Swami Nigamananda Saraswati | |
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![]() (Paramahansa Shrimad Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva) | |
Personal | |
Born | Nalinikanta Chattopadhyay 18 August 1880 Kutabpur, Nadia, Bengal, British India |
Died | 29 November 1935 | (aged 55)
Religion | Hinduism |
Nationality | Indian |
School | Vedanta |
Organization | |
Order | Self-realization |
Philosophy | Advaita Vedanta Bhakti yoga Tantra |
Religious career | |
Guru | Bamakhepa, Sachidananda Saraswati, Sumerudas Ji aka Koot Hoomi, Gouri Maa |
Honors | Paramahansa, Sadguru |
My dear children! Life in the household is beset with many trials and tribulations. In spite of all these turmoils it has one advantage to provide – it can bring opportunities for realization of God and self
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Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa (born Nalinikanta Chattopadhyay; 18 August 1880[1] – 29 November 1935[2]) was an Indian yogi, guru and mystic in Eastern India.[3][4][5][6] He is associated with the Shakta tradition and a spiritual master of vedanta, tantra, yoga and prema or bhakti.[7][8][9][10][11] His followers referred him as Thakura.
Nigamananda was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in the hamlet of Kutabpur in Nadia district (at present, Meherpur district Bangladesh). He was a sannyasi from Adi Shankar's dashanami sampradaya. After his ordination as a sannyasi, he came to be known as Paribrajakacharya Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva.[2]
Nigamananda achieved siddhi (perfection) in four different sadhanas (spiritual disciplines): tantra, gyan, yoga and prema.[12][13] Based on these experiences, he wrote five Bengali language books: Brahmacarya Sadhana (ब्रह्मचर्य साधन), Yogi Guru (योगिगुरु), Gyani Guru (ज्ञानीगुरु), Tantrika Guru (तांत्रिकगुरु), and Premik Guru (प्रेमिकगुरु).[14][15][16] Nigamananda reportedly experienced the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.[17]
In 1912, on the eve of Akshaya Tritaya, an event took place with the laying of the foundation of Shanti Ashram at Kokilamukh, Assam. Within the ashram, Thakur himself founded the space known as the Gurubrhama Gaadi, which served as a focal point for devotees. Adherents from any religious tradition could come together to engage in their spiritual practices.
As an ascetic affiliated with the title of Saraswati under the Sringeri Math, Thakur named his ashram as "Saraswat Math". This nomenclature supported his spiritual lineage and also conveyed his reverence for the goddess Saraswati.
After retiring from Saraswata Math, Nigamananda spent the last fourteen years of his life in Puri. Durga Charan Mohanty, a school student, met him at Nilachala Kutir in 1930 and recognized him as Sadguru.[18]