Bhagawan Nityananda

What Does Bhagawan Nityananda Mean?

Bhagawan Nityananda (1897-1961) was an Indian guru and is considered to be one of the most revered siddha gurus of the modern age. He is also regarded as a modern Hindu saint. Bhagawan is a Sanskrit term meaning "lord" or "great one" and was given to him later in life by his followers. Nityananda may be translated as "always in bliss" and was given to him due to his spiritual demeanor.

Bhagawan Nityananda gave relatively few verbal teachings, spending much of his time in silence, but what he did teach was compiled later from the notes of one of his devotees and published in the “Chidakash Gita.” He created an ashram in the village of Ganeshpuri.

Yogapedia Explains Bhagawan Nityananda

Little is known about Bhagawan Nityananda’s birth, but it is believed he was abandoned as an infant and raised by a foster family in the Tuneri village of India. It is said that even as a child he appeared to be in an advanced spiritual state, and some, therefore, came to believe that he was born enlightened.

Bhagawan Nityanada became a wandering yogi as a teenager, wandering and studying in the Himalayas before returning to southern India. He created a reputation for himself as a miracle worker and healer, although he never took credit for miracles, seeing them as the work of God. He also engaged in philanthropic work, supporting the local adivasis — a group of people who were badly treated by the Indian population at the time. He set up a school and provided food and clothing.

Also affectionately known as Bade Baba by some Siddha yoga devotees, his central teaching was, "The heart is the hub of all sacred places. Go there and roam." This teaching has continued to be a core concept of the Siddha yoga path.