Durga Charan Mohanty (Odia:ଦୁର୍ଗାଚରଣ ମହାନ୍ତି, (1912–1985) was an Odia Indian spiritual writer born in 1912 at Biratunga, a village under block Gop, near Konark, Odisha. The Odia Sahitya Akademi has been awarded to him in 1956–58 due to his active involvement in development of Odia language and literature Being a disciple of Swami Nigamananda, he wrote many books and translated Nigamananda's own-written Bengali books to Odia language. He was ପରିଚାଳକ (Secretary/Parichalaka) of ନୀଳାଚଳ ସାରସ୍ୱତ ସଂଘ (Nilachala Saraswata Sangha).
Family
His father Gunanidhi Mohanty was a Jamindar and mother Sundarmani Mohanty was President of Nilachala Saraswata Sangha (Women Association).
Spiritual career
After reading Yogiguru (योगीगुरु) and Premikaguru (प्रेमिकगुरु) respectively, authored by Swami Nigamananda, at Raghunandanan Library, Puri, the vigraha(portrait) of Swami Nigamananda present in the books attracted him very much. At the same time he began worshiping this portrait and considered Nigamananda as his spiritual master and revered God. He began to search Nigamananda and finally met him in Nilachala Kutir Puri on 20 March 1930, Thursday. At that time he was only seventeen years old and a student of class IX in Puri district School. On first meeting he was overwhelmed by his appearance and realised Nigamananda as Ishwar. Since that day, he became a regular visitor to Nilachala Kutir for his darshan. He used to note down guru Nigamananda's sayings(upadesh), later he published these "upadesh"(gospels)in books like Nilachala Vani and Nigama Upadesh. Subsequently, he wrote many books for Nilachala Saraswata Sangha and translated Nigamananda's originally written Bengali books, ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚର୍ୟ ସାଧନା(Brahamcharya Sadhana), ଯୋଗୀଗୁରୁ(Yogi Guru), ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ଗୁରୁ(Gyani Guru), ତାନ୍ତ୍ରିକ ଗୁରୁ(Tantrika Guru), and ପ୍ରେମିକଗୁରୁ(Premika Guru), into Odia language. On Trilochan Ashtami, 5 June 1934, he was initiated as disciples of Swami Nigamananda. Being a disciple of Nigamananda, Mohanty spent his entire life on his service. Due to Mohanty's pioneer efforts over a hundred Nigamananda Ashrams were established and survive in Odisha. He continued to preach Nigamananda's philosophy till he left his physical body on 7 December 1985 at Biratunga.
Books on Durga Charan Mohanty
The following books in Odia are published by Nilachala Saraswata Sangha on Durga Charan Mohanty's life, works, achievements : ଉତ୍କଳରେ ଠାକୁର ଶ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ନିଗମାନନ୍ଦ ଓ ଭାଇ ଦୁର୍ଗାଚରଣ (Utkalre thakur shree shree Nigamananda o bhai durga charan). ଭାବ ବିନିମୟ (Bhava Binimaya). ଆଦର୍ଶ ଗୁରୁପ୍ରାଣ ଦୁର୍ଗାଚରଣ ଭାଇ (Adarasa guruprana durgacharan bhai). ସାର୍ବଭୌମ ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ଠାକୁର ଓ ପରିଚାଳକ(Sarbabhouma guru shree shree thakur o parichalaka). ଭାଇ (Bhai) + ପରିଚାଳକଙ୍କ ବାଣୀ (Parichalakanka Bani) – By Banchhanidhi Mishra
Works
School
The High School, Saraswata Bidyapitha was established by him in 1964 at Biratunga his own village.
Books and publications ( Names given in Odia, Roman and Devnagari scripts) The series of books written/translated by him for Nilachala Saraswata Sangha in Odia are listed here: ସାରସ୍ୱତ ଗ୍ରନ୍ଥାବଳୀ(Saraswata Granthabali) ଯୋଗୀଗୁରୁ -YogiGuru-योगीगुरु ପ୍ରେମିକଗୁରୁ-PremikaGuru-प्रेमिकगुरु ତାନ୍ତ୍ରିକ ଗୁରୁ-TantrikGuru-तांत्रिकगुरु ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ଗୁରୁ-Gyaniguru-ज्ञानीगुरु ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚର୍ୟ ସାଧନା-Brahamacharya Sadhana-ब्रह्मचर्य साधना] ନିଗମ ଗ୍ରନ୍ଥମାଳା -Nigama Granthamala (निगम ग्रन्थमाला)