Niranjan Explained

Niranjana, also rendered Niranjan, is an epithet in Hinduism.^[1] It is a title of Krishna according to the Bhagavad Gita,^{[2] [3]} and is also an epithet of Shiva.

Etymology

Niranjan in Sanskrit means the one without blemishes or the one who is spotless and pure.^[4] nir means less (as in e.g. motionless) and anjana means black colouring matter.^[5]

Description

• Niranjan means the lord of the three worlds, the physical, the astral and the causal and according to the Bhagavad Gita.^[6]
• The saint Kabir described God as Niranjan. Niranjan means is translated as without collyrium, or the spotless or immaculate God, and it is used to address Rama.^{[7] [8]}
• It is also 52nd name of the 108 names of Krishna as it appears in the Sri Krishna Ashtottara Shatanama Stotra.^[9]
• In Dvadasha stotra, composed by Jagadguru Madhvacharya, the word Niranjan is explained as one the quality of Krishna.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Book: Bhakti in Kabåir. Associated Book Agency. 1981. William J. Dwyer. 111.
2. Book: Bhakti in Kabåir. Associated Book Agency. 1981. William J. Dwyer. 111.
3. Book: With the three masters: being extracts from the private diary of Rai Sahib Munshi Ram, M.A., P.C.S., secretary to the three masters. 52. 1967. Radhasoami Satsang. Munshi Ram.
4. Book: Indian Literature. Sähitya Akademi. 1976. 45.
5. Book: Vedic Cult: Applied Science to Human Health, Happiness, and Longevity. Vidya Prasad Pandey. Bhaskar Publications. 1987. 173.
6. Book: With the three masters: being extracts from the private diary of Rai Sahib Munshi Ram, M.A., P.C.S., secretary to the three masters. 52. 1967. Radhasoami Satsang. Munshi Ram.
7. Book: Indian Literature. Sähitya Akademi. 1976. 45.
8. Book: Religious Movements and Institutions in Medieval India. 395. J. S. Grewal. Oxford University Press. 2006.
9. Book: Kuramī cetanā ke sau varsha: rāshṭrīya pariprekshya meṃ, 1894-1994. Gītāñjali Prakāśana. Dilāvara Siṃha Jayasavāra. 1994. 506. श्री कृष्ण द्वारा परमब्रह्म के अर्थ में निरंजन को कहा गया है.
10. http://www.dvaita.org/madhva/dvaadasha.html Dvaadasha Stotra