhaktaChela
Chela has two main meanings. One derivation comes from Hindi from Sanskrit , meaning "slave" or "servant". In English, the word means a religious student or disciple...
Sammilani
Congregation
A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship:* Local church* Congregation , an administrative body of the Roman Catholic Church...
(भक्त सम्मिलनी), congregation of devotees, in order to strengthen the various prayer groups, discuss the need for having the Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
in one's life, review the well-being of "Samnyasis" living in the ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
s, help solve problems pertaining to them and the ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
s as a whole, provide welfare services, such as schools, if any, for the communities and finally to organise spiritual meetings in order to hold lectures by enlightened speakers on contemporary problems of public spiritual life. All these activities are intended, Nigamananda pointed out, to help in the spiritual advancement of the disciples such that they will be able to attain peace and true happiness in life.
He categorized the "Bhakta Sammilani" into two parts one is Sarbabhouma i.e. Country wide (सर्बभौम भक्त सम्मिलनी) and other is Pradeshika i.e. State wide(प्रादेशिक भक्त सम्मिलनी) The first Sarbabhouma Bhakta Sammilani was established by Swami Nigamananda at Kokilamukh, Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
in 1915, and first "Pradeshika Bhakta Sammilani" was held in the year 1947 by "Nilachala Saraswata Sangha, Puri" at Ankoli in the district of Ganjam
Ganjam District
Ganjam district is a district in the Indian state of Orissa located on the border of Andhra Pradesh. Ganjam's total area is 8,070 km² . Its population is approximately 2,704,056.Ganjam is known for its beaches bordering the Bay of Bengal, the most famous ones being Gopalpur and Dhavaleshwar...
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
during full moon day of Maagha
Maagha
Maagha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Maagh is the eleventh month of the year, beginning in January and ending in February....
.
Swami Nigamananda had instructed to each of his disciples and devotees to assemble in the Sammilani every year to enjoy the divine pleasures from the eternal fount of bliss that overflows from the assembly of devotees. He had also introduced for the women disciples a different prayer day in the Annual "Sammilani" where they alone could participate and exchange their views."
He said in one of "sammilani" as noted that my devotees are fully aware that I am pleased to see them congregated in this Sammilani
Congregation
A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship:* Local church* Congregation , an administrative body of the Roman Catholic Church...
, once in a year during the X-mas
Xmas
"Xmas" is a common abbreviation of the word "Christmas". It is sometimes pronounced , but it, and variants such as "Xtemass", originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation...
. Such gathering would bring fame to the Maths
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
and it would also do good to the world at large
See also
- Indian Yogis
- Durga Charan MohantyDurga Charan MohantyDurga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty Durga Charan Mohanty (Oriya:ଦୁର୍ଗା ଚରଣ ମହାନ୍ତି, Hindi: दुर्गा चरण महांति (1912–1985) was an Oriya Indian "Dharmic writer" (spiritual writer), born in 1912 at "Biratunga",(बिरतुंग), a village under block Gop, near Konark, Orissa. His father "Shri Gunanidhi...
- Sri AnirvanSri AnirvanAnirvan or Sri Anirvan born Narendra Chandra Dhar was an Indian/Bengali/Hindu monk, writer, Vedic scholar and philosopher...
- Sri Chinmoy
- Nigamananda BidyapithaNigamananda BidyapithaNigamananda Bidyapitha is an educational institution established in 1963 in Daulatabad, India. The place is near to Choudwar Municipal area and adjacent to Cuttack City. It is in the state of Orissa, India....
- PuriPuriPuri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
- Modern Review
Libraries
English Literature- The divine universal gospels of Sri Nigamananda National Library, Ministry of Culture, Government of India (Call No.E 294.598 D 496)
- Sadguru Nigamananda : a spiritual biography / Moni Bagchee HATHI TRUST Digital Library
- Sadguru Nigamananda openlibrary.org
Oriya Literature
- Sri Sri Thakur Nigamananda, Jogi Guru, Premika Guru Birmaharajpur College Library Acc No.1005, 1004 & 1003
- Bramhacharya Sadhana & Gyani Guru Birmaharajpur College Library Acc No.2301 & 2302
Bengali Literature
- Premika Guru Author: Paramhansa, Nigamananda, West Bengal Public Library Network
- Yogi Guru Author: Paramhansa, Nigamananda, West Bengal Public Library Network
Lessons
Sri ChinmoySri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
LIBRARY Collections
- My Guru Is The Highest
- Dream Becomes Reality
- Temptation-Power Almost Succeeds
- Not The Outer Form, But The Inner Essence
- Body's Beauty Fails; Soul's Beauty Sails
- Divine Love Consoles Human Loss
- Swami Nigamananda (Not an Avatar)
- The Master's Protection-Arms
- Attachment-Cry Versus Oneness-Sky
- A Mere God-Lover
Letters
- Thakurer Chithi (ठाकुरेर चिठी) A collection of 100 letters written by Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa to his disciples, The Modern review (Page-337)
External links
- Swami Nigamananda, A site dedicated to his life,work, teaching and philosophy.
- Nigamananda Paramahansha A Short life history in Bangla