Lest We Forget Dr Mahanambrata
Brahmachari An
extraordinary philosopher-theologian Prem Ranjan Dev
Dr
Mahanambrata Brahmachari was born in Khalisakata village
of Barishal on 25th December 1904. His earlier name was
Bankim. He did his MA in philosophy and Sanskrit topping
the list from the University of Calcutta and awarded
gold medal. He was also awarded Ph D by the University
of Chicago and D Litt from Vrindaban Theosophical
University.
The name 'Dr Mahanambrata' is well-known as a
philosopher in the Baishnab world. Not only his
knowledge of theology and religion is considered
indubitable, but his compassion for the suffering
exploited masses is also esteemed as equally great. With
the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, despite
requests in the contrary, he returned to his motherland
relinquishing his post of the International Secretary,
World Fellowship of Faiths, the position he held for six
years in the USA and since then he did not rest. He had
gone to the remotest of the villages and was busy
propagating "MAHANAM" (the great name of God). He had
delivered innumerable lectures, held discourses on the
Gita, the Bhagabat, not only in our country but also
before large congregations of scholars and intellectuals
in Europe and the USA. From 1933 to 1937 he delivered
354 lectures in the western world on monastic life in
India, Hindu homelife, God in human experience,
womanhood in India, significance of prayer, cast system
in Hindu society, Yoga philosophy, oriental mysticism
and ideals of Hindu life etc.
Although I have no occasion to have talks with the
great philosopher and saintly person, I have learnt
about him through different books, magazines and
newspapers. Dr Mahanambrata Brahmachari authored
innumerable books. We mention here only a few, which are
Baishnav-Vedanta, Gita-Dhyan, Chandi-Chinta,
Uddhav-Sandesh, Gour-Katha, Upanishad-Bhabana and
Shrimad Bhagabatam.
In his 'Haripurush Jagat Bandhu Mahauddharan' Dr
Mahanambrata says, "In Christian theology they have God
the father, God the son and holy Ghost; in Vedantic
mysticism we have 'sat', chait' and 'ananda'. These
three things are nothing but God, Man and Nature -- in
Sanskrit 'Brahma' 'jiva' and 'jagad'. In the microcosm
they are Soul, Mind and Body. In the soul they are
'sat', 'chit' and 'ananda' -- existence, consciousness
and bliss. In the mind they are 'jagrata,' 'swapna' and
'susupta', self-consciousness, sub-consciousness and
super-consciousness.
Dr Mahanam in his "Mahatma Gandhi and Universal
Brotherhood" says -- "Science has reduced the death
rate, but increased the slaughter in war. Why is this?
It is because science gives knowledge but not the wisdom
to use that knowledge." He explained Brahmachari Brahma
means the biggest, widest, greatest. Divine love is the
fundamental reality of the universe. The word
Jagat-Bandhu means the one which eternally binds all
these beings together by the tie of the transcendental
Divine love.
Dr Mahanambrata in his "Lord Jagatbandhu -- the
Saviour" says, Jagatbandhu believed that the true
religion of the world is one and only one but esoteric
(outward) expressions of that one are many.
Mahanambrata says -- "To be non-violent is the first
article of faith in the doctrine of Bhakti. This means
that you must act in such a way that the needs of life
are satisfied all around; work for the whole world. This
is non-violence." Dr Mahanambrata believed that to live
for others, for the universe, for all-life, is the true
life. Self-centred life is a vain delusion.
In his eyes, there was no difference between a good
Hindu, a good Muslim, a good Buddhist, a good Christian
and a good Jew. Great Baishnab philosopher Jagatbandhu's
spiritual follower Dr Mahanambrata says, "I am proud to
be an humble follower of the New World teacher who has
made a proclamation, unheard of, of his glorious mission
thus -- 'I will establish a kingdom of love equally over
the four continents and then only you shall call me
Jagatbandhu' -- the friend of universe".
After long many years of activities, the philosopher
cum religious teacher Dr Mahanambrata Brahmachari left
this mundane plane for his eternal abode -- the eternal
Sree Angan, Mahanam Angan and the eternal Vrindaban.
"May he Who is one without second; Who is beyond all
distinctions of colours, caste and creed; Who knowing
all our needs, meets them with His manifold powers; May
he Who is in the beginning, in the middle and in the
end; May He unite us in fellowship and understanding."
-- RIGVEDA.
Western people knew Indian idealism only through
Sankara and Ramanuja and the schools which developed
after Sankara and Ramanuja were unknown to them. Dr
Mahanam for the first time successfully attempted to
bring to the notice of western people a very popular
school of Vedanta Achinta Vedavedabad -- the
philosophical basis of Vaisnava school of Bengal and
Chaitanya Movement.
Prem Ranjan Dev is a freelance researcher. |
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