Jatindra Nath Banerjee (Niralamba Swami) (19 November 1877 – 5 September 1930) was one of two great Indian nationalists and freedom fighters – along with Aurobindo Ghosh (
Sri Aurobindo) – who dramatically rose to prominence between 1871 and 1910.
Biography
Niralamba Swami was born as Jatindra Nath Banerjee on 19 November 1877 at
Channa village in
Burdwan
Bardhaman (, ) is a city and a municipality in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Purba Bardhaman district, having become a district capital during the period of British rule. Burdwan, an alternative name for the city, ...
district.
[University of Burdwan Dept. of History, "History: journal of the Department of History”, University of Burdwan, India. (edition 1998). p. 85. Page available]
/ref> His father, Kali Charan Banerjee, Kalicharan Banerjee, worked as a government official at Bangaon of Jessore district (now North Twenty Four Parganas) of Bengal
Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
.His early education was completed at the village school. Then he passed FA (First Arts) from Burdwan Raj College
Burdwan Raj College, established in 1881, is the oldest state-governed college in Purba Bardhaman district catering to the district and neighboring areas of Bankura district, Purulia district, Hooghly district and Birbhum district. It offers und ...
, which was then affiliated with the University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University; CU) is a public collegiate state university in India, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Considered one of best state research university all over India every year, ...
[Durga Das Pvt. Ltd, "Eminent Indians who was who, 1900–1980, also annual diary of events", Durga Das Pvt. Ltd., India. (edition 1985). p.25. Page available]
/ref> with high marks. He was admitted to B.A. class in the college.
Freedom struggle
While at college, Jatindra Nath (Jatindra Nath Banerjee) began developing interest in political activities of India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. He was drawn towards radical and revolutionary methods of attaining independence.
He felt that revolutionary methods were necessary to attain independence and he became the first to preach the adoption of revolutionary methods for attaining independence.[Jadavpur University. Dept. of International Relations Jadavpur Journal of International Relations, "Jadavpur Journal of International Relations", Dept. of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. (edition: 2001). pp.117 and 122. Page Available]
/ref>
For using revolutionary methods, a large army was needed and so martial training of countrymen was essential. So Jatindra Nath left his studies halfway in search of martial training. He tried to get himself enlisted in the British army but did not succeed.
Baroda
Having failed to enlist himself in the British army, Jatindra Nath began wandering in search of a job. He reached Baroda
Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district and is situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River, from the state capital ...
. At Baroda he met Aurobindo Ghose Sri Aurobindo. Aurobindo was highly impressed by his robust health and helped him in finding a job in the Baroda army. In the year 1897, Jatindra Nath joined the Baroda army as a bodyguard of the king of Baroda. He also became an associate of Aurobindo.
Aurobindo began devoting energy towards national activities. When Anushilan Samity was formed at Kolkata, Aurobindo sent a request to Jatindra Nath to join the organisation. So Jatindra Nath left his job in Baroda to join Anushilan Samity. He became one of its prominent members.
Jatindra Nath's father did not like the fact that his son had left his studies and that he had involved himself in anti-British activities. To divert his son's attention towards family matters, he married him off. But still Jatindra Nath became more deeply involved in the freedom movement of the country.
The Alipore bomb case
''Emperor vs Aurobindo Ghosh and others'', colloquially referred to as the Alipore Bomb Case, the Muraripukur conspiracy, or the Manicktolla bomb conspiracy, was a criminal case held in India in 1908. The case saw the trial of a number of India ...
and repression of all revolutionary activities in Bengal forced Jatindra Nath lose interest in the nationalist activities. He went back to his native village. ( Channa village)Soon he was married off by his parents to Hiranmoyee.
Spiritual transformation
Early indication
During his childhood Jatinindra Nath Banerjee was known to be unruly, but as a teenager he became thoughtful. He began to frequently visit the temple of goddess Bishalakshi (also known as Bishalaxmi, another name of the goddess Durga
Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
Durga's legend centres around c ...
), where he would sit for hours in deep contemplation.
Sannyasa
After the suppression of revolutionary activities in Bengal, Jatin (Jatinindra Nath Banerjee) went back to his native village. His mind became engrossed in spiritual thoughts. He would frequently visit the temple of Bishalaakshi ('Large-eyed Goddess') and would remain there for hours. He would pray for spiritual strength self-purification and spiritual knowledge. He began to feel the need for a guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
. Meanwhile, his parents died and a daughter was born to him. He felt a deep need to get rid of worldly ties. Consequently, one night he became a wandering monk (i.e. he took Sannyasa
''Sannyasa'' (Sanskrit: संन्यास; IAST: ), sometimes spelled Sanyasa (सन्न्यास) or Sanyasi (for the person), is life of renunciation and the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' A ...
).
Jatin felt that for gaining spiritual knowledge he needed the help of a guru and hence he began to search for one. He wandered many places in search of a guru but could not find any genuine ones.
Wanderings
During his wanderings he reached Varanasi
Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.
*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic t ...
. There he met a monk who suggested him to go to Nainital
Nainital ( Kumaoni: ''Naintāl''; ) is a city and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the High Court of the state being located there and is the headquarters o ...
where he (Jatin) would find his destined guru
Nainital
When Jatindra Nath reached Nainital
Nainital ( Kumaoni: ''Naintāl''; ) is a city and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the High Court of the state being located there and is the headquarters o ...
from Varanasi he became very tired and exhausted. Yet he managed to find Soham Swami, his destined guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
. Soham Swami had established an ashram near the bank of a river. He welcomed Jatindra Nath with open arms and made him his disciple on the same day.
Soham Swami was one of the most eminent disciples of Tibbetibaba, the legendary yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
of India. He was the author of books like 'Soham Gita', 'Soham Samhita', 'Truth' (this book was the only book written by him in English poetry. It was published in Calcutta, now Kolkata, in 1913) and 'Common Sense.’
In his autobiographical work, ''Why I Am An Atheist'', Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was a charismatic Indian revolutionary*
* who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer
*
* in what was to be retaliation for the death of an Indian national ...
, a prominent freedom fighter, wrongly referred to Niralamba Swami as the author of a book titled ''Common Sense''. Swami in fact wrote only the introduction to it.
Haridwar
Soham Swami asked Jatindra Nath Banerjee to go to Haridwar
Haridwar (; ) is a city and municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. With a population of 228,832 in 2011, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district.
The city is situated on the ri ...
, where he had established an ashram. At this place Jatindra Nath began scaling great spiritual heights and finally attained knowledge of Brahman
In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...
or God in His form without any attributes.
Soham Swami was very pleased with the spiritual success of Jatindra Nath Banerjee and so he was rechristened with the name of Srimat Niralamba Swami. But he became popular with the name of Niralamba Swami.
Niralamba Swami now had many admirers and devotees from Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
, Haryana, and regions around Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders ...
. His fame for spiritual knowledge and wisdom spread far and wide. After staying in Haridwar for some years he developed a desire to establish an ashram at Channa village. He conveyed his request to his guru and was granted the permission to establish an ashram at his native village.
Channa village
After staying in the northern India for many years, Niralamba Swami reached Channa village, his native place. Many people of his village and other nearby villages had gathered to have a glimpse of their famous man. He first visited his home to meet his wife. Through her he came to know that his only child (his daughter) had expired. He managed to convince his wife to spend the rest of her life with him as the Mother of the soon to be constructed ashram at the village. She was re-christened as 'Chinmoyee Devi'.
Soon an ashram was constructed by the side of the village river bank and Niralamba Swami began staying at the ashram with his wife and some devotees and disciples.
Niralamba Swami's fame as a great Guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
and a yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
spread even more in India. His life at the ashram was spent both as a 'bhogi' (enjoyer) and a yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
. He would daily consume the best quality betel leaves and tobacco available at the time.
It did not remain unknown that the former freedom fighter had become a famous yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
of India. So many former comrades of Niralamba Swami (formerly Jatindra Nath Banerjee) and many freedom fighters began visiting him for spiritual guidance and inspiration.
Among the notable freedom fighters to have visited Niralamba Swami was the legendary Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was a charismatic Indian revolutionary*
* who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer
*
* in what was to be retaliation for the death of an Indian national ...
. He had met Niralamba Swami at Channa ashram at Channa village in the beginning of 1929(1927– 1928 according to some).
Another famous person associated with Niralamba Swami was Prajnanapada (1891–1974).He was popular with the name of Swami Prajnanapada. He became Niralamba Swami's disciple in 1924–25 at Channa ashram. He also became a monk (took to Sannyasa
''Sannyasa'' (Sanskrit: संन्यास; IAST: ), sometimes spelled Sanyasa (सन्न्यास) or Sanyasi (for the person), is life of renunciation and the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' A ...
).[Prajnanapada, Ramanuja Srinivasan, "Talks with Swami Prajnanapada", Vidya Bhavan, India (edition 1977). Page available]
/ref> Prajnanapada was a follower of Advaita Vedanta
''Advaita Vedanta'' (; sa, अद्वैत वेदान्त, ) is a Hindu sādhanā, a path of spiritual discipline and experience, and the oldest extant tradition of the orthodox Hindu school Vedānta. The term ''Advaita'' ( ...
philosophy and taught realisation of Self-knowledge using Jñāna
In Indian philosophy and religions, ' ( sa, ज्ञान}, ) is "knowledge".
The idea of ''jñāna'' centers on a cognitive event which is recognized when experienced. It is knowledge inseparable from the total experience of reality, especial ...
Yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consci ...
method (the path of self-realisation using knowledge).
Many distinguished persons had also visited Niralamba Swami at his Channa ashram at Channa village. Among them was Tibbetibaba. Niralamba Swami had hailed Tibbetibaba as one of the greatest exponent of Advaita Vedanta after Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...
.
He died on 5 September 1930.
Teachings
*Wake up and realise Self-Consciousness.
*Know yourself. If you do not know yourself, then how can you know your country?
*If you want to get rid of the sufferings of your country, then you have to become strong. To make yourself strong you have to first acquire Self-Knowledge. Self-strength makes human beings to cross difficult deserts and mountains. Nothing is impossible for a race possessing Self-strength
Notes
References
*Chakravorty, Subodh, "Bharater Sadhak – Sadhika"(Bengali edition), India: Kamini Publication, 115, Akhil Mistry Lane, Kolkata – 700 009 (1997.Bengali calendar year – 1404), Volume 1, pp. 500–522
*Grover, G.L. & Grover, S., ''A New Look At Modern Indian History'' (17th ed.), India: S. Chand Publication (2000). , pp. 283–284.
*Sanyal, Jagadiswar, ''Guide To Indian Philosophy'' (1996 ed.), India: Sribhumi Publishing Company (1999), 79, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata – 700 009.
*Hornby, A S, "Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English" (5th ed.), UK: Oxford University Press (1998). , pp. 1433–175.
*''Why I am an Atheist: Bhagat Singh'', People's Publishing House, New Delhi, India.
*Sharma, I. Mallikarjuna, “In retrospect: Sagas of heroism and sacrifice of Indian revolutionaries”, Ravi Sasi Enterprises, India (edition: 1999). p. 94.
*Swami, Soham, "Common Sense", Bangladesh: Surja Kanta Banerjee, Gandharia Press, Dacca(Dhaka) (1924). pp. 1–3
*Municipal Corporation, Calcutta (India), “Calcutta municipal gazette”, Office of the Registrar of Newspapers. Press, India (edition: 1972). p. 127.
*Jatinder Nath Sanyal, Kripal Chandra Yadav, Bhagat Singh, Babar Singh, The Bhagat Singh Foundation, “Bhagat Singh: a biography”, Hope India Publication, India (edition: 2006). p. 84.
*University, Banaras Hindu, “Prajña”, Banaras Hindu University, Benaras, India (edition: 1972). p. 110.
*Jadavpur University. Dept. of International Relations Jadavpur Journal of International Relations, “Jadavpur Journal of International Relations”, Dept. of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. (edition: 2001). pp. 117 and 122.
*Indian Bibliographic Centre. Research Wing, Indian Bibliographic Centre
*“Dictionary of Indian biography”, Indian Bibliographic Centre (edition 2000). , . p. 32.
*Durga Das Pvt. Ltd, “Eminent Indians who was who, 1900–1980, also annual diary of events”, Durga Das Pvt. Ltd., India. (edition 1985). p. 25.
*Sen, Siba Pada, “Dictionary of national biography”, Institute of Historical Studies, India (edition 1972). p. 114.
*Mukherjee, Uma, “Two great Indian revolutionaries: Rash Behari Bose & Jyotindra Nath Mukherjee”, Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay. (edition 1966). p. 101.
*University of Burdwan Dept. of History, “History: journal of the Department of History”, University of Burdwan, India. (edition 1998). p. 85.
*Heehs, Peter, “The bomb in Bengal: the rise of revolutionary terrorism in India, 1900–1910”, Oxford University Press. (edition 1993). p. 62.
*Gupta, Gopal Dass, “Glossary and index of proper names in Sri Aurobindo's works”, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, India. (edition 1989). , . p. 34
*Majumdar, Bimanbehari, “Militant nationalism in India and its socio-religious background, 1897–1917”, General Printers & Publishers, India (edition 1966. p. 101.
*Luzac & Co. (London, England), “Luzac's oriental list and book review”, Luzac and Co.. (edition 1924). p. 33.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sawmi, Niralamba
Indian Hindu spiritual teachers
Revolutionaries of Bengal during British Rule
Advaitin philosophers
Bengali Hindus
Tibbetibaba
1930 deaths
1877 births
University of Calcutta alumni
19th-century Hindu religious leaders
20th-century Hindu religious leaders