Regarding Identity: Scriptural and Historical Perspectives
Today, Nijanand School/Order is sometimes known as Shri Krishna Pranami Dharma. Here, one may ask How and why Nijanand Sampradaya got this second name. Also, we know the definition of Transcendental Being extends beyond all worldly words and names. Therefore, in the holy Kuljam Swaroop, He is called Aksharateet or Shabdateet. Why is there a lot of emphasis on the name Krishna?
There is no clear answer to this. This is a trivial issue to some and not of much significance. However, this is a major diversion from the original Wisdom of the Holy Kuljam Swaroop for others. It is believed that at some unknown point in time, for unclear reasons, the universality of Divine Wisdom was corrupted by some human wisdom. It appears that a more restrictive and convenient identity may have been given and then reinforced by some preachers in the past. Though no documentary evidence is available regarding this, some experts and spiritual leaders of the present time believe that this renaming took place sometime around 1935 A.D. in Nepal after social unrest caused by some traditional Hindus. They think, at that time, some Pundits and experts of Sanskrit succeeded in avoiding a major conflict, specifically by using this Sloka of Mahabharata.
Eko api Krishnasya krut: pranamo, dashashva-medhavbruthen tulya: |
Dashashvamedhi punereti janma, Krishna pranami na punarbhavaya: ||(MBh. Sh. P: 47/92)
These preachers firmly believe that the above-referenced Sloka of Maha Bharata was most appropriately used at that time to prevent this particular crisis. However, today, they preach firmly and with full explanation that their understanding of the Divine Wisdom has evolved over the course of their lifetime research on the Faith and its tradition. With the true pain for Sundersath Jagni, they have employed all their energies to stop the permanent use of this inappropriate identity—Shri Krishna Pranami Dharma.
Examining other aspects of this issue would be appropriate to understand the subject matter properly. Based on the historical data regarding the preachers of this Faith in India, most of them came from Nepal. These preachers may have preferred to continue with the more convenient and easily approachable new name–Sri Krishna Pranami Dharma. With time, they probably succeeded in installing this new name in the minds of the Sundersath society, which was largely deprived of the Holy Kuljam Swaroop. With very few people reading and questioning the Wisdom and its practices, making this type of change must have become very easy for these preachers.
In recent years, more research has been done on this subject. More in-depth and comprehensive studies of the Holy Kuljam Swaroop and Bitak Saheb clearly indicate that this Sloka of Maha Bharata does not even speak about the Krishna Tatwa of Yog Maya! It can be easily concluded that the name Krishna referenced in this Sloka of Maha Bharata is actually used for Lord Vishnu (of Vaikunth), who falls within the boundaries of the Kshar Purusha. This Krishna of Maha Bharata has, in fact, no connection with the Aksharateet Supreme Lord, who is the only one worshipped in the Nijanand Order.
Why, then, do some people not want to accept this fact?
In reality, regardless of its truthfulness, those who want to continue with the new identity have found it to be very effective in gaining the confidence of the common Hindu community! This is an important point to be understood by everyone seeking a Total Spiritual Awakening.
Specifically, for those devotee Sundersath who are traditionally raised and locked in the name Shri Krishna Pranami, such a change appears to be extremely discomforting. But, it is the responsibility of every Nijanandi Sundersath to make known the hard facts regarding our identity, as committed in front of our Lord, Aksharateet Supreme Truth.
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Our goal is to awaken all to the best of our ability and under the umbrella of our Lord’s Grace. As a matter of fact, the name “Shri Krishna Pranami Dharma” is a mistaken identity because of the spiritual totality of Lord Pran Nath’s Divine Wisdom. Because of this, many outsiders have misunderstood this Faith as an offshoot of Vaishnavism!
Again, the ultimate choice is to be made by the readers and the Sundersath, to whom our Supreme Lord has gifted a strong sense of differentiation between right and wrong for their own spiritual well-being.