Pandit Shree Nityanand Swami was a profound scholar who earned the title of “Vyas” within the Swaminarayan Sampraday. His calm and grave yet powerful oratory was successful in silencing opponents in debates. Carrying cartloads of scriptures with him, this eminent sadhu responded with immense strength to every challenge raised against the sampraday, firmly hoisting the dhvaja (victory flag) of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan.
Nityanand Swami was born in the village of Datia (near Lucknow) in the home of a Brahmin named Vishnu Sharma and his wife Viraja, on Chaitra Sud 9 in Samvat 1849 (1793 C.E.). His childhood name was Dinmani Sharma. Growing in virtue, Dinmani Sharma underwent his yagnopavit sanskar (sacred thread ceremony) at the age of eight.
He traveled to Kashi for advanced studies, where it is said that Saraswati Mata bestowed upon him the ultimate wealth of eloquence, unparalleled linguistic mastery, and poetic sweetness. Eventually, he developed an irreplaceable longing to meet the manifest Purna Purushottam Narayan. While on a pilgrimage, Dinmani Sharma had the darshan of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan in Unja. His love for Shreeji Maharaj was awakened; he accepted diksha into the sampraday and was named Nityanand Swami.
To make the most of Nityanand Swami’s knowledge, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan sent him for specialized scriptural studies under Purushottam Bhatt in Nandel. Maharaj blessed him with a boon: “No matter how great a scholar the world produces, they shall never be able to defeat you; you shall always be victorious in every direction (digvijay).”
Armed with this blessing from Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, Swami set out to establish the supremacy of the satsang. In places like Shreenagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Gondal, Khambhat, Rajkot, and Botad, he made the so-called “undefeated” and profound scholars of various sects taste defeat. In Umreth, which was a stronghold of Advaita Vedantis, the credit for growing the seed of Satsang—originally planted by Sadguru Shree Muktanand Swami—into a massive fellowship goes to Nityanand Swami.
A true lover of scriptures, Nityanand Swami announced the glory of the satsang through constant travel and scriptural debates. Not only did he debate, but he also authored an extraordinary scripture titled Shree Hari Digvijay. His other notable works include a commentary (bhashya) on the Shandilya Sutras and a commentary on the Satsangi Jivan.
Caring for the welfare of the sampraday until his last breath, Nityanand Swami followed the agyna of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan by serving the satsang under Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj. On Magshar Sud 11 in Samvat 1908 (1852 C.E.), he sat in the siddhasana posture and returned to Akshardham, with his final rites were performed in Vadtal’s Gnan Baug.