About Bhagavan Shri Nimbarkacharya Ji
Nimbarka is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology of Dvaitadvaita, duality in unity. According to scholars headed by Prof. Roma Bose, he lived in the 13th Century, on the assumption that Shri Nimbarkacharya Ji was the author of the work Madhvamukhamardana. According to Nimbārka Sampradāya however, Śrī Nimbārkācārya appeared over 5000 years ago, in the year 3096 BCE at the time when the grandson of Arjuna was on the throne. He hailed from the present-day Andhra Pradesh, in South India.
Life
Śrī Nimbārkācārya is believed to be the incarnation of the Sudarshana Chakra (the Discus weapon of Krishna), Shri Sakhi Ranga Devi, Shri Tosha Sakha, a cow named Ghusara, a stick for herding cows, the luster of the limbs of Radha, and the nose ring of Radha. In the Naimiṣa Kaṇḍa of the Bhavishya Purana the following is recorded:
At the end of Tretā Yuga, the Brāhmaṇas, being afraid of the Asuras, prayed to Lord Hari. They also prayed to Brahmā who himself prayed to Lord Hari again. Then the Lord summoned his own Sudarśana Cakra -a part of Himself- and commanded him to descend on earth to revive and teach the Vaiṣṇava Dharma which was waning and which he could learn from Nārada, and spread it all around.
The incarnation of the Sudarśana Cakra occurred, according to the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa in the month of Kārtika on the evening of the full moon in the year 3096 BCE. His mother, Jayanti and father, Aruṇa were Tailanga Brāhmaṇas, who resided on the banks of the river Godavari at a place known as Telinga, the modern Vaidurya Pattanam in Andhra Pradesh. He was named Niyamānanda at birth. The region was famed for its scholarly learning, and by the age of 16, Niyamānanda had mastered the Vedas and all related philosophical scripture. With the permission of his parents, Niyamānanda then embarked on a search of a true Guru. Upon reaching Govardhan in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, he began practising penance under the shade of Neem trees. Pleased with his penance, the Sage Narada blessed him with the knowledge of true Vedanta, the doctrine of Dvaitādvaita - or unity in duality. After this, Niyamānanda begged Nārada to accept him as a disciple. The great sage Nārada gave him initiation according to Vaiṣṇava rites, and bestowed him the śālagrāma deity known as Śrī Sarveśvara (the Lord of All). Continuing, Nārada renamed him Haripriyā (one dear to the Lord). He then instructed Niyamānanda on the Gopāla Mantra of the Gopālatāpini Upanishad. Once completed, the Sage Nārada instructed him to practise further penance with that Mantra and all will be revealed before leaving.
In the ritual recitation and meditation upon that mantra, the Lord revealed Himself . Niyamānanda worshipped them, and was blessed with the recollection of his former glory as the Sudarśana Cakra of that very Lord. The Lord instructed him to teach this philosophy to all, and departed.
In a famous incident, having established his āśrama (monastery/hermitage) at that place near Govardhan now known as Nimbagrāma, Niyamānanda began to teach the disciples who dedicated themselves to his mission. Brahmā disguised himself as a renounciate and ventured to this hermitage just before sunset, where the two engaged in philosophical debate. Niyamānanda, being victorious, then offered the guest some refreshments, but he refused, as the sun had set and it would be against the rules of the renounciates. Niyamānanda had to make sure the renounciate ate, otherwise the rules of receiving a guest would be broken. The enlightened Niyamānanda projected some of the effulgence of his being over the neem trees and the renounciate agreed to accept the refreshment. Thereafter, Brahmā revealed himself and blessed him on his knowledge of the Supreme, and gave him a new name - Nimbārka, the one who has placed the Sun in the midst of the Neem trees.
It is with this name that he became famous, though his exact date of death is not known. His disciplic tradition continues unbroken till today, however the information regarding the leaders between leaders 12 and 13 is lost; amongst which were many hundred leaders, due to interference from foreign invaders.
Nimbarka is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology of Dvaitadvaita, duality in unity. According to scholars headed by Prof. Roma Bose, he lived in the 13th Century, on the assumption that Shri Nimbarkacharya Ji was the author of the work Madhvamukhamardana. According to Nimbārka Sampradāya however, Śrī Nimbārkācārya appeared over 5000 years ago, in the year 3096 BCE at the time when the grandson of Arjuna was on the throne. He hailed from the present-day Andhra Pradesh, in South India.
Life
Śrī Nimbārkācārya is believed to be the incarnation of the Sudarshana Chakra (the Discus weapon of Krishna), Shri Sakhi Ranga Devi, Shri Tosha Sakha, a cow named Ghusara, a stick for herding cows, the luster of the limbs of Radha, and the nose ring of Radha. In the Naimiṣa Kaṇḍa of the Bhavishya Purana the following is recorded:
At the end of Tretā Yuga, the Brāhmaṇas, being afraid of the Asuras, prayed to Lord Hari. They also prayed to Brahmā who himself prayed to Lord Hari again. Then the Lord summoned his own Sudarśana Cakra -a part of Himself- and commanded him to descend on earth to revive and teach the Vaiṣṇava Dharma which was waning and which he could learn from Nārada, and spread it all around.
The incarnation of the Sudarśana Cakra occurred, according to the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa in the month of Kārtika on the evening of the full moon in the year 3096 BCE. His mother, Jayanti and father, Aruṇa were Tailanga Brāhmaṇas, who resided on the banks of the river Godavari at a place known as Telinga, the modern Vaidurya Pattanam in Andhra Pradesh. He was named Niyamānanda at birth. The region was famed for its scholarly learning, and by the age of 16, Niyamānanda had mastered the Vedas and all related philosophical scripture. With the permission of his parents, Niyamānanda then embarked on a search of a true Guru. Upon reaching Govardhan in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, he began practising penance under the shade of Neem trees. Pleased with his penance, the Sage Narada blessed him with the knowledge of true Vedanta, the doctrine of Dvaitādvaita - or unity in duality. After this, Niyamānanda begged Nārada to accept him as a disciple. The great sage Nārada gave him initiation according to Vaiṣṇava rites, and bestowed him the śālagrāma deity known as Śrī Sarveśvara (the Lord of All). Continuing, Nārada renamed him Haripriyā (one dear to the Lord). He then instructed Niyamānanda on the Gopāla Mantra of the Gopālatāpini Upanishad. Once completed, the Sage Nārada instructed him to practise further penance with that Mantra and all will be revealed before leaving.
In the ritual recitation and meditation upon that mantra, the Lord revealed Himself . Niyamānanda worshipped them, and was blessed with the recollection of his former glory as the Sudarśana Cakra of that very Lord. The Lord instructed him to teach this philosophy to all, and departed.
In a famous incident, having established his āśrama (monastery/hermitage) at that place near Govardhan now known as Nimbagrāma, Niyamānanda began to teach the disciples who dedicated themselves to his mission. Brahmā disguised himself as a renounciate and ventured to this hermitage just before sunset, where the two engaged in philosophical debate. Niyamānanda, being victorious, then offered the guest some refreshments, but he refused, as the sun had set and it would be against the rules of the renounciates. Niyamānanda had to make sure the renounciate ate, otherwise the rules of receiving a guest would be broken. The enlightened Niyamānanda projected some of the effulgence of his being over the neem trees and the renounciate agreed to accept the refreshment. Thereafter, Brahmā revealed himself and blessed him on his knowledge of the Supreme, and gave him a new name - Nimbārka, the one who has placed the Sun in the midst of the Neem trees.
It is with this name that he became famous, though his exact date of death is not known. His disciplic tradition continues unbroken till today, however the information regarding the leaders between leaders 12 and 13 is lost; amongst which were many hundred leaders, due to interference from foreign invaders.
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