Niranjanananda

Swami Niranjanananda was one of those few disciples whom Shri Ramakrishna termed as Ishwarakotis and Nityasiddhas – the god-like ever-perfect souls, not caught by Maya at any time. He was one of the Master’s “Antarangas,” i.e., belonged to the inner circle of his devotees. With particular reference to Niranjanananda the Master said that he was born with the characteristic of Ramachandra inherent in him.

The early name of Swami Niranjanananda was Nityaranjan Ghosh, commonly known as Niranjan. He came from Rajarhat-Vishnupur, a village in twenty-four Parganas, Bengal, but lived in Calcutta with his uncle. He was physically tall, well built and majestic in appearance. From his birth, Niranjan had been endowed with divine qualities – simplicity, purity, fearlessness, steadiness, truthfulness, and renunciation. From his boyhood he became associated with a group of spiritualists who had found in him a very good medium. Having heard about the great spiritual powers of Shri Ramakrishna, Niranjan came to Dakshineswar one day. During this very first visit, the great Master, told him, “My boy, if you think of ghosts and spooks, ghosts and spooks you will become. And if you think of God, divine will be your life. Which do you prefer?” This converted him from the path of spiritualists to spiritual life. From the very first meeting itself, he felt a deep attachment for the Master and went to him whenever he could. Niranjan was very frank and open-minded. The Master liked this in him because frankness and open-mindedness, according to him, were rare virtues – the effect of much Tapasya in one’s previous life and they indicated the possibility of realizing God. Niranjan had a great abhorrence for married life and considered it to be a path towards one’s ruin. He was an extremely pure soul. The Master used to say that Niranjan was without any “Anjan” – i.e., without any blemish in his character.

Though he had a very tender heart, when provoked he was subject to loosing his temper and consequently, all sense of proportion, in the face of hypocrisy. The Master through his teachings, which varied according to the nature of the disciple, advised him against such conduct.

Although to maintain his mother, Niranjan had to accept a situation in an office, but he could not be long in it. When Shri Ramakrishna became ill, Niranjan was one of those young disciples who stayed with him and day and night attended to his needs, with the hope that they will be able to cure him through their devoted service.

After the Master passed away, it was chiefly due to Niranjan’s bold advocacy and intervention that the world-renouncing young men could retain a greater part of the Master’s relic, which was later installed at Belur Math. Denouncing spiritual disciplines and asceticism, worldly people believe that happiness can be derived from worldly possessions and sensual enjoyment. Spiritual people, however, find that happiness and peace come from within by controlling their worldly desires. Enjoyment cannot satiate the desire for enjoyment – it only increases desire, as melted butter intensifies a flame instead of extinguishing it. He joined the monastery at Baranagore, taking up monasticism along with his other brother-disciples and became ‘Swami Niranjanananda’. He then gave himself up heart and soul to the realization of the Truth. He had an extraordinary steadfastness to the worship of the relic of the Master enshrined in the monastery. His love for truth was uncompromising and counted no cost. His faith in Shri Ramakrishna was so alive that it made him strong enough not to care at all for the praise and blame of the whole world. He considered the Master his only refuge. He believed that one should sincerely serve the Master – thinking him as a living, conscious being, our very own. This is the supreme worship.

His devotion to the Holy Mother was unsurpassable. He believed that by the grace of the Mother, he could do anything. Swami Vivekananda used to say, “Niranjan has so much devotion to the Holy Mother that I can forgive his thousand and one faults only because of that.” It was partly through Swami Niranjanananda that many devotees came to recognise the spiritual greatness and divinity of the Holy Mother.

Niranjanananda’s character was a mixture of tenderness and sternness. He was an unattached soul and his love for truth was uncompromising. He was extremely generous and would take care of anyone in need. Most people in this world live for themselves. But those who live for others really live in the highest sense. The great joy in sharing and serving others eradicates selfishness and expands the vision of the heart. Whenever there was any problem or illness among the brother disciples or the Holy Mother, Niranjanananda would assume responsibility. Spurred by the spirit of freedom, which does not allow a monk to confine himself at one place, Swami Niranjanananda visited many places to practice intense spiritual disciplines.

Wherever he went, he would talk about the wonderful life and message of Shri Ramakrishna. Niranjanananda encouraged young men to enter spiritual life and to practice the ideal of service. He had tremendous faith in the doctrine of service as established by Swami Vivekananda and he encouraged people to serve human beings as manifestations of God. Shri Ramakrishna had trained his disciples to build character first through spiritual disciplines. A person of strong character truly speaks with authority. The monastic disciples had also learned from the Master that in order to teach others one must have no theft or hypocrisy in one’s heart. Thought and speech must be united. Religion means the realization of Truth. Renounce everything for God. The impact of an illumined soul’s life is far more profound than the contents of thousands of lecture books. It is very hard to estimate a spiritual personality by external events. The height of spiritual eminence of a person can be perceived, and that also to some extent, by the inspiration he radiates. Swami Niranjanananda left the stamp of his life on many persons.

Some even renounced everything for the sake of God, inspired by the strong influence his life had on them.

Shri Ramakrishna had enkindled his spirit when Swami Niranjanananda was just in his teens and it continued to shine brightly throughout the remainder of his life. Towards the end of his life, which, ended pre-maturely, he preferred to be left alone surrendering himself completely to God. Shri Ramakrishna had predicted this long ago when he said: “Do you know what these youngsters are like? They are like certain plants that grow fruit first and then flowers. These devotees first of all have the vision of God; next, they hear about his glories and attributes, and at last they are united with him. Look at Niranjan. He always keeps his accounts clear. He will be able to go whenever he hears the call.”