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Childhood, studies and service life of thakur NIGAMANANDA....
(1880 — 1901)
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Kutabpur(Gurudham), the birthplace of Swami Nigamananda in dist. Nadia
At his birth, Nigamananda was named Nalinikanta - (in Hindu meaning is : Lotus, water), per the wishes of his father, Bhuban Mohan Bhattacharya and the advice of his father's guru, Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati.At the age of thirteen (1893) Nalinikanta lost his mother Manikya Sundari Devi, who died of cholera, causing him to fall into depression.In 1894-95 he passed the student scholarship examination and studied at Meherpur High School. In 1895 he took admission at Dhaka Asanulla Engineering College for studying survey. In 1897 his father married him to a thirteen year old girl named Sudhansubala Devi of Halisahar. He completed his study in 1899 and joined a service in the District Board of Dinajpur, the estate of Rani Rashmoni to earn his sustenance.As noted, at the end of Vadra, 1901 (approximately five years after marriage) when he was serving as the supervisor of the Narayanpur Estate (Zamindari),in one night suddenly Nalinikanta saw the shadowy image of Sudhansubala Devi (his wife) standing at the table glowering and silent while she was supposed to be away at Kutabpur (Nalinikanta's village) at that time. He went to Kutabpur to inquire and came to know that Sudhansubala Devi had died just an hour before he saw her image at Narayanpur (Nalinikanta's work place), again an emotional blow to Nalinikanta. He attempted to reach his wife through occult science, but in vain.
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THAKUR Recognition as paramahamsa (1904)
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In 1904 Nigamananda went to Allahabad to see kumbha mela and learned that his master Sachidandand was in the area, staying with Sankaracarya of Sringeri Matha. He become anxious to see his guru and went to Sankaracarya's camp, where he found the mahant (superior) sitting on an elevated throne surrounded by 125 monks, including his guru(master) Sachidananda. Seeing him, Nigamananda went first to pay his respects to his guru(Sachidananda), and only afterwards to the higher-ranking mahant. The sadhus were upset by this perceived disrespect in not honoring the "mahant" first, but in response Nigamananda quoted the scripture : Mahantha shri jagannatha madguru shri jagadguru madatma sarvabhutatma tasmai shri gurave namaha, the meaning is, My guru is highest in whole world, hence I should respect my guru first.Nigamananda further explained to the "sadhu" assemblies that on the basis of the vedanta philosophy there was no difference between his "Guru" (Shri Sachidanand Saraswati) and "Jagadguru" (Shri Shankarcharya).
Jagadguru Sankaracarya endorsed this response and recognized Nigamananda as one who had achieved spiritual enlightenment.According to instruction of Jagadguru, Nigamananda was conferred with the title paramahansa and came to known as Paribrajakacharay Paramahansa Shree Mad Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva.
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Spiritual experience OF THAKUR NIGAMANANDA(1902 — 1905)
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As noted, one night in his dreams Nalinikanta saw a sadhu with a brilliant aura around him. He woke up to find the sadhu actually standing beside his bed. The sadhu handed him a bael leaf with a mantra written on it and then vanished. Nalinikanta asked many to understand the meaning of the mantra, but nobody can explain it. Finally he met Bamakhepa, a famous tantrik of Tarapith, Birbhum district.Nalinikanta took initiation (dikhshya) from Bamakhepa, then he was directed to chant said bael mantra for 21 days.[32] Under Bamakhepa’s guidance he had physical darshan of Tara Devi in the form of Sudhansubala Devi(his wife).This darshan led him to another mystery. He saw Tara Devi coming out of his body and again mingling with him. To solve this mystery, Bamakshepa advised Nalinikanta to attain the knowledge of Advaita from a vedantic guru (master) . In 1902 Nalinikanta traveled again to search a jnani guru.and met Satchidananda Saraswati, who was a guru from vedantic order, at the holy place of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan (India). He instantaneously realized that Satchidananda Saraswati was the sadhu who had given him the Tara mantra in his dream. Nalinikanta became his disciple,and learned all the theories of Brahma (god as the formless one), Brahma sutras and vedanta, was initiated by the Satchidananda into renunciation and according to the principle changed his name to Nigamananda.
Satchidananda directed Nigamananda to undertake pilgrimages to the four institutions (Char Dham) of religious seats and realize for himself the significance of each, as the Hindus held these places of worship as very dear to them for their sacredness.After pilgrimages, he arrived back to the ashram.
On his arrival at the ashram, Sachidananda reviewed Nigamananda’s pilgrimages and said : My boy! You have travelled widely and seen the religious places and acquired knowledge and experience. All that I had to teach you has been accomplished but it is for you now to put my teachings in to practice. You have to experience for yourself the truth of your being and this can only be done through concerted efforts as well as the practice and observance of you yogic principles. Thus you now have to seek out a guru who will provide you the proper guidance in this line.
Again Nigamananda went out to seek a guru. In 1903 he met a "yogi guru" (yoga master) - whom he called "Sumeru Dasji" (otherwise known as Koot Hoomi Lal Singh or Kuthumi). Nigamananda was accepted as disciple of "Sumeru Dasji". Under Sumeru Das's guidance he learned the secrets of yoga.[37] After hard practice, in the month of Poush 1904, Nigamananda was able to master Savikalpa samadhi (the trance in which the yogi loses his body consciousness and acquires a transcendental consciousness while his individual identity is still retained). Soon after Nigamananda desired to experience the state of Nirvikalpa - the most advanced of yogic samadhis at Kamakshya, Guwahati Assam (Nilachal Hill).[1][23][38] Nigamananda followers believe that he did enter by way of this samadhi and was returned into his body with the residual consciousness of I am the master or guru and in yoga he had visualized and practically understood in his own body the vedic knowledge he had learned from his guru, Satchidananda.
It is further noted, in 1904, it was Kashi (now known as Varanasi), one night goddess Annapurna appeared in Nigamananda's dream and said,[34] his knowledge is limited to formless god and not gone beyond that, hence he was still unfulfilled or incomplete. Nigamananda was awakened from his slumber and soon he became alive to the facts of the case as indicated to him by goddess Annapurna.[1] So he went to Gouri devi (a siddhayogini) to learn bhava sadhana. Gouri devi accepted him as disciple and taught him bhakti or prem (eternal nature of divine love play) to realize this physical world as the transformation of god in bhava sadhana.
As Nigamananda through a long and continued search discovered his guru, same principle was followed by many of his disciples to find him out. A few such stories are narrated by his disciples.
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Sometime during February-March, 1935 Sri Sri Thakur visited the Paschim Bangla Saraswat Ashram at Kharkusma located near Garbeta railway station in Midnapur district of West Bengal. By that time one of the inmates of that Ashram was Bholanath Ganguly aged about twenty-eight years engaged as a cook and Poojak (one who offers worship at the shrine) for the past four years. Sri Ganguly had hailed from the village Lashurrka in Purulia district of West Bengal, born (February, 27,1906) as the third son of late Lalmohan Ganguly, whose wife (Sharadasundari Devi) had passed away leaving Bholanath as a baby who was only two months old. The boy therefore was taken and brought up under the care of his uncle Gadadhar Mishra at Maheshpur. Bholanath could not be taught beyond the alphabets in his boyhood but he was very good at all sorts of work, viz., weaving clothes, agriculture, shopkeeping and related business. While once he was putting up physical labour for building a house for himself as a future resident and house-holder, he suddenly started wondering as to what the purpose of life was and the need for having a house and raising a family. When told that even ascetics and monks also live, though without a family in the Ashrams, he became curious to learn from them about the purpose of life. Along with a friend right away he came over to the aforesaid Ashram at Kharkusuma and joined there as an inmate so as to study the life and activities of the Ashramites on a trial basis. By and by, he learned about the life and mission of Sri Sri Thakur, the founder of the Ashram and was deeply impressed by his spiritual attainment and divine powers. Incidentally, during Sri Sri Thakur's visit to that Ashram he got the opportunity of fanning with a hand fan while standing by Sri Sri Thakur's bedside in order to put him to sleep, which was because at that place there was no electricity at that time. This was his first ever opportunity to watch Sri Sri Thakur's figure from close quarters. It was a situation of love at first sight. He thought to himself "could such radiance emit from a human body with the palms and feet displaying the hue of lotus flower'" Sri Sri Thakur's graceful and imposing stature, his gift of spiritual power and authority were unique and not comparable with any other saint he had seen or known before. Having magnetically drawn towards him he thought "blessed indeed is the spiritual seeker who could surrender himself at the feet of such a great Master!".
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Thakur's Samnyasi Initiates
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His first disciple to be initiated into the Samnyas order was late Ma Nandarani Mukherjee who became known by the name, Mata Anandamayee Saraswati. Mataji was a spiritually enlightened woman who served her Guru sincerely and loved the devotees and disciples so dearly that she was being treated as the divine Mother and worshipped together with the Guru. Among other Samnyasi- initiates, mention may be made of Sri Gurudas Brahmachari who was converted as Swami Birajananda Saraswati who is presently the presiding Trustee of Sri Sri Nigamananda Ashram at Chhotabarua in Midnapur town in West Bengal. After initiation into Samnyas the four other disciples presently residing in his Math and Ashrams are Swami Gambhirananda Saraaswati, Swami Shuddhananda Saraswati, Swami Chetanananda Saraswati and Mata Amritamayee Saraswati.
Having taught , preached and initiated in the same manner as his revered Gurudev, Sri Sri Thakur Maharaj over almost thirty years beginning with the sixties, Swamiji breathed his last on May 2, 1995.
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Once Nigamananda went to visit the Kumbhamela, India's most famous fair, which literally countless people attend. He was delighted to see his Guru, Swami Satchidananda, there. A different spiritual Master presides over each fair, and this time the great Master Shankaracharya, Satchidananda's Guru, was presiding over the fair. Everybody was full of adoration for Shankaracharya, who was sitting near Satchidananda.
When Nigamananda arrived, he bowed to his Master first and then bowed to Shankaracharya. Everybody was shocked. How was it possible for him to bow to Satchidananda first when Shankaracharya was sitting right beside him? Some people said to Nigamananda, "You are such a fool! Don't you know how to discriminate?"
Nigamananda replied, "I do know how to discriminate. I tell you, nobody can be superior to one's own Guru. My Guru is and will always remain highest to me. Therefore, I did the right thing by bowing to him first."
On hearing this Shankaracharya gave Nigamananda a broad smile and said to him, "You are right, my son, you are right." Then he asked Nigamananda a few spiritual questions which Nigamananda answered perfectly. Then Shankaracharya said to Satchidananda, "What are you doing? Why are you not asking this disciple of yours to have his own disciples and to help illumine mankind? I clearly see that he is ready for that." Then, in front of Shankaracharya and all the seekers who were nearby, Satchidananda declared, "My spiritual son Nigamananda has realised God. From now on he will accept disciples and illumine their minds and fulfill their hearts."
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In order to achieve liberation Nigamananda had been practising severe austerities in Benares for quite a few months. One day he was extremely hungry, but he had nothing to eat. In silence he said to the goddess of plenitude, "Annapurna, how is it that I don't have any food to eat?"
Just then a very ugly elderly woman with filthy clothes brought him a bag and said to him, "Please hold this bag of food. Let me go and bathe in the pond nearby. Then we shall eat together."
Nigamananda waited two or three hours, but there was still no sign of her returning. Finally he opened the bag and saw most delicious food and fruits inside. He ate everything himself.
That night in a dream Nigamananda saw the goddess Annapurna. She said to him, "So you see, nobody remains hungry. I feed everyone."
"You feed everyone?" Nigamananda exclaimed. "When did you feed me? I invoked you when I was hungry, but an ugly, dirty, old woman gave me food. You are so beautiful and luminous!"
The goddess explained, "It was I who came to you in that form."
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
"I wanted to show you that all forms are mine," said the goddess. "Still you care more for physical beauty than for the soul's beauty. So I wanted to show you that even ugly people can have good hearts. From now on try to feel that physical beauty has nothing to do with a kind, sympathetic heart."
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Childhood, studies and service life of thakur NIGAMANANDA....
(1880 — 1901)
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Kutabpur(Gurudham), the birthplace of Swami Nigamananda in dist. Nadia
At his birth, Nigamananda was named Nalinikanta - (in Hindu meaning is : Lotus, water), per the wishes of his father, Bhuban Mohan Bhattacharya and the advice of his father's guru, Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati.At the age of thirteen (1893) Nalinikanta lost his mother Manikya Sundari Devi, who died of cholera, causing him to fall into depression.In 1894-95 he passed the student scholarship examination and studied at Meherpur High School. In 1895 he took admission at Dhaka Asanulla Engineering College for studying survey. In 1897 his father married him to a thirteen year old girl named Sudhansubala Devi of Halisahar. He completed his study in 1899 and joined a service in the District Board of Dinajpur, the estate of Rani Rashmoni to earn his sustenance.As noted, at the end of Vadra, 1901 (approximately five years after marriage) when he was serving as the supervisor of the Narayanpur Estate (Zamindari),in one night suddenly Nalinikanta saw the shadowy image of Sudhansubala Devi (his wife) standing at the table glowering and silent while she was supposed to be away at Kutabpur (Nalinikanta's village) at that time. He went to Kutabpur to inquire and came to know that Sudhansubala Devi had died just an hour before he saw her image at Narayanpur (Nalinikanta's work place), again an emotional blow to Nalinikanta. He attempted to reach his wife through occult science, but in vain.
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THAKUR Recognition as paramahamsa (1904)
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In 1904 Nigamananda went to Allahabad to see kumbha mela and learned that his master Sachidandand was in the area, staying with Sankaracarya of Sringeri Matha. He become anxious to see his guru and went to Sankaracarya's camp, where he found the mahant (superior) sitting on an elevated throne surrounded by 125 monks, including his guru(master) Sachidananda. Seeing him, Nigamananda went first to pay his respects to his guru(Sachidananda), and only afterwards to the higher-ranking mahant. The sadhus were upset by this perceived disrespect in not honoring the "mahant" first, but in response Nigamananda quoted the scripture : Mahantha shri jagannatha madguru shri jagadguru madatma sarvabhutatma tasmai shri gurave namaha, the meaning is, My guru is highest in whole world, hence I should respect my guru first.Nigamananda further explained to the "sadhu" assemblies that on the basis of the vedanta philosophy there was no difference between his "Guru" (Shri Sachidanand Saraswati) and "Jagadguru" (Shri Shankarcharya).
Jagadguru Sankaracarya endorsed this response and recognized Nigamananda as one who had achieved spiritual enlightenment.According to instruction of Jagadguru, Nigamananda was conferred with the title paramahansa and came to known as Paribrajakacharay Paramahansa Shree Mad Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva.
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Spiritual experience OF THAKUR NIGAMANANDA(1902 — 1905)
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As noted, one night in his dreams Nalinikanta saw a sadhu with a brilliant aura around him. He woke up to find the sadhu actually standing beside his bed. The sadhu handed him a bael leaf with a mantra written on it and then vanished. Nalinikanta asked many to understand the meaning of the mantra, but nobody can explain it. Finally he met Bamakhepa, a famous tantrik of Tarapith, Birbhum district.Nalinikanta took initiation (dikhshya) from Bamakhepa, then he was directed to chant said bael mantra for 21 days.[32] Under Bamakhepa’s guidance he had physical darshan of Tara Devi in the form of Sudhansubala Devi(his wife).This darshan led him to another mystery. He saw Tara Devi coming out of his body and again mingling with him. To solve this mystery, Bamakshepa advised Nalinikanta to attain the knowledge of Advaita from a vedantic guru (master) . In 1902 Nalinikanta traveled again to search a jnani guru.and met Satchidananda Saraswati, who was a guru from vedantic order, at the holy place of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan (India). He instantaneously realized that Satchidananda Saraswati was the sadhu who had given him the Tara mantra in his dream. Nalinikanta became his disciple,and learned all the theories of Brahma (god as the formless one), Brahma sutras and vedanta, was initiated by the Satchidananda into renunciation and according to the principle changed his name to Nigamananda.
Satchidananda directed Nigamananda to undertake pilgrimages to the four institutions (Char Dham) of religious seats and realize for himself the significance of each, as the Hindus held these places of worship as very dear to them for their sacredness.After pilgrimages, he arrived back to the ashram.
On his arrival at the ashram, Sachidananda reviewed Nigamananda’s pilgrimages and said : My boy! You have travelled widely and seen the religious places and acquired knowledge and experience. All that I had to teach you has been accomplished but it is for you now to put my teachings in to practice. You have to experience for yourself the truth of your being and this can only be done through concerted efforts as well as the practice and observance of you yogic principles. Thus you now have to seek out a guru who will provide you the proper guidance in this line.
Again Nigamananda went out to seek a guru. In 1903 he met a "yogi guru" (yoga master) - whom he called "Sumeru Dasji" (otherwise known as Koot Hoomi Lal Singh or Kuthumi). Nigamananda was accepted as disciple of "Sumeru Dasji". Under Sumeru Das's guidance he learned the secrets of yoga.[37] After hard practice, in the month of Poush 1904, Nigamananda was able to master Savikalpa samadhi (the trance in which the yogi loses his body consciousness and acquires a transcendental consciousness while his individual identity is still retained). Soon after Nigamananda desired to experience the state of Nirvikalpa - the most advanced of yogic samadhis at Kamakshya, Guwahati Assam (Nilachal Hill).[1][23][38] Nigamananda followers believe that he did enter by way of this samadhi and was returned into his body with the residual consciousness of I am the master or guru and in yoga he had visualized and practically understood in his own body the vedic knowledge he had learned from his guru, Satchidananda.
It is further noted, in 1904, it was Kashi (now known as Varanasi), one night goddess Annapurna appeared in Nigamananda's dream and said,[34] his knowledge is limited to formless god and not gone beyond that, hence he was still unfulfilled or incomplete. Nigamananda was awakened from his slumber and soon he became alive to the facts of the case as indicated to him by goddess Annapurna.[1] So he went to Gouri devi (a siddhayogini) to learn bhava sadhana. Gouri devi accepted him as disciple and taught him bhakti or prem (eternal nature of divine love play) to realize this physical world as the transformation of god in bhava sadhana.
As Nigamananda through a long and continued search discovered his guru, same principle was followed by many of his disciples to find him out. A few such stories are narrated by his disciples.
****************************************************************************************************************************************
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Sometime during February-March, 1935 Sri Sri Thakur visited the Paschim Bangla Saraswat Ashram at Kharkusma located near Garbeta railway station in Midnapur district of West Bengal. By that time one of the inmates of that Ashram was Bholanath Ganguly aged about twenty-eight years engaged as a cook and Poojak (one who offers worship at the shrine) for the past four years. Sri Ganguly had hailed from the village Lashurrka in Purulia district of West Bengal, born (February, 27,1906) as the third son of late Lalmohan Ganguly, whose wife (Sharadasundari Devi) had passed away leaving Bholanath as a baby who was only two months old. The boy therefore was taken and brought up under the care of his uncle Gadadhar Mishra at Maheshpur. Bholanath could not be taught beyond the alphabets in his boyhood but he was very good at all sorts of work, viz., weaving clothes, agriculture, shopkeeping and related business. While once he was putting up physical labour for building a house for himself as a future resident and house-holder, he suddenly started wondering as to what the purpose of life was and the need for having a house and raising a family. When told that even ascetics and monks also live, though without a family in the Ashrams, he became curious to learn from them about the purpose of life. Along with a friend right away he came over to the aforesaid Ashram at Kharkusuma and joined there as an inmate so as to study the life and activities of the Ashramites on a trial basis. By and by, he learned about the life and mission of Sri Sri Thakur, the founder of the Ashram and was deeply impressed by his spiritual attainment and divine powers. Incidentally, during Sri Sri Thakur's visit to that Ashram he got the opportunity of fanning with a hand fan while standing by Sri Sri Thakur's bedside in order to put him to sleep, which was because at that place there was no electricity at that time. This was his first ever opportunity to watch Sri Sri Thakur's figure from close quarters. It was a situation of love at first sight. He thought to himself "could such radiance emit from a human body with the palms and feet displaying the hue of lotus flower'" Sri Sri Thakur's graceful and imposing stature, his gift of spiritual power and authority were unique and not comparable with any other saint he had seen or known before. Having magnetically drawn towards him he thought "blessed indeed is the spiritual seeker who could surrender himself at the feet of such a great Master!".
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Thakur's Samnyasi Initiates
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His first disciple to be initiated into the Samnyas order was late Ma Nandarani Mukherjee who became known by the name, Mata Anandamayee Saraswati. Mataji was a spiritually enlightened woman who served her Guru sincerely and loved the devotees and disciples so dearly that she was being treated as the divine Mother and worshipped together with the Guru. Among other Samnyasi- initiates, mention may be made of Sri Gurudas Brahmachari who was converted as Swami Birajananda Saraswati who is presently the presiding Trustee of Sri Sri Nigamananda Ashram at Chhotabarua in Midnapur town in West Bengal. After initiation into Samnyas the four other disciples presently residing in his Math and Ashrams are Swami Gambhirananda Saraaswati, Swami Shuddhananda Saraswati, Swami Chetanananda Saraswati and Mata Amritamayee Saraswati.
Having taught , preached and initiated in the same manner as his revered Gurudev, Sri Sri Thakur Maharaj over almost thirty years beginning with the sixties, Swamiji breathed his last on May 2, 1995.
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Once Nigamananda went to visit the Kumbhamela, India's most famous fair, which literally countless people attend. He was delighted to see his Guru, Swami Satchidananda, there. A different spiritual Master presides over each fair, and this time the great Master Shankaracharya, Satchidananda's Guru, was presiding over the fair. Everybody was full of adoration for Shankaracharya, who was sitting near Satchidananda.
When Nigamananda arrived, he bowed to his Master first and then bowed to Shankaracharya. Everybody was shocked. How was it possible for him to bow to Satchidananda first when Shankaracharya was sitting right beside him? Some people said to Nigamananda, "You are such a fool! Don't you know how to discriminate?"
Nigamananda replied, "I do know how to discriminate. I tell you, nobody can be superior to one's own Guru. My Guru is and will always remain highest to me. Therefore, I did the right thing by bowing to him first."
On hearing this Shankaracharya gave Nigamananda a broad smile and said to him, "You are right, my son, you are right." Then he asked Nigamananda a few spiritual questions which Nigamananda answered perfectly. Then Shankaracharya said to Satchidananda, "What are you doing? Why are you not asking this disciple of yours to have his own disciples and to help illumine mankind? I clearly see that he is ready for that." Then, in front of Shankaracharya and all the seekers who were nearby, Satchidananda declared, "My spiritual son Nigamananda has realised God. From now on he will accept disciples and illumine their minds and fulfill their hearts."
*************************************************************************************************
*************************************************************************************************
In order to achieve liberation Nigamananda had been practising severe austerities in Benares for quite a few months. One day he was extremely hungry, but he had nothing to eat. In silence he said to the goddess of plenitude, "Annapurna, how is it that I don't have any food to eat?"
Just then a very ugly elderly woman with filthy clothes brought him a bag and said to him, "Please hold this bag of food. Let me go and bathe in the pond nearby. Then we shall eat together."
Nigamananda waited two or three hours, but there was still no sign of her returning. Finally he opened the bag and saw most delicious food and fruits inside. He ate everything himself.
That night in a dream Nigamananda saw the goddess Annapurna. She said to him, "So you see, nobody remains hungry. I feed everyone."
"You feed everyone?" Nigamananda exclaimed. "When did you feed me? I invoked you when I was hungry, but an ugly, dirty, old woman gave me food. You are so beautiful and luminous!"
The goddess explained, "It was I who came to you in that form."
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
"I wanted to show you that all forms are mine," said the goddess. "Still you care more for physical beauty than for the soul's beauty. So I wanted to show you that even ugly people can have good hearts. From now on try to feel that physical beauty has nothing to do with a kind, sympathetic heart."
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