How To Survive A Nirjanam Place

By krishnasmercy on October 15, 2025 • ( 0 )

“Giving up all enjoyable things, forced by affection for her husband she entered into the desolate forest, not concerned with the hardships.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 16.19)

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सर्वान् भोगान्परित्यज्य भर्तृस्नेहबलात्कृता
अचिन्तयित्वा दुःखानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनं वनम्

sarvān bhogānparityajya bhartṛsnehabalātkṛtā
acintayitvā duḥkhāni praviṣṭā nirjanaṃ vanam

“Let’s focus on a Sanskrit word today, shall we? How about the word nirjanam? I came across it recently. It is not frequently used, at least within the presentation of the science of self-realization. In fact, those who lead by example prefer to establish some sort of institutional infrastructure. At the foundation of the institution is people. You need someone to keep the lights on, so to speak.

“It would make sense, then, that the concept of nirjanam would not win favor, be recommended, or have central focus. From what I have found, nirjanam translates to ‘desolate’ or ‘isolated’. To me, the literal translation makes more sense. Janam refers to people. Nir is a negation. Nirjanam is therefore a place or circumstance devoid of people.

“Say what you will about others, I think a single person has a value beyond measure. Sure, my friend gets on my nerves sometimes. The patrons at the local store sometimes say nasty things. They cause trouble for no reason. My own family stabs me in the back. They are eager to impress strangers, to make a good show in public, while turning cruel and selfish when the spotlight dims.

“This is all to say that I would still have difficulty living in a nirjanam place. They punish the worst criminals with solitary confinement for a reason. People are a sign of life. If I see someone else and they notice me, it is like we are both alive. Otherwise, the experience feels like a dream. How do we know that we are really here? Where is the evidence? Well, it is in the response of other people, wouldn’t you say?

“From the Ramayana history we learn of places known as tapo-vana. Again, a literal translation gives the best understanding. Vana is a forest. Tapo refers to tapah, which is austerity and penance. People would intentionally choose to live in isolation. The excuse was that these forests were conducive to tapasya, which is the intentional implementation of a regimen of control. Think sensory deprivation minus the torture angle.

“How does someone survive in such a place? What makes someone choose that condition? Why would the Supreme Lord reward their dedication? It is said that one of the reasons for the appearance of the Rama avatara is the protection of the people who lived in such places. They are considered sadhu, which is like a saintly person.”

Consider the situation from a different angle. Imagine that you grew up in royalty. You were adopted as a child, found by accident by a leader intent on following dharma, which is righteousness. That leader happened to be a king. A leader with influence, at that. His name is invoked to this day. He makes an appearance within the pages of Bhagavad-gita, as a way to describe the concept of working with detachment.

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः
लोकसङ्ग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim
āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi
sampaśyan kartum arhasi

“Even kings like Janaka and others attained the perfectional stage by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.20)

You are found one day by this leader. He takes you in as his beloved child. You never experience hardship while growing up. You have every comfort imaginable available to you. Upon reaching the appropriate age, you marry into royalty. It is like the perfect match. The spouse knows exactly what you want. The spouse is ready, willing, and able to provide for your needs. The spouse will maintain the standard that you have known since birth.

Imagine, then, that you one day decide to live in a nirjanam place. This is to follow your spouse. They are being punished. They did nothing wrong, but sometimes there is collateral damage from feuds within a family. Your spouse insists that you stay at home. How are you going to survive in a desolate place, after all? It is easier for someone preparing for a life of asceticism to make the transition. How can you expect to abruptly turn your life upside down and not be worse off for the decision?

Shri Hanuman chooses this angle of observation to glorify Sita Devi, who is the daughter of King Janaka. Sita Devi is the wife of Shri Rama. She made the decision to leave for a nirjanam place. The exception, of course, was that there was someone with her. Rama would be by her side. Rama was the person she followed. Rama was like the sun and Sita the shadow to that sun.

It is never a nirjanam place if you have the husband of the goddess of fortune with you. Saintly people recognize this through their attachment to the holy name. If they happen to be all alone, without others around to offer support, they can at least stay with transcendence through remembrance, glorification, and speech: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.