Organization
ABOUT US
“I wish to awaken my dispirited people through Dharma; to manifest in them the ideals of the great Rishi-Age and to bestow humanity with – their loftiest gift – the gift of Self-Knowledge. This is the ideal of our Sangha.” – Swami Nigamananda
Nilachal Saraswat Sangha (NSS), Puri, was founded by Swami Nigamananda Paramahans Dev exclusively for his household devotees in Orissa on 24th August 1934, at Nilachal Kutir, his eternal abode at Puri, India.
Satisfied with the devotion and the sincerity for spiritual quest of a handful of his young Oriya devotees, Swami Nigamananda had directed them to go and congregate at the Sangha once in a week, pay obeisance to Sri Gurudev, discuss his ideals and commune with each other to share experiences gained on the path of spirituality. He had categorically instructed the member-devotees to lead an ideal householder’s life on the lines of his teachings, which affirms to a clean and principled living (link to dasabidha niyam) as its basis, and practice in Sangha to become ideal human beings.
The four pronged practices defined for sangha-sevis are :
(a) Establishment of the power of sangha
(b) Atmagathan
(c) foundation of ideal family life and
(d) carrying out activities benefiting the larger human society.
NSS was started with a few devotees who were then school students who were, but, ardent followers of the Paramahans Dev. The bee line of devotees gradually emerged from the nook and corners of Orissa region coinciding with the publication of the biography of Swami Nigamananda in Oriya in the year 1942 by his leading disciple Sri Durga Charana Mohanty and Banamali Das.
The principal value of Nilachal Saraswat Sangha was clearly delineated by Sri Gurudev himself that it must not focus on publicity for the spread of his teachings; which should, rather, be aptly reflected through examples set by everyday lives of his followers. If established in true human values; a single such person can achieve the impossible. Those who desire to dedicate their life for welfare of others and yet wouldn’t be nurturing recognition in exchange, only such silent workers need to be in the Sanghas.
Into the 75th year of its inception, NSS is now more than 150 branches (Sakha Sanghas) strong, and is spread throughout Orissa including branches in New Delhi, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune etc, to mention a few. It has also crossed the boundary of India with its branch set up in the United States of America (N. Carolina). It also has a Sangha-Ashram at Rishikesh.
NSS, Puri, has a wing for the women devotees – Nilachal Saraswat Mahila Sangha (NSMS), which plays a significant role in keeping up the Sangha values and in pursuing the primary teaching of the Gurudev to build an ideal family life to groom ideal human beings first; and ultimately, for the service of the humanity at large. Wings for the young devotees called ‘Sevak Sanghas’ or ‘Kishore Sanghas’ for boys and ‘Kumari Sanghas ’ for girls under NSS are basically engaged in perpetuating this ideal.
NSS’s registered headquarter is at Shri Nigamananda Smruti Mandir, Swargadwar, Puri, Orissa, India, with its representative office functioning at Satsikshya Mandir, A/4, Unit-9, Bhubaneswar-751022, Orissa, India. Tele: +91- 0674 239 0055 / 239 5519
SANGHA PUJA
Sangha Puja is a sacred devotional gathering of Nilachala Saraswata Sangha (NSS) members and devotees, held with deep reverence for the teachings and ideals of Paramahansa Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva. Rooted in the Sangha’s spiritual tradition, this puja brings devotees together to celebrate inner harmony, collective prayer, and shared spiritual values.
At the heart of Sangha Puja is the practice of standing in unity with fellow devotees, exchanging spiritual thoughts, and reaffirming one’s commitment to leading a life of moral discipline, faith, and service. The puja reflects the Sangha’s core objective of fostering spiritual upliftment through community devotion.
Participants engage in devotional prayers, recitation of scripture, chanting, and reflection on the teachings of Sri Sri Thakura Nigamananda. The atmosphere of Sangha Puja is deeply harmonious and uplifting, helping each individual draw strength from collective faith and shared spiritual aspiration.
Sangha Puja is celebrated regularly at NSS branches in India and abroad, including special annual congregations where devotees gather to honor the Sangha’s principles and share fellowship, prayer, and thanksgiving.
Purpose and Significance :
To unite devotees in collective spiritual observance
To deepen devotion through prayer and chanting
To renew commitment towards the Sangha’s ideals of truth, service, and moral living
To inspire spiritual growth through shared reflection and fellowship
Whether experienced in a local branch or as part of larger annual congregations, Sangha Puja continues to be a cornerstone of communal spiritual life in the Nilachala Saraswata tradition.
MAHILA SANGHA
Swami Nigamanand had founded the Nilachal Saraswat Sangha, with a vision to restore the wisdom and principles of the ancient Rishi Yug in the society through the establishment of ideal family life, wherein he had envisioned woman as a significant and inseparable part of the process. He had rendered his affirmation for the establishment of Sanghas for his women followers and accordingly, the first ever Mahila (woman) Sangha in Orissa started functioning in the year 1948.
As a departure from the trends of his times, Swami Nigamanand didn’t see women as detriments in the path of spirituality. In stead, he had guided them to rely on their natural instincts of ‘love and affection’ to reach the apex state of universal motherliness i.e. the spirits of the Cosmic Mother. He had dedicated an entire session of the annual Bhakta Sammilani (convention of his devotees) in favour of his Mahila devotees beginning in the year 1930.
In one of his empirical volumes ‘Tantrik Guru’, Swami Nigamanand has stated, -” It is not in the command of Jeeva (/man) to keep itself away from the attraction of women by spite or by any other means. Conversely, it is seen that, a ‘baby boy’ for that matter can keep woman in his command. A woman would worry herself to no ends for the all-round happiness of the baby. She would forget the world around her holding the baby boy in her bosom, enveloped with the sense of motherliness.”
Swami Nigamanand has blessed his women followers as this –” Maa! Fill your heart with the sense of motherliness. Womanliness is devil’s scraps. I bless you that – you be established and then mingle, forever, in that glorious state of universal motherliness.”
At present, more than 60 Mahila Sakha Sanghas are there in Orissa and outside where thousands of women followers have devoted themselves for the fulfillment of the ideals envisaged by Sri Sri Thakura.
Mahila Parichalana Mandali – A central body of Mahila Sangha of NSS guides and supervises the functioning of all its branch Sanghas.
SEVAKA SANGHA
You would think and realize that you are the only human being in this world and all the rest are God. You keep on thinking this and go for work. – Sadguru Swami Nigamananda Dev
The objective of the Sevak Sanghas is to combine the youth, teenagers, students and sevaks in different sakha-sanghas of NSS under a common thought (bhavana) and common principles and groom them as model Karmi or Sevaks of the ideals of Sri Sri Thakura. It is intended to augment their karma-shakti and initiate them in to the ideals of Seva-dharma as defined by Sadguru Sri Sri Thakura.
Member-sevaks are taught the real meaning of ‘seva’ as well as the finer qualities and the right spirits of rendering ‘Seva’. Most importantly, the orientation module was conceptualized to inspire the young minds to endeavour to elevate themselves to the level of ideal human beings, first. Sevaks get ample opportunity to practice what they learn in carrying out various activities in sakha-sanghas, Bhakta Sammilanis and during assorted social initiatives undertaken by NSS. This provides them scope to do a retrospective of their own growth as an ideal human being and a responsible unit of society.
The progress of Sevak Sangha
The idea of a Sevak Sangha first took shape in the year 1973 at Naukona Sangha in Kendrapara district. The first session of the 18-member Sevak Sangha was formally attended by Jagannath Samantaray bhai as Kendra pratinidhi.
Later, in 1987, EKAMRA SEVAK SANGHA – a sevak sangha of a more serious kind, was formed at Satsikshya Mandir, Bhubaneswar under the direct guidance of Sri Raghunath Pati bhai, the then Secretary of the Nilachal Saraswat Sangha. At the outset, young sevaks were given crash training by Pati bhai to perform seva in different bibhagas (department) in the Pradeshika Bhakta Sammilani held at this place in the same year.
Later on, the sevaks used to put to rigorous orientation on principled living (Sadachara) in both physical and mental planes and on learning and cultivating higher thoughts of rendering services to bhaktas (devotees/mankind) and Bhagavan (the God). They are taught the real meaning of ‘seva’ as well as the finer qualities and the right spirits of rendering ‘Seva’. Most importantly, the orientation module was conceptualized to inspire the young minds to endeavour to elevate themselves to the level of ideal human beings, first.
In 1991, Kendra Sevak Sangha came into existence and the Ekamra Sevak Sangha was merged into this sangha. Most of the members of this Sangha came from the original Ekamra Sangha, in the beginning. This Sevak Sangha plays key roles in helping organize the Bhakta Sammilanis and various Social Initiatives undertaken by NSS from time to time.
Regular annual orientation classes and discourses have been organized for the members of the Sevak Sangha, at Satsikshya Mandir.
KUMARI SANGHA
Kumari Sangha, or the Sangha for young girls from the families of NSS member-devotees, is a smaller edition of the Nilachala Saraswata Mahila Sangha. Kumari Sangha has been conceptualized for imbibing the young minds with the ideals of Sri Sri Thakura who envisioned a strong and enriched society through establishment of Ideal Family lives. To inspire the impressive minds with greater human values of tolerance, personal discipline, cooperation, sacrifice, truthfulness, compassion etc. which would stand them in good stead in developing into ideal homemakers, ideal mothers and above all, ideal sevikas or service-providers to the family members as well as people in need. They are to be the inspiration for other girls to follow suit.
Adolescence is the most suitable stage for acquire learning. In ancient times sons were sent to Gurukuls to receive the learning of their lives from jnanasiddha Gurus. They, usually, came back suitably groomed to live a principled and quality life in society, thereby, contributing to its enrichment, too. Young girls, who would provide spine to family-lives in future, need to be inspired with such higher ideals which, ultimately, can positively impact a society.
Kumari Sangha was, first, started in the year 1979. The young members are suggested to follow a Dina-lipi (a carefully planned daily-life itinerary) for ensuring a principled and disciplined living based on Niyam Panchak & Dasa Sheela.
At present, Kumari Sanghas are functioning in NSS branches of Rourkela, Anugul, Asureshwar, Jagatsinghpur, Baleswar, Talcher, Nimapada etc in Orissa.
KISHORE SANGHA
Kishore Sangha, the Sangha for adolescent boys from the families of NSS member-devotees, is an important formative wing of Nilachala Saraswata Sangha aimed at shaping young minds during their most impressionable years. Kishore Sangha has been conceptualized to inculcate in young boys the lofty ideals of Sri Sri Thakura, who envisioned the creation of a strong, disciplined, and value-oriented society through the establishment of ideal individual and family lives.
The objective of Kishore Sangha is to nurture qualities such as self-discipline, tolerance, cooperation, sacrifice, truthfulness, compassion, moral courage, and social responsibility among young boys. These values are intended to guide them in developing into ideal individuals, responsible family members, and dedicated sevakas (service-providers) committed to the welfare of society at large. Through their conduct and character, they are expected to become role models and sources of inspiration for their peers.
Adolescence is the most crucial stage for learning and character building. In ancient times, young boys were sent to Gurukuls to receive holistic education under the guidance of enlightened Gurus. There, they were trained not only in knowledge but also in discipline, ethics, and righteous living, enabling them to return to society as principled and responsible citizens. Kishore Sangha draws inspiration from this age-old tradition, aiming to instill similar higher ideals in young boys so that they may grow into individuals who positively contribute to family life and societal harmony.
Kishore Sangha was initiated with the intent of providing structured guidance to adolescent boys during their formative years. Members are encouraged to follow a Dina-lipi (a thoughtfully designed daily routine) to cultivate disciplined living rooted in the principles of Niyam Panchak and Dasa Sheela, ensuring moral clarity, self-control, and spiritual awareness in daily life.
At present, Kishore Sanghas are actively functioning in several NSS branches across Odisha, including Rourkela, Anugul, Asureshwar, Jagatsinghpur, Baleswar, Talcher, Nimapada, and other centers, continuing their mission of shaping responsible, value-driven future citizens.