Swaminarayan saints were learned men and scholars of Sanskrit. Their work has contributed much to the collection of scriptures in Sanskrit.Bhagwan Shree Hari expected all His saints to be great scholars. For this he guided, inspired and assisted them in every possible way. He made all arrangements for their study and stay at centers for Sanskrit studies.
Swami Nityanand was a member of the inner circle of saints that was close to Shree Hari. The members of this circle were honored by the epithet of Sadguru which literally means: a spiritual teacher dedicated to Truth and God.About such saints, Shree Hari used to say: “I look upon a saint as a spiritual teacher who has all the virtues of a saint. A saint is incomparable.”
On a Diwali day Shree Hari praised the divine qualities of saints and expressed his desire to worship them. So He got down from His spacious wooden bedstead and asked Muktanand Swami to sit on the bedstead. He was offered ceremonial worship and as a mark of respect Arati (waving lamps) was conducted and Shree Hari declared him a Sadguru. The same honor was bestowed upon Brahmanand Swami and to Nityanand Swami. Muktanand Swami composed the arati, a devotional song, “Jaya Sadguru Swami” on the spot while waving the lamps before Shree Hari. This shows that Nityanand Swami is one of the three greatest saints of Swaminarayan way of life and he is also one of the three Sadgurus of the Swaminarayan way of life.All the followers were instructed by Shree Hari about how to serve the Sadgurus. Shree Hari also presented to them white dhoti (lower garment) with silken border and other gifts.
Shree Hari himself was present at Bhavanagar port to bless Swami Nityanand who was to leave for Surat. In Surat he taught Geeta Bhashya to Muktanand Swami and Brahmanand Swami. He also assisted Shree Hari in research on moksha dharma chapter of Mahabharata and also on Dharmakhyan. Shree Hari had sent him to Junagadh to get a copy of Narada Pancha Ratra from the original manuscript. He also did research on the ancient Sanskrit text of Naraniya Akhyan.
He was widely considered as an incarnation of Bhagwan Vedavyas because of his immense scholarly achievements and eidetic memory.
Sadguru Nityanand Swami was born in the village Detiya in Lucknow taluka of Bundelkhand on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Kartika in Samvat 1887. His father Vishnu Sharma, a Yajurvedi Gauda Brahmin, was a religious scholar and his mother remained busy in treating visitors with generous hospitality.On his birth the astrologer concluded after studying all the signs onhis palms and feet that he was born either to rule the world by political power or by spiritual power. He was named as Dinmani Sharma. When he was a child, Goddess Lakshmiji appeared before him and said: “In your previous life you had composed Shreemad Bhagwat Puran to praise Lord Vishnu as Lord Krishna. So now you should justify your learning by praising Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan as both are one and the same.”
In accordance to the prediction he became a great Sanskrit scholar. At Kashi he studied Sanskrit scriptures but remained disappointed in realizing God. The next journey he took was to Himalayas and joined a group of holy pilgrims. Even here he attained nothing, so he continued his search by visiting places all over India. While he was going to Dwarika someone at Visnagar informed him that God had manifested Himself as Purushottam Narayan and he had also established Satya Yuga for all his followers.
With all his curiosity he left for Saurashtra. On reaching village Faneni he learnt that Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan was to visit Unjha shortly. He saw Shree Hari at Unjha for the first time and wasimmediately convinced about his divinity. He expressed his desire to be initiated as saint. Shree Hari induced Samadhi, super conscious state, in him wherein he visualized the divine form of Shree Hari.
Once initiated as saint he was named Nityanand Swami. He shared the company of scholarly saints as he continued his advanced studies in Sanskrit. Using his profound intellect he completed his studies in less than the stipulated time. He had a charming personality with strong and stout constitution. He won laurels after defeating the critics of Swaminarayan way of life in debates. This lead Shree Hari to realized the importance of learning and so he arranged for further learning of Sanskrit for his saints.
Nityanand Swami was always present beside Shree Hari in His last days. Shree Hari entrusted him to do research on the manuscript of Dharmakhyan. At the religious assemblies he asked very intelligent philosophical questions for self-enlightenment. At Gadhada he taught Sanskrit Scriptures to the saints. He was one of the four saints who accompanied Shree Hari when He called on the British officer, the Collector at Kheda.
In order to breed intellectual competition among his saints, Shree Hari divided the saints into two groups. One was led by Nityanand Swami and other was led by Brahmanand Swami. Competition was held between the two groups for reciting Sanskrit verses according to certain rules. As a mark of honor the leader of the groupswere served the same food that was prepared for Shree Hari.
When it came to writing letters to British officers, Shree Hari was assisted by Nityanand Swami. Nityanand Swami once asked Shree Hari:“How long will British rule last in India?”Shree Hari replied: “British rule will last in India as long as the British government will rule with justice and protect religious persons. Injustice will end British rule in India.” Gopalanand Swami, Brahmanad Swami and Nityanand Swami formed the innermost circle of saints around Shree Hari. Shree Hari in his last days entrusted them with the welfare and progress of Swaminarayan way of life.
Nityanand Swami and others remained distraught after Shree Hari left this world. To console them Shree Hari manifested through the Murti at Gadhada and presented to them His wooden footwear and asked them to keep it at the majestic temple in Lakshmivadi at Gadhada. He left his mortal coil at Vadtal. A memorial in his remembrance was built at Jnan Baug, Vadtal.
Nityanand Swami capably served Shree Hari and rightfully earned the title of Sadguru.