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Grand arrangements were being made in Mishraji's house for the sacred thread ceremony of Nimayi. In the courtyard of the well-decorated house sat the Brahmin Pundits and Mishraji's relatives. Nimayi's head was tonsured for the occasion and he was brought to the Mandap at the auspicious time fixed for the ceremony. The Acharya dressed Nimayi in yellow silk attire and gave him a 'palaasa dhanda' (stick of a particular kind of tree). This silk attire fit Nimayi's golden hue body so well. He sat beside his father and did samithaadaanam. Then, while a silk cloth was held as a cover over them, Mishraji whispered the Gayathri Mantra in Nimayi's ears, in initiating him into it.

No sooner had Gayathri Mantra been heard by Nimayi than he went into a state of Bhava (ecstacy). He cried out loudly and swooned. The 'palaasa dhanda' fell in a corner. Tears rolled down profusely from his eyes. His pulse had gone down and the breathing became very slow. Those present were alarmed at this state of Nimayi. Mishraji sprinkled water on Nimayi's face and some fanned the child. Gradually he returned to consciousness and the child's face glowed with exceptional radiance. He asked his father, "What should I do now, father?"

Since a Brahmachari should live on alms, even to this day, on the day of the thread ceremony it has become customary for the 'boy' being invested with the sacred thread to beg for alms. Mishraji prepared Nimayi for begging alms. He gave the son the 'dhanda' and a bag and instructed him to beg alms, calling out, "Bhavathi Bhiksham Dehi" (Oh! Revered one, please give me alms) first from the mother and then from the other ladies. The hearts of all those around was captivated by the vamana-like (one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) form of Nimayi and they offered him alms beyond their means!

At this juncture, an old man holding a stick appeared suddenly on the scene and came up to the 'upanayana mandap'. He signaled Nimayi up to him with his eyes, with a shaky hand dropped a betel nut into the bag and left the place. Nimayi at once picked up the nut from the bag and put it into his mouth. No sooner had he done this than he entered into a strange state of Bhava and commanded his mother, "Ma! From to-day you should never eat food on Ekadasi day." The mother, too, entered into a strange state and responded as if it were a Mahatma who had instructed her and not her own little son. She said, "As per your instructions I shall never eat food on Ekadasi." Nimayi said, " Alright. I take leave of you, now. Take good care of your son." And the child fell unconscious.

When Nimayi came back to consciousness he seemed as if he had just woken up from sleep. Mishraji asked him, "What had happened to you? Why did you behave in such a strange way?' Nimayi, replied in a wonder-struck tone, "I also do not understand what happened to me. All that I remember is that I fell asleep." The people around gave different explanations to his behaviour. Some said that some evil spirit must have entered his body. While devotees of the Lord opined that it was Lord Hari Himself who had shown His Presence through Nimayi. The name 'Gaur Hari' got attached to Nimayi from this day of his 'Upanayana'. After the 'Upanayana' Nimayi studied under two Acharyas, Acharya Sudharshan and Vishnu Pandit. Nimayi's sharp intellect enabled him to grasp quickly all that was taught. This endeared him to his preceptors. Later, Nimayi went to Gangadharar Pundit to learn grammar. Mishraji was happy with his son's sharp intellect.

Nimayi turned eleven. One morning Nimayi found that his father had contracted fever and hesitated to leave for school. His father said to him, "Son, I shall soon be alright. Do not miss your classes." But, Nimayi refused to go to school. He insisted on staying back with him. He said, " Father, I shall not attend my classes till your health improves." But, Mishraji's health only deteriorated day-by-day. He realized that the end was near and said to his wife, "I shall not live long. Take good care of Nimayi." Sachi Devi sobbed bitterly hearing his words and Nimayi, too, felt deeply saddened. Nimayi, then, helped his father lay on a 'darbhaasna' (mat made of certain kind of grass).

Mishraji, in a weak voice, requested, "Please take me to the banks of the Ganges." The eleven year old Nimayi with some help from his mother and without any outsider's help led his father to the banks of the Ganges. Mishraji pulled the son close to himself, caressed his head and laid it down on his chest. In a feeble voice he whispered, "Nimayi, I hand you over to Lord Vishwambara. He will protect you." With these words he passed away. Sachi Devi lamented over her husband's death. Nimayi, too, was aggrieved by his father's death but took hold of himself and performed the last rites of his father. He then consoled his mother, " Ma, everyone has to face death. Our life with father is over. Please do not grieve. I shall take good care of you." Gradually, as time passed, Sachi Devi felt consoled and gained courage to face life without her husband.

Apart from his sharp intellect, Nimayi's mischievous and gregarious nature, his captivating beauty attracted one and all - the young and the old, the teachers and the students - without any exception. He was very jovial and in his company all were filled with laughter. In Pundit Gangadharar's Patashaala there were elderly students, too. The thirteen-year old Nimayi teased the 30-40 year old students.

The famous poet Murari Gupta, Kamalakanthar, Tantra Shastra Pundi Krishnanandhar were also students here at that time. Nimayi was never shy of anyone, be it young or old. He always found someone to debate with. He invariably targeted the vaishnavite students and embarrassed them.

Murari Gupta was an elderly person. Yet, Nimayi ragged him, too. Initially, Murari Gupta did not take him seriously as he was only a youngster. But very soon he recognized the genius in him and began to have interesting discussions with him. Deliberately Nimayi would point out the use of certain terms and ask Murari Gupta to justify its usage. Even though the latter justified it Nimayi would surprise him by pointing out the fault/inaccuracy in them. Murari Gupta admired Nimayi's skill in logic.

This Murari Gupta was adept in medical science. Nimayi said to him jocularly, "Guptaji! You are a doctor. It is only the pundits who have to justify usage of terms. (in grammar and other subjects) All that you have to do is only learn to grind the roots and vegetables and make medicines out of them. Learn to feel and read the pulse. How does it matter to you whether the patient lives or dies?" He teased him further, "Doctor, obeisance to you! You are a brother of Yamaraja (god of death). Yama snatches only the life but you take away the wealth, too, along with the patient's life!" Murari only smiled in response though he felt insulted. But the moment Nimayi found Murari's sorrowful face he touched him with affection and Murari felt consoled by the soft touch of the youngster.

On the banks of the Ganges Nimayi was always found debating over something. He was an adept in debates. He would pick up a topic, debate over it - first he would refute the statement made therein proving it all wrong by logical statements, soon after counter argue the same topic proving it to be right! All with full logical support! There was not a single student who had not faced defeat while facing him.

In those days there were no books for grammar (vyakarana). Students learnt verbally through discussions. However difficult a topic was Nimayi could always explain it all easily and interestingly. Hence, in spite of his young age all looked upto him as one would a Guru and learnt from him.

Since Nimayi had fully mastered the 'vyakarana grantha' (Grammar Text) called "Panchatika" even in his childhood he wrote a 'vyakarana' (commentary) for the same. Since it was simple it became very popular among the students. Big pundits and scholars openly praised the commentary and it became very popular even outside Navadweep.

In those days Pundit Vasudeva Sarvabhowmar was considered the king of 'Nyaya Shastra' and his Patashala the best for 'Nyaya shastra'. The students of this Patashala are known world wide even to this day. At the time that Nimayi joined this Patashala to study 'Nyaya', Pundit Raghunathji, who later authored the famous logic text 'Dhidhiti', was also there as a student. Nimayi and Raghunathji had cordial relationship. Soon Raghunathji sensed the sharp intellect of Nimayi. Raghunathji who had until then thought that none could defeat him in logic realized that Nimayi would soon surpass. Still, due to his deep confidence in his own intelligence this did not bother him much.

One day the teacher asked Raghunathji to frame a particular phrase (pankthi). He was able to frame it only at the end of the day after much thinking. After handing it over to the teacher Raghunathji returned home to cook food. Nimayi happened to come over then and asked, " Pundit Maharaj! Why are you preparing food at this untimely hour?" Raghunathji explained what had happened. Nimayi then asked what was that particular phrase that had to be framed. On hearing it he commented smilingly, "Did you undergo this much trouble for such a trivial phrase?" Raghunathji not to be out beaten responded agrily, "Why don't you frame one?" With much ease Nimayi quickly framed the 'pankthi' and he himself raised doubts against it and offered explanations, too, to justify it! Raghunathji's face lost its colour though outwardly he praised Nimayi. He felt deeply saddened and could not partake of his meals.

It was at this time that Raghunathji was writing the text 'Dhidhiti'. As Nimayi, too, was writing a book on the same topic he asked Nimayi, " Why don't you show me the book that you are presently writing on this?" Nimayi laughed, "Writing texts on such difficult topics as logic is the work of Pundits like you. I am but writing it only playfully. However, it is only my fortune that you wish to read it. I will bring it to you to-morrow."

The next day Nimayi brought his book to the Patashala. On their way back home in the boat Nimayi read out to Raghunathji from his book. As he listened to it Raghunathji's heart filled with sorrow and he began to sob. In his enthusiasm to read out Nimayi failed to notice this. But after a while when he looked up at him he was alarmed at Raghunathji's state and asked, "Brother! What is this? What has happened to you?" Wiping away his tears Raghunathji explained in a choked voice, "Nimayi, I do not wish to commit a sin by hiding my intentions. The truth is that I began writing my book with the desire to bring out one that shall be unsurpassed. But I feel grief stricken as none will touch my book if once yours comes out. This is the reason for my tears."

Nimayi laughed loudly at this and gave him an affectionate pat on his back. Then he said, "Should you grieve for such a trivial matter? This is but a small text. For the sake of your happiness I can even give up my life by jumping into the fire. If this book is the cause of your grief I will destroy it right now." He immediately threw the book, which had taken so much time and work, into the Ganges. The text floated on the waves of 'Jhanavi' (another name for Ganges) as if dancing in joy due to Nimayi's sacrifice!

Raghunathji hugged Nimayi in sheer joy and in a choked voice praised him, "Nimayi, such a big sacrifice is possible only by you. Only a Mahan can consider fame as insignificant as a blade of grass and shun it. I am but a worm who loves fame. Your sacrifice will earn much more fame than my book."

From that very day Nimayi stopped attending the Patashala and studying 'Nyaya'. He studied at home from texts that had been left behind by his father and brother.

To be continued......