Nitnem

by Swami Rama

Nitnem is the daily prayer book of the Sikhs, which collects the verses sung and recited by all practicing Sikhs and those who are aware of the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. These beautiful verses are read every morning, at sunset, and before retiring to inspire and elevate the heart. The verses of Nitnem are a soaring statement of the majesty of the Divine and its One, Complete, and Transcendent nature, without division or duality. Swami Rama's verse interpretation of these prayers allows the modern reader to understand and share in the joyous state of mind that is the essence of the Sikh tradition.

152 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

Swāmī Rāma was born Brij Kiśore Dhasmana or Brij Kiśore Kumar,to a northern Indian Brahmin family in a small village called Toli in the Garhwal Himalayas. From an early age he was raised in the Himalayas by his master Bengali Baba and, under the guidance of his master, traveled from temple to temple and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. From 1949 to 1952 he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham in South India. After returning to his master in 1952 and practising further for many years in the Himalayan caves, Swami Rama was encouraged by his teacher to go to the West, where he spent a considerable portion of his life teaching, specifically in the United States and Europe.
He is especially notable as one of the first yogis to allow himself to be studied by Western scientists.
Swami Rama authored several books in which he describes the path he took to becoming a yogi and lays out the philosophy and benefits behind practices such as meditation. One of the common themes expressed in such books as "Enlightenment Without God" and "Living with the Himalayan Masters" is the ability of any person to achieve peace without the need for a structured religion. He was critical of the tendency for yogis to use supernatural feats to demonstrate their enlightenment, arguing that these only demonstrated the ability to perform a feat.