Nigamananda Paramahansa

Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa (born Nalinikanta Chattopadhyay; 18 August 1880 – 29 November 1935) was an Indian yogi, guru and mystic well known in Eastern India. He is associated with the Shakta tradition and viewed as a perfect spiritual master of vedanta, tantra, yoga and prema or bhakti. His followers idealized him as their worshipped and beloved 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.

Nigamananda achieved siddhi (perfection) in four different sadhanas (spiritual disciplines): tantra, gyan, yoga and prema. Based on these experiences, he wrote five Bengali language books: Brahamcharya Sadhana (ब्रह्मचर्य साधन), Yogi Guru (योगिगुरु), Gyani Guru (ज्ञानीगुरु), Tantrika Guru (तांत्रिकगुरु), and Premik Guru (प्रेमिकगुरु). Nigamananda reportedly experienced the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

In 1912, on the auspicious eve of Akshaya Tritaya, a significant event took place with the laying of the foundation of Shanti Ashram at Kokilamukh, Assam. Within the ashram, Sri Sri Thakur himself founded the sacred space known as the Gurubrhama Gaadi, which served as a central focal point for devotees. It was designed as an inclusive sanctuary where adherents from any religious tradition could come together to engage in their spiritual practices. This visionary approach reflected Sri Sri Thakur's commitment to promoting unity and harmony among people of diverse faiths. As an ascetic affiliated with the title of Saraswati under the Sringeri Math, Sri Sri Thakur bestowed the name "Saraswat Math" upon his ashram. This nomenclature not only honored his own spiritual lineage but also conveyed his reverence for the goddess Saraswati, associated with knowledge, wisdom, and learning.

After retiring from Saraswata Matha, 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. Mohanty became Nigamananda's disciple and wrote books for Nigamananda's establishment Nilachala Saraswata Sangha and translated Nigamananda's Bengali books into Odia. Under Mohanty's encouragement, more than 100 ashrams operate in Odisha. Mohanty continued to spread the message of Nigamananda until his death on 7 December 1985.