History of Saraswat Math


In the end of happy journey of austere endeavor of Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati, the 'Shanti Ashram' was founded by him in the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya at Kumilla Durgapur in 1314 B.S. for the first time. He returned to Dhaka after staying there almost three and half years due to some reasons. The Shanti Ashram was shifted to Gendaria in Dhaka in 1318 B.S. 'Sri Gouranga Anath Niketan' was founded there on 26th Agrahayan 1318 B.S. The noble purpose behind it is to serve the distressed, the grieved, the sick and the poor.

There was a disciple named Saruram Kalita, inhabitant of Charigram near Jorhat, would go to Sri Sri Thakur. He supplied the information to Sri Sri Thakur that vast land was given by Govt. in Assam only charging with an irregular fees. Saruram purchased a plot of 80 bighas at Kumarveti Chapri village of Kokilamukh taking money from Sri Sri Thakur. The Math was instituted on the land.

Sri Sri Thakur together with Swami Swarupananda and Atul Chakraborty went to Kokilamukh on 10th Magh, 1318 B.S. from Dhaka and selected the place after observing it. And he stayed there with Atul Chakraborty. Coming back to Dhaka Swami Swarupanandaji made an arrangement for sending the all ashram articles to Kokilamukh by steamer. On 22nd Falgun all of them came to Kokilamukh winding up the Dhaka Ashram this year. Sri Sri Thakur himself founded the asan of Gurubrhama at Kokilamukh in the propitious occasion of Akshay Tritiya on 7th Baisakh 1319 B.S. and gave the name to it also Shanti Ashram. First seven self denying disciples (Swami Chidananda, Swami Premananda, Swami Swarupananda, Swami Yogananda, Swami Suddhananda, Swami Bodhananda and Swami Saradananda) were initiated asceticism by Sri Sri Thakur and he gave name to this Ashram as Saraswat Math. Then it has been given a name to Assam Bangiya Saraswat Math since 1325 B.S.

Being an ascetic relating to the title of Saraswati under the Sringeri Math he gives the name to his Math as 'Saraswat Math', Ashram as 'Saraswat Ashram' and Sangha as 'Saraswat Sangha'. The religious books compiled by him is familiarized as 'Saraswat Granthabali'.


A man reading the Holy Bible

-:  FOUNDATION OF MATH BY THAKUR NIGAMANANDA SARASWATI DEVA  :-

1. Thakur Nigmananda Dev started his Ashram at Garohill, Assam, giving name as "Garohill Yogashram" in a cottage in the Period: 1312 to 1314 B.S.

2. Then He started “Shanti Ashram” at Durgapur, Coomilla (Now in Bangladesh) in the Period: 1314 to 1317 B.S.

3. Then He shifted that “Shanti Ashram” to Dacca (Now Dhaka) in then Period: 1317 to 1318 B.S.

4. From Dacca He shifted the “Shanti Ashram” to Kokilamukh, Assam in 1319 B. era and established Gurubrahma Asan in the pious day of Akshaya Tritiya in the Period: 1319 to 1383 B.S. Then this Ashram was renamed as Saraswat Math. Again it was renamed as “Assam-Bangiya Saraswat Math” by Thakur Nigamananda.

5. When Brahmaputra river damaged Math heavily by its furious and dangerous flood Swami Atmananda Maharaj shifted the Gurubrahma Asan to Itakhuli, Gormur, Jorhat, Assam during 1373 B.S.

6. Due to Natural Calamities & violation this A.B.S. Math was shifted by the Board of Trustees to a Bibhagiya Ashram — named as Dakshin Bangla Saraswat Ashram, Halisahar, 24 Parganas (N) in 1383 B.S. Now it is functioning as Math according to the resolution of the Board of Trustees.


The following four departments had been included in the Math by Thakur Nigamananda Dev i.e.

All the departments are there in Assam Bangiya Saraswat Math, Halisahar.

PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT :

Near about three hundred religious Books are being printed and published by our Prachar Bibhag (publication department) including monthly religious magazine "Arya Darpan" with valuable essays or writings of eminent writers; and also poems are being published in every issue. It’s Oriya Edition is being printed with some separate writings and some in translated form also. Innumerable subscribers are very much pleased to read the magazine.

Near about 300 Books are being published in our Prachar Bibhag, i.e. Publication Department including monthly religious magazine Arya Darpan.

Please be a subscriber of monthly religious magazine Arya Darpan.

Yearly Subscription : INR.200.00/-

Thakur Nigamananda Dev’s Books are available here.Jnaniguru, Yogiguru, Tantrikguru, Premikguru, Brahmacharya Sadhan, Vedanta Vivek, Tattwamala written by Swami Nigamananda Dev are available here in various languages. Sadguru Nigamananda, life history by Moni Bagchi is also available.

The chronicle of the Editors of the Magazine "Arya Darpan" are given below with there duration period.

# Editors Name Period From Period Upto
1 Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Kartik 1315 BS Aswina 1317
2 Srimat Swami Yogananda Saraswati Kartik 1317 Kartik 1323
3 Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Agrahayan 1323 Kartik 1325
4 Srimat Barada Brahmachari (Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati) Agrahayan 1325 Asharh 1337
5 Srimat Satya Chaitanya Brahmachari (Swami Satyananda Saraswati) Shravan 1337 Chaitra 1365
6 Srimat Shyam Chaitanya Brahmachari (Swami Nirgunananda Saraswati) Baishakh 1366 Agrahayan 1367
7 Srimat Swami Satyananda Saraswati Pous 1367 Shravan 1384
8 Srimat Swami Siddhananda Saraswati Bhadra 1384 Asharh 1398
9 Srimat Swami Jnanananda Saraswati Shravan 1398 Magh 1426
10 Srimat Swami Bimalananda Saraswati Falgun 1426 till now

We have reprinted the old Aryadarpan from its very first issue, the month of Kartik, 1315 B. era. Twenty volumes up to 1342 B.S. have been published. Thakur Nigamananda Dev departed drowning in great grief to his mass beloved devotees and desciples in the 13th Agrahayan 1342 B. era (29.11.1935) at 1.15 pm in Kolkata Beadon Street.

 

Rishi Vidyalaya :

Thakur Nigamananda established Rishi Vidyalaya in Math and in other Ashrams for the upliftment of theological knowledge among the interns of Math-Ashrams where Sanyasis and Brahmacharis will study in Sanatan Dharma or religious culture. There is also Rishi Vidyalaya in our Math at Halisahar from where innumerable students were passed with various Upadhis. Qualified Pandits in various subjects of Vedanta, Upanishad, Philosophies, Vyakaran, Sahitya, Smriti etc. to teach the students accordingly. This Nigamananda Saraswat Math Rishi Vidyalaya is renowed Sanskrit Tol in our state. From this Rishi Vidyalaya many renowed and cultured Pandits were reading here. Under Sanskrit Bharati, Delhi Sanskrit Sambhasana Camps are being organised here often on. Sanskrit Teachers’ Training Camps have been organised by Sanskrit Bharati four (4) times in our A.B.S. Math, Halisahar where near about average 150 students attended the Camp every year. The higher level organisers of Samskrit Bharati have praised our Math for their organising camps. We are also highly pleased for Sambhasana Shibir and Teaching camps. Every year students are taking Upadhis from our Rishi Vidyalaya. Our interns are taking the facilities of this Rishi Vidyalaya. Now there are there (3) Adhyapakas (Sanskrit teachers) giving Sanskrit teachings. A governing body is there to govern the Rishi Vidyalaya where the Mohant Maharaj is its President and one fittest member is its Secretary.

 

Jnanachakra :

Thakur Nigamananda has drawn JNANACHAKRA (Sketch) which is very much praiseworthy and helpful to know regarding elementary knowledge of religion. All the Religious Epic-Tattwas are there.

JNANACHAKRA has been narrated by Swami Jnanananda Saraswati in his Book named "JNANACHAKRA" which has been published by the Saraswat Math Publication Department.

 

Bhakta Sammilani :

Thakur Nigamananda Paramahansa Dev has established Sarbabhouma Bhakta Sammilani in 1322 B. era. On 2014 A.D. its first Centenary celebration will be organised by the Board of Trustees at ABS Math Halisahar, from 26th Dec. to 29th Dec. 2014 for four days when innumerable devotees from far and near attended the Sammilani for pleasure, happiness , peace, Devotion and knowledge.

There are so many Saraswat Ashrams and also Saraswat Sanghashrams. There are about four hundred Registered sanghas and many unregistered sanghas under our Math. Some Lacs of disciples, devotees are there under our Math.

 

Nigamananda Yuva Sangha :

We have started Nigamananda Yuva Sangha in various places – especially in Saraswat Sangha with multi purpose schemes

Purpose Of The Nigamananda Yuva Sangha :

1. The young persons will maintain their organised and religious lives.

2. They will take training from Math to build their character and to gather knowledge in religious line.

3. They will learn how to give social service to the ailments.

4. They will also render the service for calamity-stricken people and they will jump for relief works when we will appoint them to do such.

5. In any great celebration, their voluntary service will fetch the sure success of the celebration.

6. Rendering service to the humanity or society, their mind will be purified for which they can concentrate the mind. It will be very much useful for sadhana & Salvation.

7. They can also teach other youngers accordingly and can frame an ideal society.

8. Multipurpose education is necessary to build themselves.

9. Many other social relief works can be done by them.

10. They are also ready with utter eagerness to render the service when it will be demanded.