Niranjanananda - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Updated the article +/-

2023-08-12T18:07:51Z

Updated the article +/-

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 12 August 2023
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	\|religion = [[Hinduism]]		\|religion = [[Hinduism]]
	\| birth_date= 1862		\| birth_date= 1862
	\| birth_place=[[ Rajarhat Bishnupur]], [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]		\| birth_place= [[ Rajarhat Bishnupur]], [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
	\| birth_name= Nityaniranjan Ghosh		\| birth_name= Nityaniranjan Ghosh
	\| death_date= 9 May 1904		\| death_date= 9 May 1904
	\| death_place= [[Haridwar]], [[British India]]		\| death_place= [[Haridwar]], [[British India]]
	\| guru= [[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]]		\| guru= [[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]]
	\| philosophy= [[Advaita Vedanta]]		\| philosophy= [[Advaita Vedanta]]
	\| honors=		\| honors=
	\| footnotes=		\| footnotes=
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	===Influence of Sri Ramakrishna===		===Influence of Sri Ramakrishna===
	[[File:Vivekananda Baranagar 1887.jpg\|thumb\|Group photo taken on 30 January 1887 in [[Baranagar Math]], Kolkata.<br/>'''Standing''': (l–r) ) [[Shivananda]], [[Ramakrishnananda]], [[Vivekananda]], Randhuni, Debendranath Majumdar, [[Mahendranath Gupta]] (Shri M), [[Trigunatitananda]], H. Mustafi<br/> '''Sitting''': (l–r) Niranjanananda, [[Saradananda]], Hutko Gopal, [[Abhedananda]]]]		[[File:Vivekananda Baranagar 1887.jpg\|thumb\|Group photo taken on 30 January 1887 in [[Baranagar Math]], Kolkata.<br/>'''Standing''': (l–r) ) [[Shivananda]], [[Ramakrishnananda]], [[Vivekananda]], Randhuni, Debendranath Majumdar, [[Mahendranath Gupta]] (Shri M), [[Trigunatitananda]], H. Mustafi<br/> '''Sitting''': (l–r) Niranjanananda, [[Saradananda]], Hutko Gopal, [[Abhedananda]]]]
	Niranjan was about eighteen years old when he met [[Ramakrishna]] for the first time. When he ~~came to know of~~ his leanings towards spiritualism, Ramakrishna apparently chided him saying that, ''"if you think of ghosts and spooks, ghosts and spooks you will become, if you think of God, divine will be your life."''<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp\|127}} He later told Niranjan when he visited him for the second time, ''"My boy, days are passing, when will you realise God?"''. Niranjan was ~~very~~ impressed, and he continued his association with Ramakrishna. Once, when Niranjan was travelling by a boat to [[Dakshineswar]], some of his fellow passengers began to speak ill about his master. ~~At this~~, ~~Niranjan got angry and~~ threatened to drown the entire boat. When Ramakrishna heard about the incident he disapproved by saying that, ''"Anger is a deadly sin, why should you be subject, to it? Foolish people in their pitiable ignorance say many things. One should completely ignore them as beneath notice"''.<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp\|130}}		Niranjan was about eighteen years old when he met [[Ramakrishna]] for the first time. When he discovered his leanings towards spiritualism, Ramakrishna apparently chided him saying that, ''"if you think of ghosts and spooks, ghosts and spooks you will become, if you think of God, divine will be your life."''<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp\|127}} He later told Niranjan when he visited him for the second time, ''"My boy, days are passing, when will you realise God?"''. Niranjan was impressed, and he continued his association with Ramakrishna. Once, when Niranjan was travelling by a boat to [[Dakshineswar]], some of his fellow passengers began to speak ill about his master. This angered Niranjan, so he threatened to drown the entire boat. When Ramakrishna heard about the incident he disapproved by saying that, ''"Anger is a deadly sin, why should you be subject, to it? Foolish people in their pitiable ignorance say many things. One should completely ignore them as beneath notice"''.<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp\|130}}

	Ramakrishna also disapproved of Niranjan working in an office, but he consented when he heard that Niranjan took up the job to maintain his aged mother.<ref name="Ashrama_243">"God Lived with Them", by Chetanananda, published by Advaita Ashrama, 1997, page 243</ref>		Ramakrishna also disapproved of Niranjan working in an office, but he consented when he heard that Niranjan took up the job to maintain his aged mother.<ref name="Ashrama_243">"God Lived with Them", by Chetanananda, published by Advaita Ashrama, 1997, page 243</ref>

	When the master was ill and was kept in Shyampukur by his devotees, Niranajn quit his job to work as the gatekeeper of the house. There he was fooled by actress [[Binodini Dasi]] who visited an ailing Ramakrishna in the disguise of a European gentleman. Later when Ramakrishna was shifted to [[Cossipore garden house]] he continued with his role as a gatekeeper with utmost devotion and prevented at least two lay disciples of Ramakrishna from entering the premises when the master was critically ill, among them [[Ramachandra Dutta]] and Atul Ghosh, the brother of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]].		When the master was ill and was kept in Shyampukur by his devotees, Niranajn quit his job to work as the gatekeeper of the house. There he was fooled by actress [[Binodini Dasi]] who visited an ailing Ramakrishna in the disguise of a European gentleman. Later when Ramakrishna was shifted to [[Cossipore garden house]] he continued with his role as a gatekeeper with utmost devotion and prevented at least two lay disciples of Ramakrishna from entering the premises when the master was critically ill, among them [[Ramachandra Dutta]] and Atul Ghosh, the brother of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]].

	After the death of Ramakrishna, there was a dispute among his disciples with the ownership of the relics, which was mitigated with the help of Narendra (later [[Vivekananda]]). Niranjan, together with Shashi Maharaj (later [[Ramakrishnananda]]) preserved most of the relics in a separate urn and this they kept in the house of [[Balaram Bose]], which was later removed to [[Belur Math]].		After the death of Ramakrishna, there was a dispute among his disciples with the ownership of the relics, which was mitigated with the help of Narendra (later [[Vivekananda]]). Niranjan, together with Shashi Maharaj (later [[Ramakrishnananda]]) preserved most of the relics in a separate urn and this they kept in the house of [[Balaram Bose]], which was later removed to [[Belur Math]].
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	Niranjan took his monastic vow along with other brother disciples in 1887 and came to stay permanently in the Baranagar Math, the first abode of the monks of the Ramakrishna order. He was given the monastic name of Swami Niranjanananda (Niranjan – the blameless or the guileless one, and ananda – bliss), by [[Vivekananda]]. In the monastery he did most of the laborious tasks, being physically stronger. He travelled to Puri and returned in April 1887. He made an altar for the Master in the old monastery house and also planted a Bel Tree on the same spot where Ramakrishna was cremated in Cossipore and created an altar around the tree. He went for a pilgrimage in November 1889 to [[Deoghar]] and stayed in Banshi Dutt's garden house, living on alms. He went to Prayag ([[Allahabad]]), travelled through various parts of India and went to Colombo in Sri Lanka. For some time he lived there as a preaching missionary, teaching the ideals of his Master. In 1895, he returned to the Alambazar monastery before the birthday of Ramakrishna. When Vivekananda returned to India, Niranjanananda went to Colombo to receive him in 1897. He travelled with Swami Vivekananda all over Northern and Southern India. In 1898, he went to Almora and there he initiated [[Shuddhananda]] (Sudhir Maharaj). He then went to Varanasi and lived on alms. He inspired a group of youth to follow the path of service and renunciation, who later organised the home of service.		Niranjan took his monastic vow along with other brother disciples in 1887 and came to stay permanently in the Baranagar Math, the first abode of the monks of the Ramakrishna order. He was given the monastic name of Swami Niranjanananda (Niranjan – the blameless or the guileless one, and ananda – bliss), by [[Vivekananda]]. In the monastery he did most of the laborious tasks, being physically stronger. He travelled to Puri and returned in April 1887. He made an altar for the Master in the old monastery house and also planted a Bel Tree on the same spot where Ramakrishna was cremated in Cossipore and created an altar around the tree. He went for a pilgrimage in November 1889 to [[Deoghar]] and stayed in Banshi Dutt's garden house, living on alms. He went to Prayag ([[Allahabad]]), travelled through various parts of India and went to Colombo in Sri Lanka. For some time he lived there as a preaching missionary, teaching the ideals of his Master. In 1895, he returned to the Alambazar monastery before the birthday of Ramakrishna. When Vivekananda returned to India, Niranjanananda went to Colombo to receive him in 1897. He travelled with Swami Vivekananda all over Northern and Southern India. In 1898, he went to Almora and there he initiated [[Shuddhananda]] (Sudhir Maharaj). He then went to Varanasi and lived on alms. He inspired a group of youth to follow the path of service and renunciation, who later organised the home of service.

	He later went to Kankhal near Haridwar and became ill and ~~came back~~ to Calcutta for treatment. Upon recovery, he went back to Varanasi, met Vivekananda there. During Vivekananda's illness he arranged for Ayurvedic treatment and during the latter's last days he was his gatekeeper, preventing people from crowding and disturbing an ailing Vivekananda in his room. After Vivekananda's death, he returned to Haridwar. During his last days, he suffered from chronic dysentery. He died 9 May 1904.		He later went to Kankhal near Haridwar and became ill and returned to Calcutta for treatment. Upon recovery, he went back to Varanasi, met Vivekananda there. During Vivekananda's illness he arranged for Ayurvedic treatment and during the latter's last days he was his gatekeeper, preventing people from crowding and disturbing an ailing Vivekananda in his room. After Vivekananda's death, he returned to Haridwar. During his last days, he suffered from chronic dysentery. He died 9 May 1904.

	===With Holy Mother===		===With Holy Mother===
	Niranjanananda, like his brother disciples, held the [[Sarada Devi]] in ~~very~~ high esteem, calling her the holy mother. He took [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] to the holy mother in her native village of [[Jairambati]] when the latter was going through a period of depression. Before his death, he came to meet her and insisted that she did everything for him, including preparing food for him and feeding him.<ref name="Ashrama_243"/>		Niranjanananda, like his brother disciples, held the [[Sarada Devi]] in high esteem, calling her the holy mother. He took [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] to the holy mother in her native village of [[Jairambati]] when the latter was going through a period of depression. Before his death, he came to meet her and insisted that she did everything for him, including preparing food for him and feeding him.<ref name="Ashrama_243"/>

	===Character and legacy===		===Character and legacy===
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	[[Category:1862 births]]		[[Category:1862 births]]
	[[Category:1904 deaths]]		[[Category:1904 deaths]]
	[[Category:People of British India]]		[[Category:People from British India]]
	[[Category:19th-century Hindu religious leaders]]		[[Category:19th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
	[[Category:19th-century Indian scholars]]		[[Category:19th-century Indian scholars]]
	[[Category:Monks of the Ramakrishna Mission]]		[[Category:Monks of the Ramakrishna Mission]]
	[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]		[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]

UpdateBot: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

2022-04-28T08:28:06Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 13:58, 28 April 2022
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	\|religion = [[Hinduism]]		\|religion = [[Hinduism]]
	\| birth_date= 1862		\| birth_date= 1862
	\| birth_place= ~~Rajar Hat –~~ Bishnupur, [[Bengal Presidency]], British India		\| birth_place=[[ Rajarhat Bishnupur]], [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
	\| birth_name= Nityaniranjan Ghosh		\| birth_name= Nityaniranjan Ghosh
	\| death_date= 9 May 1904		\| death_date= 9 May 1904
	\| death_place= [[Haridwar]], India		\| death_place= [[Haridwar]], [[British India]]
	\| guru= [[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]]		\| guru= [[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]]
	\| philosophy= [[Advaita Vedanta]]		\| philosophy= [[Advaita Vedanta]]
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	===Character and legacy===		===Character and legacy===
	According to [[Ramakrishna]], Niranjan was an ever pure soul, and it was easy for him to realise god because he was guileless.<ref name="Ashrama_243"/> According to the memoirs of his associate [[Achalananda]] (Kedar Maharaj) and the accounts of other brother disciples, Niranjan was marked for his simplicity, truthfulness, purity, fearlessness, steadiness (in any matter of principle) and renunciation. He once saved Sarada ([[Trigunatitananda]]), a brother disciple, from drowning. He earnestly took up philanthropic and charitable work at the behest of Vivekananda and later formed the Sevashrama or the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service at [[Varanasi]], by inspiring a group of young men to renounce the world and take up the service of the poor. Despite in need for fund, he refused donation from a rich person when the latter went back on his promise. He nursed many of his brother disciples, including [[Yogananda]] whenever they were ill. He believed in Ramakrishna as the infinite god in human form, did not put much stress on rituals, and had tremendous faith in the doctrine of service.		According to [[Ramakrishna]], Niranjan was an ever pure soul, and it was easy for him to realise god because he was guileless.<ref name="Ashrama_243"/> According to the memoirs of his associate [[Achalananda]] (Kedar Maharaj) and the accounts of other brother disciples, Niranjan was marked for his simplicity, truthfulness, purity, fearlessness, steadiness (in any matter of principle) and renunciation. He once saved Sarada ([[Trigunatitananda]]), a brother disciple, from drowning. He earnestly took up philanthropic and charitable work at the behest of Vivekananda and later formed the Sevashrama or the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service at [[Varanasi]], by inspiring a group of young men to renounce the world and take up the service of the poor. Despite in need for fund, he refused donation from a rich person when the latter went back on his promise. He nursed many of his brother disciples, including [[Swami Yogananda\|Yogananda]] whenever they were ill. He believed in Ramakrishna as the infinite god in human form, did not put much stress on rituals, and had tremendous faith in the doctrine of service.

	==References==		==References==

imported>Riquix at 05:43, 4 July 2021

2021-07-04T05:43:53Z

New page

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{refimprove|date=September 2018}}
{{religion primary|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name= Niranjanananda <br/> {{native name|bn|italics=off| স্বামী নিরঞ্জনানন্দ}}
| image= Swaminiranjanananda.jpg
| caption= Niranjanananda
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date= 1862
| birth_place= Rajar Hat – Bishnupur, [[Bengal Presidency]], British India
| birth_name= Nityaniranjan Ghosh
| death_date= 9 May 1904
| death_place= [[Haridwar]], India
| guru= [[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]]
| philosophy= [[Advaita Vedanta]]
| honors=
| footnotes=
}}

'''Niranjanananda''' (Senior), born as Nitya Niranjan Ghosh, usually called by the shortened name of Niranjan, was one of the foremost monks of [[Ramakrishna Mission]] and was one of the direct monastic [[disciples of Ramakrishna]]. '''Niranjanananda''' was one of those few disciples, whom [[Ramakrishna]] termed as "Nityasiddhas" or "Ishwarakotis" – that is, souls who are ever perfect.<ref>[http://www.sriramakrishna.org/niranjanananda.php Swami Niranjanananda, RMIC]</ref>
[Niranjanananda is termed Senior since there was another swami, Niranjanananda (Junior) also known as Pandalai Maharaj, later in the Ramakrishna Mission who died in 1972].<ref>Swami Nrmalananda, a Unique Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna</ref>
Even though his tenure with the newly formed [[Ramakrishna Mission]] was short-lived owing to his early death, he left an indelible mark in spiritual and philanthropic activities. He had a majestic appearance, being tall with broad shoulders and strong physique.

==Biography==

===Early life===
Niranjanananda was born as Nityaniranjan Ghosh and he was called by the short name of Niranjan. Little is known about his early life except that he came from a village called Rajarhat-Bishnupur in 24 Paraganas of Bengal province. He lived in Calcutta with his maternal uncle Kalikrishna Mitra. In his boyhood he became associated with a group of spiritualists and was considered as a successful medium.<ref name="Ashram_disciples">The Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashram, Mayawati, 1943.</ref>{{rp|126}}
He was very frank and open-minded, a trait which was appreciated by Ramakrishna. He had an abhorrence for married life and a relatively short temper, even though he was tender in nature.<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp|129}} He later took up job with an indigo planter in the district of [[Murshidabad]].

===Influence of Sri Ramakrishna===
[[File:Vivekananda Baranagar 1887.jpg|thumb|Group photo taken on 30 January 1887 in [[Baranagar Math]], Kolkata.<br/>'''Standing''': (l–r) ) [[Shivananda]], [[Ramakrishnananda]], [[Vivekananda]], Randhuni, Debendranath Majumdar, [[Mahendranath Gupta]] (Shri M), [[Trigunatitananda]], H. Mustafi<br/> '''Sitting''': (l–r) Niranjanananda, [[Saradananda]], Hutko Gopal, [[Abhedananda]]]]
Niranjan was about eighteen years old when he met [[Ramakrishna]] for the first time. When he came to know of his leanings towards spiritualism, Ramakrishna apparently chided him saying that, ''"if you think of ghosts and spooks, ghosts and spooks you will become, if you think of God, divine will be your life."''<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp|127}} He later told Niranjan when he visited him for the second time, ''"My boy, days are passing, when will you realise God?"''. Niranjan was very impressed, and he continued his association with Ramakrishna. Once, when Niranjan was travelling by a boat to [[Dakshineswar]], some of his fellow passengers began to speak ill about his master. At this, Niranjan got angry and threatened to drown the entire boat. When Ramakrishna heard about the incident he disapproved by saying that, ''"Anger is a deadly sin, why should you be subject, to it? Foolish people in their pitiable ignorance say many things. One should completely ignore them as beneath notice"''.<ref name="Ashram_disciples"/>{{rp|130}}

Ramakrishna also disapproved of Niranjan working in an office, but he consented when he heard that Niranjan took up the job to maintain his aged mother.<ref name="Ashrama_243">"God Lived with Them", by Chetanananda, published by Advaita Ashrama, 1997, page 243</ref>

When the master was ill and was kept in Shyampukur by his devotees, Niranajn quit his job to work as the gatekeeper of the house. There he was fooled by actress [[Binodini Dasi]] who visited an ailing Ramakrishna in the disguise of a European gentleman. Later when Ramakrishna was shifted to [[Cossipore garden house]] he continued with his role as a gatekeeper with utmost devotion and prevented at least two lay disciples of Ramakrishna from entering the premises when the master was critically ill, among them [[Ramachandra Dutta]] and Atul Ghosh, the brother of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]].

After the death of Ramakrishna, there was a dispute among his disciples with the ownership of the relics, which was mitigated with the help of Narendra (later [[Vivekananda]]). Niranjan, together with Shashi Maharaj (later [[Ramakrishnananda]]) preserved most of the relics in a separate urn and this they kept in the house of [[Balaram Bose]], which was later removed to [[Belur Math]].

===Monastic life===
Niranjan took his monastic vow along with other brother disciples in 1887 and came to stay permanently in the Baranagar Math, the first abode of the monks of the Ramakrishna order. He was given the monastic name of Swami Niranjanananda (Niranjan – the blameless or the guileless one, and ananda – bliss), by [[Vivekananda]]. In the monastery he did most of the laborious tasks, being physically stronger. He travelled to Puri and returned in April 1887. He made an altar for the Master in the old monastery house and also planted a Bel Tree on the same spot where Ramakrishna was cremated in Cossipore and created an altar around the tree. He went for a pilgrimage in November 1889 to [[Deoghar]] and stayed in Banshi Dutt's garden house, living on alms. He went to Prayag ([[Allahabad]]), travelled through various parts of India and went to Colombo in Sri Lanka. For some time he lived there as a preaching missionary, teaching the ideals of his Master. In 1895, he returned to the Alambazar monastery before the birthday of Ramakrishna. When Vivekananda returned to India, Niranjanananda went to Colombo to receive him in 1897. He travelled with Swami Vivekananda all over Northern and Southern India. In 1898, he went to Almora and there he initiated [[Shuddhananda]] (Sudhir Maharaj). He then went to Varanasi and lived on alms. He inspired a group of youth to follow the path of service and renunciation, who later organised the home of service.

He later went to Kankhal near Haridwar and became ill and came back to Calcutta for treatment. Upon recovery, he went back to Varanasi, met Vivekananda there. During Vivekananda's illness he arranged for Ayurvedic treatment and during the latter's last days he was his gatekeeper, preventing people from crowding and disturbing an ailing Vivekananda in his room. After Vivekananda's death, he returned to Haridwar. During his last days, he suffered from chronic dysentery. He died 9 May 1904.

===With Holy Mother===
Niranjanananda, like his brother disciples, held the [[Sarada Devi]] in very high esteem, calling her the holy mother. He took [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] to the holy mother in her native village of [[Jairambati]] when the latter was going through a period of depression. Before his death, he came to meet her and insisted that she did everything for him, including preparing food for him and feeding him.<ref name="Ashrama_243"/>

===Character and legacy===
According to [[Ramakrishna]], Niranjan was an ever pure soul, and it was easy for him to realise god because he was guileless.<ref name="Ashrama_243"/> According to the memoirs of his associate [[Achalananda]] (Kedar Maharaj) and the accounts of other brother disciples, Niranjan was marked for his simplicity, truthfulness, purity, fearlessness, steadiness (in any matter of principle) and renunciation. He once saved Sarada ([[Trigunatitananda]]), a brother disciple, from drowning. He earnestly took up philanthropic and charitable work at the behest of Vivekananda and later formed the Sevashrama or the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service at [[Varanasi]], by inspiring a group of young men to renounce the world and take up the service of the poor. Despite in need for fund, he refused donation from a rich person when the latter went back on his promise. He nursed many of his brother disciples, including [[Yogananda]] whenever they were ill. He believed in Ramakrishna as the infinite god in human form, did not put much stress on rituals, and had tremendous faith in the doctrine of service.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rkmrajarhat.org/ Ramakrishna Math, Rajarhat-Bishnupur, A branch of Belur Math, Official Website]
* [https://rkmrajarhat.wordpress.com/ Ramakrishna Math, Rajarhat-Bishnupur, A branch of Belur Math, Official Website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/RKMRajathatBishnupur/ Ramakrishna Math, Rajarhat-Bishnupur, A branch of Belur Math, Facebook page]
* [http://www.sriramakrishna.org/niranjanananda.php/ Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture]

{{Ramakrishna}}
{{Modern Hindu writers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niranjanananda}}
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu missionaries]]
[[Category:1862 births]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:People of British India]]
[[Category:19th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian scholars]]
[[Category:Monks of the Ramakrishna Mission]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]