Soham Swami
Encyclopedia
Soham Swami(Hindi:सोऽहं स्वामी ) was a great guru and yogi of India. He lived before the first quarter of the twentieth century (his last book ′Common Sense′ was published in 1923 after his death.
Originally named as Shyamakanta Bandopaddhyaya, he was Advaita Vedantic disciple of Tibbetibaba
. Tibbetibaba was a great yogi and guru of India.
Born as Shyamakanta Bandopaddhyaya, he was Tibbetibaba's Advaita Vedantic disciple. Soham Swami had ashram in both in Nainital and Haridwar. He was born at Autsahi in Dhaka
district (now in Munshiganj district) in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
and was one of pioneers of physical prowess of modern Bengal
. He had so much physical strength that he could wrestle even tigers.
Soham Swami had ashram in both in Nainital and Haridwar
. It was at the Nainital ashram, Niralamba Swami
became his disciple. In his early life Niralamba Swami, also known as Jatindra Nath Banerjee, was a great freedom fighter of India.
Soham Swami died at his Nainital ashram on 5 December, 1918.. The last book written by him was published after his death.
His samadhi
(tomb) is located at Palitpur
, Burdwan, India.
, although their family originally hailed from Fulia, Nadia district
, Paschimbanga (West Bengal
). His father Shashibhushan Bandyopadhyay was a clerk at a Tripura
court. He spent his childhood in Dhaka
where he studied at Dhaka Collegiate School. When he was in college, he started bodybuilding at the akhara of Adhar Ghosh at Lakshmibazar, Dhaka. Later he wanted to be a soldier, but he was barred from entering into the British Indian Army
.
After that he was appointed the bodyguard of Maharaja
Bir Chandra Manikya Bahadur of Tripura
. Later he left the job and joined Barishal Zilla School as a gym trainer. Soon he left that job also and started a circus.
In 1899, he left home to become a monk. He was initiated
by Nabin Chandra ChakrabartyTibbetibaba
, a Vedantic monk who renamed Shyamakanta as Sohham Swami.
Shyamakanta set up his Ashrama at Bhaowali near Nainital in modern-day Uttarakhand
, India
.
He died at Bhaowali on 5 December, 1918.
His notable works included: Sohham Gita, Sohham Tattwa, Sohham Samhita, Vivekgatha, Truth, Bhagavat Gitar Samalochana etc.
Originally named as Shyamakanta Bandopaddhyaya, he was Advaita Vedantic disciple of Tibbetibaba
Tibbetibaba
Tibbetibaba , Hindi:तिब्बती बाबा, also known as Mahasadhak Tibbetibaba or Paramhamsa Tibbetibaba, alternative spellings Tibbatibaba, Tibbati Baba, Tibbeti Baba,Tibbotibaba or Tibboti Baba originally named Nabin Chattopadhhyaya or Nabin or Nabin Chandra, Tibbetibaba , Hindi:तिब्बती बाबा, also known...
. Tibbetibaba was a great yogi and guru of India.
Born as Shyamakanta Bandopaddhyaya, he was Tibbetibaba's Advaita Vedantic disciple. Soham Swami had ashram in both in Nainital and Haridwar. He was born at Autsahi in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
district (now in Munshiganj district) in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and was one of pioneers of physical prowess of modern Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. He had so much physical strength that he could wrestle even tigers.
Soham Swami had ashram in both in Nainital and Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
. It was at the Nainital ashram, Niralamba Swami
Niralamba Swami
The period between 1871 and 1910 during the Indian freedom struggle saw the dramatic rise of two great Indian nationalists and freedom fighters. One was Aurobindo Ghosh and the other was Jatindra Nath Banerjee . But the metamorphosis of both these persons from great active freedom fighters to great...
became his disciple. In his early life Niralamba Swami, also known as Jatindra Nath Banerjee, was a great freedom fighter of India.
Soham Swami died at his Nainital ashram on 5 December, 1918.. The last book written by him was published after his death.
His samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
(tomb) is located at Palitpur
Palitpur
Palitpur is a small village located near Burdwan town in Bardhaman district. It is famous for Ashram and Samādhi of Tibbetibaba, a famous saint of India.- Geography :...
, Burdwan, India.
Life
Shyamakanta was born at Arial village near Munsigung in modern-day BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, although their family originally hailed from Fulia, Nadia district
Nadia District
Nadia district is a district of the state of West Bengal, in the north east of India. It borders with Bangladesh to the east, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts to the south, Bardhaman district to the west, and Murshidabad district to the north....
, Paschimbanga (West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
). His father Shashibhushan Bandyopadhyay was a clerk at a Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
court. He spent his childhood in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
where he studied at Dhaka Collegiate School. When he was in college, he started bodybuilding at the akhara of Adhar Ghosh at Lakshmibazar, Dhaka. Later he wanted to be a soldier, but he was barred from entering into the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
.
After that he was appointed the bodyguard of Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Bir Chandra Manikya Bahadur of Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
. Later he left the job and joined Barishal Zilla School as a gym trainer. Soon he left that job also and started a circus.
In 1899, he left home to become a monk. He was initiated
Diksha
Diksa also spelled deeksha or deeksa in common usage, translated as a "preparation or consecration for a religious ceremony", is giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism...
by Nabin Chandra ChakrabartyTibbetibaba
Tibbetibaba
Tibbetibaba , Hindi:तिब्बती बाबा, also known as Mahasadhak Tibbetibaba or Paramhamsa Tibbetibaba, alternative spellings Tibbatibaba, Tibbati Baba, Tibbeti Baba,Tibbotibaba or Tibboti Baba originally named Nabin Chattopadhhyaya or Nabin or Nabin Chandra, Tibbetibaba , Hindi:तिब्बती बाबा, also known...
, a Vedantic monk who renamed Shyamakanta as Sohham Swami.
Shyamakanta set up his Ashrama at Bhaowali near Nainital in modern-day Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
He died at Bhaowali on 5 December, 1918.
Written works
The writings of Soham Swami include books named:- Soham Gita: This book contains teachings of Soham Swami.It is a poem on philosophy.
- Soham Samhita: This book contains teachings of Soham Swami.
- Common Sense: This book attempts to prove that all religions of the world are full of absurdities, inconsistencies, and fallacies. In this book the importance of development of common sense and realization of divinity in all beings is stressed. This book was first published in 1924.
- Truth: This book was the only book written by him in English poetry. It was published in Calcutta, now Kolkata, in 1913.
His notable works included: Sohham Gita, Sohham Tattwa, Sohham Samhita, Vivekgatha, Truth, Bhagavat Gitar Samalochana etc.
Teachings
- In human beings body consciousness gives rise to the pride of body. This pride is the greatest enemy of human beings. By Self-knowledge one gets rid of this pride.
- Equanimity comes after one transcends body consciousness.
- Causes of emotions like fear and shame are the false association of Self or Atman (soul) with the body and mind. When one gets knowledge that Self or Atman (soul) is different from body or mind, then these emotions disappear.