Guru Atmananda Lingden: A Pioneer of non-violence, harmony, morality and religion

Introduction

Guru Atmananda Lingden, also known by his venerable title ‘Seing.’ He is a respected spiritual leader of the Kirat religion and Nepal who embodies the principles of peace, non-violence, unity, and cultural preservation. Widely recognized as an incarnation of ‘Mahaguru Phalgunanda.’ Guru Atmananda has dedicated his life to preserving the values ​​and traditions of the Kirat community. He Resides as a guide and divine power for his followers at the sacred shrine Larumba in the Ilam district, also widely known as a vegetarian holy pilgrimage site. Guru Atmananda combines ancient religious knowledge with modern understanding. His teachings inspire Nepal to uphold social harmony, respect for nature, and a morally pure life. In his honor, Biograph Nepal presents the biography of Venerable Guru Atmananda Lingden.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Guru Atmananda Lingden (Se-ing)
• Title: Incarnation of Mahaguru Phalgunanda
• Born: Friday, December 3, 1964, In Chukchinamba, Ilam District, Nepal.
• Religion: Kirat (Kirant)
• Spouse: Guruama Pavitrahangma Sanwa Lingden
• Parent: father Punya Prasad Lingden, and mother Chandamaya Chemjong
• Residence: Larumba (Mangsebung), Ilam, Nepal
• Known For: Spiritual Saint (Guru) in Kirat religion and custodian of cultural heritage in Nepal

Early Life

Guru Atmananda Lingden was born on Friday, December 3, 1964, in the holy place of Chukchinamba in the Ilam district to his father, Punya Prasad Lingden, and mother, Chandmaya Chemjong. He was named Shyam Bahadur when he was a child. However, seeing the divine power and spiritual inclination seen in his body, his grandmother, Jogmaya Tumbapo, changed his name to Balaguru (Child Guru) when he was a teenager. It is said that his grandmother, Jogmaya, played a significant role in Guru Atmananda’s childhood and care. Because she was the one who raised the little boy by feeding him cow’s milk and bringing him up to the state of a child saint, after that, immense divine power emerged in Atmananda, and he started being revered as a religious teacher in the Kirat religious community.

Spiritual Inclination from childhood

Guru Atmananda Lingden was born into the Limbu clan of the Kirat community, which is considered a tribe rich in cultural and spiritual traditions in Nepal. According to the account of his early life, he showed deep spiritual inclinations from an early age. Seeing his nature inclined towards devotion to God at a young age, his family and the Kirati community easily assumed that he would become a great spiritual saint. Eventually, that is what happened, and Atmananda Lingden emerged as a great religious leader of the Kirat community.

Revered as Incarnation of Mahaguru Phalgunanda

Mahaguru Falgunanda is also known as an incarnation of God and a great social reformer in the Kirati religious community. He was born in 1885, about 140 years ago, in Ilam district. Since he was famous for going from village to village and giving social and religious awareness to the people, the Nepal government has also declared him a national hero of Nepal.

Guru Atmananda Lingden is also considered the next incarnation of Mahaguru Falgunanda because he, too, has come to fulfill the role of religious education and social reformer of Mahaguru Falgunanda. The Guru himself says that he has appeared to continue the social and religious works started by Mahaguru Falgunanda.

Another interesting fact is that Guru Atmananda Lingden is the grandson of Mahaguru Phalgunanda’s elder brother, and therefore, he is also considered a descendant of Mahaguru Phalgunanda.

Attaining Devine Power (Knowledge)

Guru Atmananda developed a religious spirit from an early age. At the age of eight, he attained Buddhahood (Devine Power) by performing penance at the confluence of Dev Mai, Mekwa Mai, and Mai rivers in Ilam, which is also known as Sadhu Gufa (Yogi Cave). With the influence of that divine Power (knowledge), he has succeeded in making millions of devotees from home and abroad his followers and attracting them to himself.

Major Achievements and Contributions

Nowadays, people are busy searching for modern comforts, wealth, and momentary mental happiness. But no praise for Guru Atmanand is enough because he has given up all his comforts to give mental peace and salvation to people through religious philosophy. As an ascetic religious saint, the contributions and achievements he has made for the society and the country can be discussed as follows:

Residence at Larumba (Mangsebung) and development as a sacred spiritual center

Guru Atmananda and Gurumata Pavitrahangma have been residing permanently in Larumba, a holy and peaceful pilgrimage site under the Mangsebung Rural Municipality of the Ilam district. Larumba, or Mangsebung, was a simple and sparsely populated village in a western remote place in the Ilam district. Although this area was rich in natural beauty in the past, it was not ahead in development and progress.

But in 1978, Guru Atmananda entered the area and started developing it as a holy place. He was drawn to the place not only for its spiritual potential but also for its natural features. The green land of the Terai and the Himalayan views of Nepal are visible from this place, and there are many water springs in the area, all surrounded by lush green hills. Guru Atmananda believed these natural features reflected God’s presence, and Larumba developed into a well-organized abode under his influence.

Larumba: where the religious code of conduct is applied strictly

Many people think that the Kirat religion is a religious system where alcohol or domestic intoxicants can be consumed openly, any meat recipe can be consumed, animal sacrifices are mandatory in their shrines and rituals, and smoking and tobacco are not prohibited.

But all these notions will seem wholly wrong and misleading to you when you reach the sacred religious area of ​​Larumba because the code of conduct applicable in this holy place is entirely opposite to these notions.

The religious rules and situation in Larumba, established by the esteemed religious figure Guru Atmananda of Nepal, are truly astonishing to the modern world. However, the media coverage of this holy area and its works remains limited.

Spiritual and infrastructural progress of Larumba pilgrimage site

Under Guru Atmananda’s influence and efforts, Larumba’s spiritual and infrastructural development is happening rapidly.

This site, now a pilgrimage site for Kirat followers and others, is a place of cultural unity and inclusivity where spiritual seekers gather to seek blessings and guidance. Larumba, a symbol of peace and cultural unity, is a center of Guru’s teachings. It is a sacred place where one can calm the mind and attain true spiritual and mental peace by listening to the Guru’s religious discourses and getting lost in the rich cultural atmosphere.

Many domestic and foreign religious tourists and pilgrims, including from India and Bhutan, visit Larumba. Special fairs are held at this pilgrimage site on the days of the Kirat religion. Many devotees and visitors come, especially on Guru’s birthday, Falgunanda Day, the Udhauli and Ubhauli festivals, and the Maghi festivals.

Larumba was a small settlement earlier but is now significantly developed. The access roads here have also improved a lot more than before, including constructing a ring road. There is a statue of Mahaguru Falgunanda, a temple, a Dharamshala, and residential buildings. A school teaching Kirat language, culture, and religious practices also operates here. In addition, a plan to build a multi-purpose religious college is also being implemented per the wishes of the Guru.

Hundreds of families have lived here, inspired by the philosophy of the Kirat religion and the ‘Satya Hangwa path’ applied by Guru Atmananda. This vegetarian religious village is a model religious settlement in Nepal, providing an ideal guideline for a society corrupted by the modern era.

Obstacles and Challenges

From a young age, Guru Atmananda’s life was a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity. Born in a remote hill village in Nepal, he was not privy to the material comforts of city life. The hill districts of Nepal were marred by poverty, a lack of educational opportunities, and a society that suffered from suffering and political persecution. These were the societal challenges that Guru Atmananda had to confront, yet he did not falter in his pursuit of spiritual enlightenment and continued his mission.

Challenges in the responsibility of fulfilling the mission of Mahaguru Phalgunanda

When he was being exposed as a guru, it was challenging for the entire Kirati society to accept him as a guru. He had to complete the religious system and the path of social reform pioneered by Mahaguru Falgunanda 140 years ago in the modern era, but that was a challenging task. Not all people in the Kirat society were educated. They were bound by the old superstitious religious traditions and practices, and even though he was called a guru by word of mouth, his philosophy was not accepted and listened to by everyone.

In such a challenging environment, he had to come to Larumba (Mangsebung) in the Ilam district and make a plan to develop that place as a holy pilgrimage site of the Kirat religion. But that remote village was completely undeveloped, with no roads, only forests everywhere; only a few people had a sense of development but no budget. The government was far from his reach. There were only problems everywhere, but Guru Atmananda did not lose courage because he was a divine agent. He was responsible for completing the campaign for religious reform in society, which Mahaguru Phalgunanda started. Therefore, he had to work continuously since BS 2035 to fulfill this mission. He never gave up on sorrows and obstacles.

Hard strives for Kirat religious unity

Even after such an extended period, he has been struggling with many challenges and moving forward. The Kirat community itself is divided into different concepts and philosophies. The Kirat religion has inherited many old traditions. Therefore, there needs to be uniformity in religious practices and methods. Guru Atmananda has repeatedly called on the entire Kirat community to unite and adopt the right path of the Kirat religion. Still, many Kirati people seem to disagree with his philosophy campaign.

There is a major controversy in the Kirat religion between the traditional animal sacrifice practice and the non-sacrifice religious ritual system. These different concepts have prevented the entire Kirat community from uniting. Guru Atmananda is also very concerned about this problem. He has repeatedly called on everyone to understand the real meaning of the religious text ‘Mundhum’ and follow it. However, many controversies and opinions regarding the ‘Mundhum’ concept have arisen. So, his desire to unite the Kirat community along one religious thread remains a challenge in itself.

Legacy and Impact on Nepal

The impact of Atmananda Guru’s ideal knowledge, dedication, and practice can be directly seen in Larumba and the other eastern parts of Nepal. He successfully showed the importance of religion not only to older people but also to the youth, which is why thousands of young people today follow his philosophy and engage in religious paths, ‘Satya Hangba.’

His moral conduct, non-violent principles, and social-religious harmony reflect him as a great saint. The sermons he gives are always worth listening to, and his sweet, simple, and calm style calms even the most restless minds. Guru Atmanand also organizes big religious gatherings on various festivals and celebrations. He also attends such special gatherings and imparts knowledge and teachings.

The world’s Kirat religious communityand the entire religious community of Nepal have appreciated Guru Atmananda’s moral and spiritual philosophy. From the Prime Minister of Nepal, ministers, and parliamentarians to various high-ranking personalities, they have come to meet Guru Atmananda and listen to his sermons. Not only has his image become brighter within the Kirat community, but he has also been established as an exemplary personality in the entire Nepali religious community.

Even in today’s modern environment, it is a matter of great happiness for Nepal and the religious society that Nepal has an ideal personality like him. A great saint like him is a matter of good fortune for the Kirat religion and a source of pride for the entire Nepali religious society. Such great men are rarely born in the country or culture. Therefore, he should be given due respect while he is alive, and society should follow his ideal path.

Summary

Guru Atmananda Lingden is not an ordinary person; in fact, he is an incarnation of god in the Nepali religious society. Any country or society rarely produces great personalities like him, so his enlightenment should be recognized and given due honor while he is alive. In addition, the entire Nepali society, including the Kirat religious society, should follow his ideal path, which is a genuine spiritual and moral path that benefits humanity.

Religion is an effective tool to transform human society positively through spiritual means. However, not all religious philosophies can bring peace and progress by changing a person’s mind. Still, since Guru Atmananda’s spiritual philosophy is entirely non-violent, harmonious, and moral, his philosophy can be like nectar for the country of modern society. Not only the Kirat society but also the Nepali society as a whole needs to understand and follow this philosophy, which will be beneficial to everyone.

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