Nigamananda Paramahansa

Nigamananda Paramahansa Biography

Nigamananda Paramahansa was a Hindu spiritual leader, monk, Sadguru, Yogi and Mystic from Odisha, who lived during the period, 18 August 1880 – 29 November 1935. He was a well-known spiritual figure in East India during pre-independent era. He founded Nilachala Saraswata Sangha in 1934 at Nilachala Kutir, Puri district, a Hindu religious organization exclusively for his household devotees in Odisha. Noted Durga Charan Mohanty, who translated many of his Bengali books to Odia, was his disciple. After his ordination as a monk, he took the name Paribrajakacharya Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva. He was a Sanyasi from Shankar's cult.

Nigamananda’s birth name is Nalinikanta Chattopadhyay. He was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in Kutabpur in Nadia district, which now belongs to Bangladesh. He was born on 18 August 1880. He lost his mother Manikya Sundari Devi to cholera at the age of 13, and he was pushed to depression after that. He completed engineering degree from Dhaka Asanulla Engineering College in 1899, and later took a job at District Board of Dinajpur, the estate of Rani Rashmoni. While he was pursuing his engineering degree, his father married a 13-year old girl.

Nalinikanta lost his wife at a younger age, and it was for the first time he attempted to communicate with his dead wife through spiritual means. While he was serving as the supervisor of the Narayanpur Estate away from his hometown, he saw a shadowed image of his wife. He later came to know that she had died just an hour before his vision. This single incident prompted him to think about life after death for the first time. He started to find an answer to this question, and saw a Sadhu in his dream. Nalinikanta took initiation from Bamakhepa and later became a spiritual leader.

Published: July 18, 2018

Updated: July 18, 2018