The Nirvikalpa Samadhi and Moksha of Sri Ramakrishna
The spiritual history of humanity contains rare milestones where the boundary between human consciousness and the Absolute vanishes entirely. Among these, the extraordinary six-month Nirvikalpa Samadhi of Paramahamsa stands as an unparalleled testament to non-dual realization.
Guided by the wandering monk Totapuri, Sri Ramakrishna completely transcended time, space, and bodily identity to merge seamlessly into God.
Pedro Nonell, an acclaimed Spanish expert on the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda, provides deep commentary on this profound state of Moksha (liberation), linking traditional scriptural wisdom with the living realization of India's modern saints.
Realization of the Bhagavad Gita Course
Sri Ramakrishna’s Six-Month Nirvikalpa Samadhi under Guru Totapuri
The Nirvikalpa Samadhi of six months, the highest spiritual experience mentioned in the Hindu scriptures of thanks to Totapuri.
In a Samadhi state, both space and time are transcended, names and forms no longer exist. This state usually lasts a few hours or days. Ramakrishna was in this state for six months!
In Patanjali's Philosophy of Yoga, the last of the eight limbs is Samadhi, that is, the realization of the Supreme Consciousness, liberation.
The Bhagavad Gita is Yoga-Shastra
This liberation, this union with Brahman, the Absolute Reality, whatever you call it (God, Brahman, Sat-Chit-Ananda, Allah), in the Bhagavad Gita is called Moksha.
Let us not forget that the Bhagavad Gita is a Moksha Shastra, a book of liberation and self-knowledge, several verses of the Bhagavad Gita speak of Moksha, such as verse 25 of Chapter 5 - The Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Karma Sannyasa Yoga):
“Sri Krishna: They attain unity with Brahman (Moksha), those sages whose sins have been annihilated, whose doubts have been resolved, those who have mastered themselves and who are absorbed in the welfare of all beings.”
It is significant that the last chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, the 18th, is called: The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) where in verse 56 we read:
“Sri Krishna: Even while always performing actions, whoever makes Me his refuge, by My grace, gains the eternal and imperishable paradise (Moksha)”
was a humble monk who saw God. He is considered a key figure in the renewal of Hinduism, and he is regarded as the prophet of the Harmony of Religions, or the avatar of the modern age. His disciple, Swami Vivekananda, made his profound teachings known to the World.
Sri Ramakrishna's first guru was an extraordinary woman known as Bhairavi Brahmani, an advanced spiritual teacher, well versed in the Hindu scriptures.
With their help, Sri Ramakrishna practiced several difficult disciplines of the tantric path and achieved success in all of them.
Three years later came a wandering monk named Totapuri, under whose guidance Sri Ramakrishna attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the highest spiritual experience mentioned in the Hindu scriptures.
He remained in that state of non-dual existence (Advaita Vedanta) for six months without the slightest awareness even of his own body.
In this way, Sri Ramakrishna revived the entire range of spiritual experiences of more than three thousand years of Hindu religion.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Nirvikalpa Samadhi?
Nirvikalpa Samadhi is the highest state of spiritual realization in Advaita Vedanta and Yoga philosophy. In this non-dual state, the distinction between the knower, knowledge, and the known disappears, leaving only pure, undivided union with God.
How long did Sri Ramakrishna remain in Nirvikalpa Samadhi?
While yogis traditionally experience this state for hours or days, Sri Ramakrishna remained completely absorbed in Nirvikalpa Samadhi for an exceptional period of six months, entirely detached from physical awareness.
Who was Totapuri?
Totapuri was a wandering monk and an established master of Advaita Vedanta who served as the guru to Sri Ramakrishna, initiating him into the profound mysteries of non-dual reality and liberation.
How is Nirvikalpa Samadhi connected to the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita refers to this ultimate state of liberation and union with God as Moksha. Throughout its chapters, Sri Krishna instructs seekers on how to transcend material action to achieve this absolute, eternal peace.
Conclusion
The extraordinary account of Sri Ramakrishna's six-month immersion in the Absolute highlights the living reality of ancient Hindu paths. By validating both the complex methodologies of the Tantric path under Bhairavi Brahmani and the ultimate non-dual silence of Advaita Vedanta under Totapuri, Sri Ramakrishna proved that all spiritual practices converge toward a single destination.
His realization confirms that Moksha is not an abstract intellectual theory, but a real, attainable state where the human soul realizes its absolute oneness with God, laying a foundation for universal harmony that continues to inspire seekers worldwide.
Source: Belurmath & Ramakrishna Mission
Translated into Spanish by
Nirvikalpa Samadhi 
Nirvikalpa Samadhi .
Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles
(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell
