MEMORIES OF SRI ANIRVAN BY THE LUCKY FEW WHO KNEW OR MET HIM
PLEASE TELL YOUR MEMORIES OF SRI ANIRVAN
These are the memories of people who knew or had met the great saint Sri Anirvan who lived 1896 to 1978. He was a man of vast learning and interests, an M.A., a linguist, proficient in the Vedas and Buddhism, poetry, nuclear science. He wrote many books, articles and poetry. He translated The Life Divine by Sri Aurobindo Ghosh into Bangla. His book Vedamimangsa got the Rabindra Award. Anirvan called himself a simple Baul and preached the ideals of humanity.
Welcome! Let us spread the beauty of the loving wisdom of Sri Anirvan.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Namaste,
knowledge depth
My name is Kalyani Bose and I am a resident of New Jersey, USA. I am simply thrilled to see that at long last some one has taken the initiative to make known such a Rishi-Yogi as Srimat Anirvanis through internet. No words can ever express the depth of his Divine Knowledge.
The three volumes of his Veda Mimansa are epoch- making and a priceless legacy to us. Mm. Lizelle Reymond, Who considered him as her guru, has given a detailed picture of his Rishi like personality (actully she has referred to him as Rishida in a couple of places) in her two books- "My life with a Brahmin Family" and "To Live Within." The letters in the later volume are awe-inspiring and will help any Seeker of Truth.
Ms. Rama Choudhury, his most noted disciple is still working to spread the Anirvan Consciousness by publishing his books through Haimavati Prakashani, the zenith being the six volumes of "Gayatri Mandala" a commentary on the Third Mandala of the Rig Veda which he composed while in Almora.
In the early childhood he was blessed with the darshan of the Divine Vedamata as a six-year old, whom he named Haimavati as in the Kenopanishad. He has mentioned times without number that since then She had been the main source of his Gayatri darshan inspiration and activities. Wherever he lived- be it in the foothills of the Himalayas in Almora or Assam or the densely populated Kolkata streets- his residence was always within the loving embrace of his Haimavati.
Kalyani Bose
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A Rare Experience - Meeting Two Beloved Disciples of Sri Anirvan, Sri and Smt Dharmapal
It was a wonderful experience for us to talk with them. We spent around an hour there. It was too short a time to know all the stories of Sri Anirvan from them. We sat in the room in which Sri Anirvan spent the last seven years of his life.
Sri Dharampal-ji told us a brief biography of Sri Anirvan. He mentioned various incidents like - becoming a Mahanta in Assam Bangiyo Saraswat Matth, writing in Arya Darpan, etc. After returning from the Himalayas, while staying in Ranchi, Sri Anirvan started teaching the Life Divine of Sri Aurobindo. This was due to the request of some of the spiritually oriented people. That was the beginning. He even taught the Vedas. Later he published the book Divya Jeevan (Bengali translation of the Life Divine), Veda-mimamsa (this book won the Rabindra Puraskar).
We were active listeners there. We did not have enough time to ask other questions. However thanks to electronic era! We recorded some of his speech in our mobiles. I am attaching some of it with this mail.
He also told us to read the book 'My Life with a Brahmin Family' written by Lizelle Reymond, the same author who wrote "To Live Within." This book is probably out of print.
Respectfully,
Anonymous.
Today is Guru Purnima.
We are indeed blessed to know Sri Anirvan, whether we have met him in real life, or read His teachings. Sri Gautam and Smt Gouri Dharampal said today, "May all the Gurus -Krishna, Buddha, and all the Mahatmas, bless all of you, your relatives, your friends, everyone on this holy day. We pray for you to be always happy with Inner Joy, as Anirvan always said."
Sri Anirvan -
"To be oneself, that is to say, to live in the consciousness of one's own essence, promotes the growth of a new understanding. It is just as if delicate fingers were unfolding, one by one, the petals of a lotus."
Today is Guru Purnima. Let us humbly bow before Sri Anirvan.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Translation of a letter of Anirvan
This is an English translation of a letter which Anirvan wrote in response to a question of a devotee. This is not an exact literal translation-as it is extremely difficult (almost impossible) to translate his unique poetic use of his mother tongue.
I feel it is an indispensible condition first to draw one’s all within oneself. But this drawing within –this recoiling from the peripheries should be an inner activity. But in order to going inward if one feels perforce remaining in a secluded cave leaving the world outside –then it may invite morbidity. But if we do all the works in harmony with our inner life in this practical world and try to establish a stable inner poise –while being in the midst of this world –it will help as a consequence in our sadhana of transforming the outer nature. Later we will begin to achieve a state where we can live in a waking trance (jagrat Samadhi). All our knots with this world will gradually get loose and we are landed in a world where all the dividing walls have fallen off. A secret and revealing truth’s sight would appear with its dazzle before our eyes. This will later become spontaneously natural to us. And to achieve this one need not require staying in the seclusion of a cave.
From: An anonymous devotee
Posted by Devabrata at 2:27 AM
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Chhotenarayan Sharma
Dear Ms.Mrinalini and Friends,
I met Chhotenarayan ji recently to know more about revered Anirvan-
Though he had much reverence for him he could not recall the exact years when he met him- may be in 1948 and again after 50s, at Golpark, Kolkata, where the Ramakrishna Mission is now situated with its grand hall and guest house.
Anirvan was very lean and thin and sick. The lady who was looking after him said that even in such a position he never called anyone for help throughout the day and night, as he remembered. He remained with himself, silent throughout the time.
Chhotenarayan Sharma showed me the book, Divya Jeevanki Path-Sanket, written by him and published by Sri Aurobindo Society, Jaypur in 2002. It is based entirely on Srimat Anirvan's translation of Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine, titled, Divya Jiban which was published by the Arya Publishing House.
Aju Mukhopadhyay
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
His last letter to me
Dear Mrinalini-ji,
I now feel sad that in those days when I was passionately in love with Anirvan-ji, it did not come to me that I should know more about the physical man in Anirvan-ji. Moreover I lived in a far away place-Asansol, doing my service. So I did not get much opportunity to know about him, and over and above that I was passing through critical days for some time. Had I known Sri Gautam Dharmapal, I would surely have tried to contact him. But I knew none who could be inform me regarding Anirvan-ji. But I am glad to know that you are known to Sri Gautam and have been getting his help.
So I was by the condition of my circumstances compelled to find and connect to him in my heart. If I know a little of that yogi –it is, strictly speaking, my own inner experience, as I got to know him not in this world, but inside my heart. My relation with him was predominantly defined in terms of my love for that extraordinary person. I knew that he would leave his physical body soon. I became very sad as if I was going to lose my father. I told him this about his imminent parting and my pain of not being able to see him again physically.
Actually I had very little opportunity to visit him frequently as I said earlier. One day I told “Whether I meet you or not I know that I can come to you any time if I want so. But when you will not be here in this world-I’ll lose you forever.” He told me, “Devabrata, in this life I exist as Akasha Shareeram Brahma. After my mortal death I shall exist in the same way. If you become Aakash-Brahma, where is the separation? Be that.”
On an occasion after that I was reading a book Kenopanishad, written by him. After reading the book, half way in the night, I went to the lonely roof of my residence. I sat there looking at the vast star-studded sky. Suddenly I felt his presence. I strongly felt that he was very near to me. Love surged from my heart and tears rolled from my eyes. I wrote to him about this matter in detail and asked him, “As I felt your presence –as I was thinking deeply about you- you came to me-in response to my heart’s call. If I would call you after your physical death-would you come to me –in the same way?”
He wrote back- “I am keeping your request with me.” He left his body after seven days of writing this letter.
Devabrata
Dear Prithwindra Babu,
Please try to contact Sri Robi Mitra and ask him for his memories. Could you please try to find the letters written to you by Sri Anirvan? We would be so blessed to read his words.
Gratefully,
Mrinalini
Dear Mrinalini Ben,
I'm extremely glad that you have at least done something real for a future to begin from this place.Only last year I browsed the Internet to get a glimpse on this great yogi-who had supported me to a great extent in the crucial days of my life-but I failed to have any save the Banglapadea.I sincerely hope that you will succeed in your mission as the blessings of Anirvan (Aakash Maharaj-as called by my wife)is always with you.
My good wishes. Devabrata
July 4, 2008 12:00 AM
Dear Tusar Babu, Madam Mrinalini and others- I asked Chhotenarayan Sharma ji- he has become quite old now but comes every morning to offer dhup to the Samadhi- when he visited and how it was- he replied that he visited revered Anirvan in 1948 and 1952 and was very impressed, on asking that he was a yogi proper, he replied very assertively. About the translation of Life Divine he said that really that was a great work- with Sri Aurobindo's touch, he confirmed after my asking so. He said that he translated some work of his in Hindi...
Loving regards to all-
Aju Mukhopadhyay
Dear Friends,
I have some books written by Anirvan with me. All are Bengali.
Mrinalini will find it difficult to research on Anirvan as his writings are in Bengali including Veda Mimansa, Kaveri and his collection of letters Patralikha. His letters written to his gurughai and devotees are extremely important for doing some research works on him. His residence and Smt Rama Choudhury (if Gouri and Gautam Dharmapal not available) may help in so far as his varied opinions on many matters are concerned.
Regards.Devabrata
Dear friends,
Many are writing about the yogi Anirvan, as he was- it would be nice to do research on him and if a comprehensive book is brought out.
I have Upanishad Prasanga - about Upanishad by Anirvan published by Burdwan University in three parts but the bindings are very bad so they can not be parted with and I have a book of poems by him- if any one is interested to publish I may translate the poems in it. I may say that he used to lecture at Sri Aurobindo Pathmandir at Coffee House building, College Street, Kolkata and Pathmandir people have published his book or books, may be- she may search there too. Good wishes,
Aju Mukhopadhyay
Ma Dear Tushar,
About Sri Anirban of Calcutta, Prof. Chotte Narayan Sharma of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry, has visited him and may speak on him. Chottenarayanji was always describing him as a great Yogi. There is a book " Buguda Smriti" in bengali written by a disciple of Swami Nigamananda Saraswati. There some reference to him is given. Now I faintly remember all these writings. The translation of the book (which is not so exact) could be traced at Nilachala Saraswat Sangha at Puri or Bhubaneswar. Swami Nigamananda was taking care of him from his child hood. Slowly he differed from the path of Shankaracharya and finally left Swami Nigamananda Saraswati. But he had his great reverence to Swamiji till the end. Perhaps his name was Swami Nirbananda , but he himself changed it to Anirban. If I get this book, shall let you know the exact facts.
Affectionately yours, Mamu
Mrinalini-ben,
My father, Tejendranath Mukherjee, knew Shri Anirvan. He has joined the Mother's nest above the Service Tree, in 1989. Among some of his friends, Shri Robi Mitra (uncle of Arup, working at the Archives) will be probably able to inform you.
As a curious young man, I did write to him off and on, and out of generosity, whenever he wrote back, there was always a word of admiration for the poems I wrote and published in the 50s and 60s under the affectionate guidance of Nolinikanta Gupta, Dilipkumar Ray and Nishikanta for Bengali, and Amal Kiran for English. Wish you all the best for this interest.
Kind regards.
Prithwindra
On Anirvana what I had heard from Nabkishore Mohanty, who was once upon a time manager in Gloria Firm.There was a talk delivered by Anirvana himself in the courtyard of Ashram. What I had heard I am just recollecting and narrating:
Anirvan was a great scholar. On his coming to Ashram, there was a grand reception for him. He was asked: What were the two memorable experiences of your life?
He said, "I had been to Brindavan. Normally wherever I go, a few students of mine accompany me. At Brindavan, we had gone to the countryside.Others were with me. I saw a cowherd at a distance with his cows. The cows were beautiful and with interest I went near to them taking leave of my students for a few minutes.I saw the cowherd, very handsome and attractive.I gazed and gazed at him and I lost myself for some time. Then I found no cows and no cowherd. I returned to the students."
The other question asked him, "How were you able to translate Life Divine ? He said actually I have not done it. In the yester night what I saw in a dream I wrote."
This is about Anirvan what I have heard from Naba Bhai.
Regards. Sankar Bhai,
Dear Mrinalini,
1. I came to know about Anirvan from his translation of Life Divine.
2. Later -perhaps in 1973/1974 I visited him to his the then residence at Calcutta.
3. He was bed-ridden then and was incapable to sit on his bed on his own. He was very much sufferring. He weighed hardly 20 kg then.
4. Anirvan never initiated (diksha) anyone i.e. he was not guru of any person. He was against also to found an ashram after his name.
5. As usual he had to face many visitors. People visited him for various purposes. Some for material gain and safety and some for spiritual purposes. Some were known to him for many years-and so they also visited him. Among them some foreigners were also there. One Nivedita regarded him as her guru and came to serve him whenever she found time. She was a remarkable lady. You may know better about his foreigner followers from Prithwindra Babu. Anirvanji -personally told me that most of the people came to him for material wants.
6.A yogi is never talkative. I think you may -as an Indian (especially when you are not a Bengali) understand the nature of true yogis..
7. Earlier -he gave talks in Dharma Savas on spiritual matters.
8. Actually I came to his association in the last few years of his life when he was completely bed-ridden. And then I was living in Asansol -another city of West Bengal. So whenever I visited him -my only purpose was to feel his personal presence. He loved me-I do not know why. I felt profound love in his presence. Sometimes it came in waves that it was unbearable for an ordinary man like me. He never made me wait for my visit-even if it was odd hour for visiting a person like him. One day he asked me "Devabrata (I'm Debabrata -but he always wrote Devabrata) -ask me what you have to ask". I told him "I thought to tell you something but I do not know how to form my question." He smiled and told me -"Yes -there is nothing to ask i. e. questions are unreal. You are right." I visited him only for my love and great regard. I asked him some questions on the veracity of some of our beliefs. So one such question was whether there is Ganga (river) above us. He emphatically told me that -there is Akash Ganga and patal Ganga both above and below. One can experience them if they are pure and have quality to realise subtle worlds. Only such questions. I did not like to stay for a long time as I did not want him to suffer by talking. But it was he -who insisted for a longer stay with such words " You have come to know much things -feel much things-though you will not agree to it. So why are you hurrying? Sit here." It was his love.
9. If I were not a devotee of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo -I would have asked and gathered much information. But at that time -I wanted nothing save the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. It was not because that I was a great devotee of the Mother. It was because my visit to the Mother in 1971 had a mesmerising influence on me. Mind -she was the Parashakti -how could I be otherwise then between 1971 and 1990. Gradually the intensity faded. So my knowledge about Anirvan's life is extremely limited. I have already told Indranil Babu of SABDA to trace Udayan for his telephone number. But Udayan -though Anivan was his uncle did not realise his greatness. You may get some external information from Udayan. Anirvan's brother -perhaps not living now. I think that Prithwin babu may help you considerably. You should visit the ashram of Swami Nigamananda -where there are still some sadhus who knew Anirvan and also regard him as a great spiritual personality. Finally-I have intentionally written so much as it may help to create a mind to know someone who was a Bengali. He wrote poetry also. He loved to be known as Baul.
Regards. Devabrata
Friends, I have in my collection the beautiful 2002 edition of Divya-jîvana brought out by the Ashram Trust, clearly mentioning : "The Life Divine" by Sri Aurobindo; Translator: Anirban. In the preliminaries we find : Volume I: 1st edition (1948, 2nd revised edition 1970); Volume II: 1st edition (1951); Integral 3rd edition (1981), 4th edition (1986), 5th edition (1994), reprinted (1999, 2002). Price: Rs 210.00. This shows that the translation has received constant and full attention of the Ashram Trust. Revised by Nolinikanta Gupta, Professor Surendranath Bose brought out his scholarly Bengali translation, Divya-jîvan vârtâ, which did not have, however, the poetic impetus and felicity of Anirvan's language, re-created to suit the needs of the magnum opus.
All the best.
Prithwindra Mukherjee
Dear Mrinalini,
Anirvan was a great yogi. He was known to the spiritual community of India and abroad also. But -it is very difficult to know a yogi externally. Unlike the ordinary persons, the life of a yogi is exclusively internal. The surface helps little in their case.
Anirvan was the chief disciple of Swami Nigamananda Saraswati-a renowned spiritual person in Bengal and in India as a whole. Anirvan was given sannyas by his guru and christened him with a name-Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati. Later he left his guru's ashram when Swami Nigamananda Saraswati was alive and staying in the ashram. After sometime he changed his name as Anirvan discarding his earlier name as given by his guru.
So externally there may be many conjectures about his relation and his devotion to his guru. But no conjecture will lead to the truth; it is something that can only be understood with some knowledge in spiritual matters. You are suggested to read a book written on Anirvan by Narayani Devi in Bengali. I read the book. It's the only book that is authentic in matters related to Anirvan. Anirvan had some foreign disciples and they knew him more than the Indians.
I'll write to you later after contacting Indranil babu of SABDA.
As I had a personal relationship with Anirvan I feel that it is better not to judge a great spiritual personality from external events and surface life.
Sri Aurobindo did not give anyone the permission to translate Life Divine. But reading a few pages of the Bengali translation -he instantaneously approved it. Those who are bhakatas of Anirvan's translation (majority of them still today) love him for his Bengali. Anirvan's Bengali is unique and he showed the way how to write a philosophycal book in poetic language. He used the sanskrit words with the very local Bengali to produce a classic.
The later translation by another person is good but can not come near to Anirvan's excellence. It was only possible for Sri Aurobindo to translate the Vedic and Upanishadic matters in English that he used before every chapter of the Life Divine. The dignity and the spiritual power of Sanskrit sentences are impossible in English. But Sri Aurobindo made it possible. Anirvan also translated those Sanskrit/English to Bengali- which does not support that masculine and solemn virility of those sentences. Bengali is in nature feminine (save Bankimchandra, Michael Madhusudan, Vidyasagar). Anirvan maintained the spirit of Sanskrit and the English of Sri Aurobindo.
Regards. Devabrata
Dear Mrinalini-ji,
I knew Anirvan personally. He was a great yogi -but not in the line of Sri Aurobindo.
Much later I came to know about Udayan Dhar who incidentally joined my office in Asansol. Udayan -later resigned from my office and joined in a bank in Calcutta. Around this time I knew from him that Anirvan was his uncle.
Now much after 35 years -I came to know -the other day that Udayan (he is also now a retired person) frequently visits Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, 8, Shakespeare Sarani, Calcutta. I have known it from Indranil babu-who works in SABDA-Calcutta centre-situated in the same campus of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. I have had no exchanges with Udayan after he left my office almost 35 years ago. Perhaps he has forgotten me altogether. Indranil has contact with Udayan as Udayan visits Sri Aurobindo Bhavan -where the office of Indranil is situated.
I visited Anirvan several times in the Seventies till he left his body. His address was
Haimavati, 9/2 Fern Road,Calcutta............?
I think you can visit there and meet Smt Rama Choudhury-a devotee of Anirvan and can know what you want about Anirvan.
If you are interested I will search from the letters of Anirvan -his full address i.e. the PIN code of Fern Road. I can also give the telephone number of Indranil of SABDA -Calcutta centre.
So let me know.
I began with my Best regards.
Devabrata
Dear Mrinalini-ji,
Thanks for the enquiry but I have no personal acquaintance with Sri Anirvan. He is great to us as he was the person at a distant place who, like Ekalavya, received the permission as well as power for the first translation of The Life Divine, which he ably accomplished. This fact alone makes him immortal, as there was no dearth of scholars in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram then.
All the best,Tusar
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Dear Friends,
Please tell your memories of Sri Anirvan.
Gratefully,
Mrinalini
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