Niranjana gyan—Knowledge of Self

Niranjana gyan (निरंजन ज्ञान, nirañjana jñāna) represents the highest state a practitioner on the path of Knowledge (Jnana marg) can reach before attaining perfection. This state is also referred to as the Nirlepa Avastha (निर्लेप अवस्था, Nirlēpa Avasthā)—the state of absolute detachment.

For those following the Jnana marg without the aid of Bhakti, the journey toward the goal progresses through three distinct stages of realization:

• Tat Tvam Asi (तत त्वं असि, tata tvṁ asi): "You are That." In this stage, a subtle duality remains—the seeker recognizes their identity with Brahm, but the sense of "I" and "That" still exists as separate concepts.
• Aham Brahmasmi (अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि, aham brahmāsmi): "I am Brahm." Here, the realization deepens into a direct internal experience of one's own divinity.
• Brahm Brahm (ब्रह्म ब्रह्म, brahma brahma) - Only Brahm remains. This is the state of Niranjana gyan. In this profound detachment, the seeker’s ego (ahankar) dissolves entirely. When the "knower" ceases to exist, the "known" (the object of knowledge) also disappears, and knowledge itself vanishes. The triad—Knower, Known, and Knowledge—is completely dissolved into the One.

The Hidden Vulnerability

While Niranjana gyan is an incredibly elevated state, it remains precarious. Because the practitioner has focused solely on the Impersonal (Nirakara) aspect of God and has not practiced Bhakti of the Personal (Sakar) form.

This state is attained on one's own merit. Nirakara Brahm does not shower grace. So, this realization is temporary.

Crucially, this state is attained solely on one's own merit. Since Nirakara Brahm is attribute-less, it does not shower grace. Therefore, this realization is temporary. Without the protection of Sakar Brahm (Shri Krishna) —which is only earned through the loving surrender of Bhakti—even a highly detached gyani can fall back into the gravity of material attachments.

Because the mind remains material until the very end, it stays susceptible to the subtle impressions of Maya that still linger in the subconscious.

Historical Lessons: The Fall of Great Sages

Scriptures provide sobering examples of those who reached great heights of detachment but faltered due to the lack of Divine Grace:

• Jaḍa Bharata: Despite his extreme renunciation, his mind became attached to a young deer, leading to a subsequent birth as a deer.
• Saubhari Muni: After thousands of years of intense meditation underwater, he was distracted by the sight of fish mating, leading to a sudden fall back into worldly householder life.

These examples prove that Knowledge alone is a "dry" and dangerous path. It is only through the "moisture" of Bhakti that the mind's material impressions are truly erased by the Grace of God.

Further Reading and Reference

• Alternate Spelling: Niranjan jnan, Niranjana jnana
• Related Concepts:
  • atma jnana
  • Types of Gyanis
• Reference:
  • Paid Subscription: https://link.kripalunidhi.org/audio/330522031?albumId=40397  skip to 47min 59 sec

तीन अवस्थायें होती हैं ज्ञानियों की

• तत त्वं असि - तू वह है/ मतलब, अभी द्वैत है
• अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि - मैं ब्रह्म हूँ
• ब्रह्म ब्रह्म - बस ब्रह्म बचा। बाकी सब गया । ये निरंजन ज्ञान है। इस निर्लेप अवस्था में ज्ञाता नहीं रहता. अहम् का लय हो गया. बस ब्रह्म बचा. ज्ञाता का लय हो गया तो ज्ञेय भी गया. और ज्ञान भी गया. त्रिपुटी का लय हो जाता है । एक ऐसी अवस्था होती है ज्ञानियों की।

निर्लेप अवस्था पर पहुँच कर भी ज्ञानी का पतन हो जाता है ।