• Introduction
• At the Palani Temple
• In South Kanara
• Trains in Mangalore
• The Kanhangad Ashram
• Early Days in Ganeshpuri
• The Attorney from Kerala
• In Later Years
• The Final Months
• Nityananda's Passing

The Movement Center presents Nityananda.us

Devotees' Stories

NITYANANDA'S PASSING

Early in the morning of August 8, 1961, Nityananda began to ask for certain devotees by name. Among those who assembled was Chandu, a longstanding devotee who had come some days before. When Nityananda suddenly asked him for some kasthuri, a type of musk oil, Chandu began to weep. In an attempt to calm him, Nityananda asked his old companion if he knew of a train that could carry them to Kanhangad. Chandu answered yes, there was a scheduled train. But when the yogi asked, “How can this one go without strength in these legs?” Chandu was silent.

C.C. Parekh had arranged for a lift to Bombay. He planned to leave by seven that morning, tell his staff that he would remain in Ganeshpuri a few more days, and return to the ashram that afternoon. However, as he entered the car, he suddenly stopped. Asking his friend to wait, he hurried to the hall, where he was shocked to find the Master struggling to breathe. He administered oxygen at once and Nityananda’s breathing improved, but Parekh decided not to leave. Remaining at the head of the bed, he was soon joined by Dr. Nicholson, a devotee and respected eye specialist from Bombay. Dr. Nicholson’s wife joined them shortly, having telephoned a doctor at the neighboring sanitorium. Soon he arrived, examined Nityananda, and prescribed some medicine. But it was too late. Nityananda had them remove the oxygen mask and, breathing normally, asked Parekh for some water. Then at a quarter of nine he asked Lakshmansa Khoday for some lemon juice. Khoday offered him fresh coconut milk instead, which he accepted. He took nothing more.

At nine-thirty Gopalma noticed that Nityananda’s body was radiating a lot of heat. Speaking for the last time, he repeated what he had said often that summer: “A sadhu became a swami. The swami became a deva to some, a baba and a bhagawan to others. This deva will now enter constant Samadhi.: Ten minutes later, he took several very deep breaths, the final one expanding his chest fully. He straightened his legs, the one arthritic, as far as he could, clasped his hands above his navel, and lay perfectly still. After a time Parekh called Swami Muktanananda and others from the adjoining room to take charge of Nityananda’s body.