Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa, born as Nalinikanta Chattopadhyay on August 18, 1880, was an Indian yogi, guru, and mystic known in Eastern India. He belonged to the Shakta tradition and was considered a perfect spiritual master of Vedanta, Tantra, Yoga, and Bhakti. After his ordination as a sannyasi, he became known as Paribrajakacharya Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva.

Nigamananda achieved mastery in four different spiritual disciplines: Tantra, Gyana (knowledge), Yoga, and Prema (love). Based on his experiences, he wrote five books in Bengali: Brahamcharya Sadhana, Yogi Guru, Gyani Guru, Tantrika Guru, and Premik Guru. Nigamananda is said to have attained the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, a state of complete absorption in the divine consciousness.

After retiring from Saraswata Matha, Nigamananda spent the last fourteen years of his life in Puri. It was during this time that Durga Charan Mohanty, a school student, met him and recognized him as a sadguru. Mohanty became Nigamananda's disciple and played a crucial role in spreading his teachings and establishing ashrams in Odisha. He continued to spread Nigamananda's message until his death in 1985.

Nigamananda's early life was marked by personal tragedies, including the loss of his mother to cholera and the death of his young wife. These experiences led him to search for answers about life after death and spiritual enlightenment. He had various spiritual experiences and encounters with gurus, which eventually led him to the path of self-realization.

Throughout his life, Nigamananda propagated Sanatana Dharma (the eternal principles of Hinduism), emphasized the importance of education, and promoted character building. His mission was to serve all beings with the attitude of serving the indwelling God. He initiated thousands of disciples and encouraged them to lead ideal family lives and come together in spiritual associations to share their experiences and feelings.

Swami Nigamananda passed away on November 29, 1935, in Calcutta (now Kolkata). His followers continue to honor his memory and gather at annual congregations and other ceremonial occasions. His ashrams, including the one in Halisahar, are considered places of pilgrimage.

Nigamananda was a spiritual teacher who emphasized the unity between the Guru (spiritual master) and God. He believed that the Guru and the chosen deity (Ista) are identical and taught his disciples to adopt the principles of both Lord Shankar (gyan or knowledge) and Lord Gaurang (bhakti or devotion). Nigamananda did not claim to be an Avatar or God-incarnate, but rather saw himself as a Sadguru (perfect spiritual Master) who had attained self-realization through many births and deaths. He taught that the disciple should consider the Guru as the Jagadguru (World Master) and meditate on the Guru's form to cultivate the qualities and attributes of the Guru. Nigamananda's teachings focused on the path of devotion and love for God, with an emphasis on surrendering to the Guru's guidance and grace. He reconciled the apparently contradictory creeds of Shankaracharya and Gauranga by suggesting that the aspirant can take the Guru as an embodiment of their chosen deity. Nigamananda also discussed the theory of self-realization, karma, and the importance of a liberated person (Guru) in spiritual liberation. He provided insights into various aspects of yoga, including Hatha yoga, Laya yoga, pranayama, dharana, dhyan, and samadhi. Nigamananda founded the Garohill Yoga Ashram in 1905.