Nimbarka

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http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/saints/nimbarka.htm

 

Nimbarka

 

There lived a great ascetic named Aruna Muni in Vaiduryapattnam, on the

banks of the Godavari, in Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. He had a pious

wife by name Jayanti Devi. Sri Nimbarka was born of Aruna Muni and Jayanti

Devi. He flourished in the eleventh century A.D.

 

At the time of the Namakarana Samskara, the learned Brahmins gave the boy

the name Niyamanandacharya. Nimbarka was also known by the names Aruna Rishi

and Haripriyacharya.

 

Aruna Muni and Jayanti Devi performed their son’s sacred thread ceremony and

sent him to Rishikul for learning the Vedas, Vedangas, Darshanas, etc.

Niyamanandacharya mastered the scriptures in a short time. He was a mighty

genius. People from all parts of India came to see this wonderful boy.

 

When Niyamanandacharya was in his teens, Brahma, the Creator, came to the

Ashram of Aruna Muni in the disguise of a Sannyasin. The sun was about to

set. The Muni had been out. The Sannyasin asked the wife of the Muni for

something to eat. The food had been exhausted. The Muni’s wife remained

silent. The Sannyasin was about to leave the Ashram.

 

Niyamanandacharya said to his mother, "Dear mother! A Sannyasin should not

be sent away without food. We will have to suffer for violating Atithi

Dharma". The mother said, "Dear son! Your father has gone out. I have

neither fruits nor roots. Moreover, there is no time for me to prepare any

food. It is sunset. Sannyasins do not take their meals after sunset".

 

Niyamanandacharya said to the Sannyasin, "I shall bring quickly roots and

fruits from the forest. I guarantee that the sun will not set till you

finish your meals". Niyamanandacharya placed his Sudarshana Chakra on a Nim

tree in the Ashram where it shone like the sun. Brahma, who was in the guise

of the Sannyasin, was struck with amazement. In a few minutes Nimbarka

returned with roots and fruits and gave them to his mother, who served them

to the Sannyasin with intense devotion. As soon as the Sannyasin finished

his meals, Nimbarka removed the Sudarshana Chakra from the Nim tree. It was

at once pitch dark. One quarter of the night had passed. The Sannyasin, who

was Brahma, conferred on the boy the name ‘Nimbarka’ (Nim—Neem tree;

Arka—Surya or the sun). Since then he has been called Sri Nimbarkacharya.

 

Sri Nimbarkacharya is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Hari’s weapon

Sudarshana Chakra or discus.

 

In Vishnu Yana, the spiritual lineage of Sri Nimbarkacharya is given as

follows: "The sacred Gopala Mantra of eighteen letters sprang from the lotus

mouth of Sri Narayana. It was given to Hamsa Bhagavan. Hamsa Bhagavan in

turn initiated the Kumaras who revealed this Mantra to Rishi Narada. Narada

taught this to his disciple Sri Nimbarka. Nimbarka gave this Mantra to his

disciple Srinivasacharya".

 

Sri Nimbarkacharya was the embodiment of mercy, piety, love, kindness,

liberality and other divine qualities. He did rigorous austerities at

Neemgram and had Darshan of Lord Krishna in that place. In that village only

Nimbarka had exhibited his miracle when Brahma came for Bhiksha as a

Sannyasin. Another holy place of the Nimbarka sect is Salembabad in

Rajasthan. A big Mahant lives here. There is a temple of Nimbarka here.

 

Brindavan, Nandgram, Barsana, Govardhan and Neemgram are the chief Kshetras

or holy lands of the followers of Nimbarkacharya. Parikrama of the 168 miles

of Brij Bhumi is their foremost duty. To pay visits on different occasions

to Sri Nimbarka’s temple in Neemgram, two miles from Govardhan, is their

Sampradayik duty.

 

The Nimbarka sect is found mostly in Brij Bhumi, viz., Brindavan, Nandigram,

Barsana, Govardhan, etc. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Gwalior, Burdwan and

Okara are its centres. The Nimbarka followers are also to be found in

Central India, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal.

 

The Dvaitadvaita Philosophy

 

Sri Nimbarkacharya wrote the following books: Vedanta Parijat Saurabh, a

commentary on the Brahma Sutras; a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita; Sadachar

Prakash, a treatise on Karma Kanda; Rahasya Shodasi, an explanation of the

Sri Gopala Mantra in verses; Prapanna Kalpa Valli, an explanation of the Sri

Mukunda Mantra in verses; Prapatti Chintamani, a treatise pertaining to

supreme refuge; Prata Smarana Stotram, a devotional hymn; Dasa Sloki or Kama

Dhenu, the ten nectarine verses; and Savisesh Nirvisesh Sri Krishna Stavam.

 

 

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