Paramahansa
Sri Sri Nigamananda Saraswati Deva was born to a virtuous bramhin
couple at Qutabpur in Nadia district (now in Bangladesh) in the year
1879. His father Bhuban Mohan Bhattacharya and mother Yogendra Mohini
had named him ‘Nalinikanta’. As he grew to boyhood, Nalinikanta drew
admiration of the people for his extraordinary fearlessness,
intelligence and forthrightness. Leadership was natural to him.
Nalinikanta was especially dear to his mother.
As the fate would have it the mother of Nalinikanta breathed her last
immaturely from a brief illness. At that time, Nalinikanta was pursuing
his primary education in his maternal uncle’s village Radhakantapur.
Her death deeply shocked Nalinikanta as he was very much devoted to his
mother. He came to know that just before she breathed her last, his
mother had handed over his charges to the ‘Jaganmata’ the ‘Cosmic
Mother’. He took the words of her mother to be literally true. As he was
desperately in need of a mother, he single-heartedly prayed to the
‘Jaganmata’ to appear before him.
But alas! He failed to get a glimpse of ‘Her’ even in his dreams. He
lost faith in God thinking that God does not exist, the religious rites
and spiritual practices are worthless activities, and all those sadhus,
ascetics or renunciates are lazy worthless cheats. His belief in God was
shaken to such extent that he turned extremely antagonistic towards
everything related to Him. Especially, the sadhus and the wandering
ascetics used to face most of his ire. He convinced to himself that
‘death’ is the ‘end’ of everything in one’s life. Thereafter he decided
for himself that - religion to him would be nothing other than ‘doing
good to the fellow beings’, and his duty is to lead a disciplined and
virtuous life. During his school days Nalinikanta used to read textbooks
that the ‘Sun’ is a gigantic ball of burning gases and the ‘Moon’ and
the other planets are composed of gross matters such as dust and rocks.
He used to feel a pinch in his heart when his fellow countrymen were
jeered at as superstitious folks paying obeisance to these insentient
planets. Even though he had lost faith in God and religion, he used to
wonder how all those ancient Rishis (seers) of his land could go wrong
in putting such significance on these heavenly bodies. Later, during his
sadhak (spiritual practitioner) life, he was delighted to find that
thousands of years before Newton, the ancient Rishis of India knew the
science of space and the principles of gravitation. His heart was urging
him to spread the knowledge and ideals of those ancient Rishis among
his fellow beings.
TURNING POINT
The death of Yogendramohini Devi created a void in the Bhattacharya household. Nalinikanta being the eldest son in the family had to be married soon to bring a daughter-in-law for the proper management of the household. Hence, at the early age of seventeen, Nalinikanta was married to an extremely beautiful and intelligent girl named Sudhansubala Devi.
Nalinikanta went to study at the Dhaka School of Survey and
thereafter took up jobs at various places to earn his livelihood. His
independent spirit and forthright attitude was forcing him to frequently
change his jobs.
Once, while serving as the supervisor of the Narayanapur estate
(Zamindari) Nalinikanta was working late in the night. He suddenly saw
the shadowy image of Sudhansubala Devi standing at the table, sullen and
silent. Sudhansubala Devi was supposed to be away at Qutabpur at that
time and was not expected to be present at Narayanpur at all. The image
appeared there for a few moments only. Nalinikanta felt disturbed and
rushed to his village Qutabpur. He came to know that Sudhansubala Devi
had expired just an hour before he saw her image at Narayanapur. Since
childhood Nalinikanta had a thoughtful disposition. This incidence drew
him further inwards. Soon after, he happened to see the shadowy image of
Sudhansubala Devi several times in quick succession.
Nalinikanta had thought that death is the ultimate end of an
individual. But, now he couldn’t wish away the fact that it is not. By
now, he was convinced that there must be ‘life’ after ‘death’. He
solemnly resolved to get back his beloved wife at any cost. Never before
in the history of mankind any bereaved husband had made such a
resolution, being so much oblivious of the impossibility of his success.
WHO AM I ?
Nalinikanta became desperate to know all about the subtle phenomena of life and death. Thoughts such as - "What’s death? How can I win over death? If death can come inevitably at any time in one’s life why am I wasting my time without exploring the secrets of it?" - began to worry him all the time. This inquest took him to the Theosophical Society at Adyar, in Chennai, India. He learnt all the theories and practices that Theosophy could offer and was able to talk to Sudhansu Devi through a medium. But, Nalinikanta could not see her physically. He was not satisfied with the experience at all. Through a discussion with the members of the Society he came to know that the knowledge about the phenomena of ‘life and death’ was the prerogative of the Hindu Yogis. He spared no time in looking for a true Yogi or Sadhu who could fulfill his desire to meet his dead wife as well as bring contentment to his seeking mind.
While searching for a true yogi, Nalinikanta came across Swami
Purnananda, a highly educated renunciate. The Swami explained to him
that all female beings are merely a partial manifestation of the
‘Mahamaya’ or the ‘Cosmic Mother’. Hence, it was extremely unwise and
ridiculous on his part to run after an insignificant part (his wife)
ignoring the whole (the Cosmic Mother). If he could get Mahamaya, he
would automatically get his wife and there were sure ways to get Her.
Swami Purnananda advised him to look for a ‘Sadguru’. Nalinikanta
returned to his place of service a changed man. The belief in ‘life
after death’ and ‘soul’ had turned him into a believer. He was
desperately praying God for a chance to meet his destined Sadguru.
One night Nalinikanta saw one Sadhu with a brilliant aura around him
in his dream. He woke up to find the Sadhu standing beside his bed in
‘reality’. The Sadhu handed out to him a leaf bearing a mantra on it and
then disappeared. Nalinikanta was spellbound by the incident. He did
not know what to do with the mantra. No sadhu or spiritual teacher, whom
he consulted, could decipher the mantra nor could they give him any
guidance about what to do with it. At this point of time a crestfallen
Nalinikanta received directions in his dream to go to the greatest
tantrik guru of that time - Bamakshepa, at the ‘Tarapitha’ of Birbhum,
in West Bengal. Bama was extremely pleased to see the unique ‘veeja
mantra’ (root/source mantra) of Goddess Tara which Nalinikanta had
received in his dream, and readily accepted him as his disciple. Within a
short span of one month,
Nalinikanta was able to master the secrets of
the Tantrik ways (tantra sadhana) of attaining spiritual success. As a
mark of perfection of his sadhana (spiritual practice), ‘Tara’ or
‘Mahashakti’ (the embodiment of cosmic energy) appeared before him in
the form of Devi Sudhansubala and granted him the boon that he would be
able to see her in that form whenever he would so wish.
But, Nalinikanta became discontent when he was unable to touch that
form. Moreover, to his amazement Nalinikanta saw that a brilliant light
used to emanate from his body and take the shape of Devi Sudhansubala.
He was puzzled. He wanted to know "if ‘Mahashakti’ originated from him
only, then who ‘he’ is."
Overpowered by a consuming desire to know his ‘self’, Nalinikanta
sought guru Bamakshepa’s advice. The latter advised him to attain the
knowledge of ‘Advaita’ from a Vedantic guru. He became a disciple of
guru Srimad Swami Satchidananda Saraswati at the holy place of ‘Pushkar’
in the state of Rajasthan, India. He instantly realized that Swami
Satchidananda Saraswati was the sadhu who gave him the ‘Tara’ mantra in
his dream. The swami initiated Nalinikanta into renunciation and
according to the principle changed his name to ‘Nigamananda’, for he was
able to comprehend the Vedic (nigama) knowledge (jnana) effortlessly.
On the advice of guru Satchidanda, Nalinikanta went to attain the
direct experience of this vedic truths through yoga. Nalinikanta was
able to find his yogi guru but with much difficulty and a sustained
effort. He met Sumeru Dashji, his yogi guru, in the thick and
inaccessible forests near the holy place of ‘Parasuram’ (in the
north-eastern India) under dramatic circumstances. After completing
‘yoga sadhana’ (practice of yoga) under the masterful guidance of
yogiraj Sumeru Dashji, he attained the state of ‘Nirbikalpa Samadhi’
(non-dual existence/complete identification with the Cosmic Soul or the
Parambramha), at once pervading the universe and transcending it. He
came back from that blissful state with the realization that he is the
‘universal guru’ i.e. the ‘supreme soul’.
Nalinikanta had begun his spiritual quest with the basic question,
"Who am I ?" and with the attainment of ‘Nirbikalpa Samadhi’ he
experienced that ‘he’ is the universal guru.. But, Nalinikanta was
initiated into the mysteries of being in love with ‘God’ (prema/bhav
sadhana) by Gauri Ma’, a female sadhu of unique spiritual merits. She
taught him how the Supreme Soul is both transcendental.
LIFE AFTER ATTAINMENT OF TRUTH
During the 1907 Kumbha Mela at Allahabad, under the auspices of the then Shankaracharya of Sringery Mutt, the jnaniguru of Nalinikanta Swami Satchidananda Deva conferred the title of ‘paramahansa’ on him in the presence of leading sadhus and renunciates. The uniqueness about Nigamananda’s spiritual accomplishment was that he had explored and perfected tantra, jnana, yoga and prema/bhav, all the four original ways envisaged in Sanatana Dharma (ever new/eternal, and universal spiritual method based on Vedic knowledge) for the attainment of the highest spiritual goal.
Sadguru Swami Sri Sri Nigamananda Saraswati Deva wished every soul to
rise to this exulted state of consciousness. Hence, he entered into
society to wake up a spiritually inert people. In the prevailing
atmosphere of confusion in ideals and spirituality among his countrymen,
he wanted them to rediscover the merits of sanatana dharma. He wrote
five books - Bramhacharya Sadhana, Yogiguru, Tantrikguru, Jnaniguru and
Premikaguru - which are invaluable for any seeker on the path of
spirituality. He edited and published a path breaking and reformist
periodical ‘Arya Darpana’ (one of the earliest periodicals of India). It
was widely received as a trend-setting journal on religion and
spirituality.
With a view to establishing universal brotherhood he set before
himself three objectives, namely, (i) propagation of ‘sanatana dharma’,
(ii) dissemination of ‘sat siksha’ (right type of education that enables
development of integrated personality conducive for spiritual
development), and (iii) service to all living beings deeming it as
service rendered to the Supreme Being. In his opinion a person having
attained ‘self knowledge’ is the right one to serve mankind in the right
manner..
He enjoined upon His devotees — to walk together on the path of
spirituality forming Sanghas (spiritual associations), to lead Adarsha
Grihastha Jeevan (life of an ideal householder), and to have Bhava
Binimaya (commune with each other for mutual exchange of spiritual ideas
and experiences), which would enable them to achieve the above
mentioned objectives and lead a fulfilled life.
He established the tradition of "Vakta Sammilani" (the annual
congregation of devotees and spiritually minded people, for the close
interaction between the two types of seekers — the household devotees
and the renunciates. Till date, this congregation has been proved to be a
spiritually beneficial experience for all.
There was a harmonious blending of highest enlightenment (jnana) and
universal love (vakti) in the person of Swamy Nigamananda. Rightly so,
his ideological as well as methodological slogan was — " Shankarer Mata"
(the Vedantic doctrine of the 8th century spiritual reformist Sri Sri
Adi Shankaracharya that Bramha — the Supreme Soul and the individual
soul is ‘one’ and the same, and it is the ultimate truth to be realized
by men), and "Gauranger Patha" (the path of devotion adopted by Sri
Chaitanya Deva, the fourteenth century avatara of devotion, as the royal
road to the spiritual destination i.e. God).
Thakura Sri Sri Nigamananda Deva left his corporal body and attained
‘mahasamadhi’ (eternal union with the Supreme Soul) through yoga kriya
(yogic techniques) on November 29, 1935 in Kolkata. But, his holy
presence is still felt and his reassuring voice is still heard in the
hour of need by those who have implicit faith in him, for the ‘sadguru’
is ‘immortal’. Rightly, his followers deified Him as their revered and
beloved ‘thakura’ and worshiped Him as their ‘Guru’ (the supreme
preceptor) and ‘Ishta’ (the personal God) at the same time
An Orphan Child Surrendered Himself To "Universal Mother" To Find His Mother's Love, A Thoughtful Inquisitive Boy Became An Atheistic, When He Does Not Find Love As His Mother From the God, A Husband Followed The Shadow of Death in the Search of His Died Wife's Love, Then He Find The Aura of Universal Mother's Love in the Form of A Saint. What is Love??? In Search of Love is the LOVE. LOVE LABOR'S NEVER LOST !!! THIS ARTICLE IS SPECIALLY DEDICATED FOR MY LOVE & MY FIRE !!! <3 <3 <3 :O:D
"I exist and will continue to exist and will guide you in the
same manner even after I leave my mortal body. I remain guru for all
the time to come. I will not get salvation until my last devotee
attains salvation."-Swami Nigamananda
