Aulchand
Encyclopedia
Aulchand (1686–1769) was a Bengali Hindu
spiritual leader who founded the Kartabhaja
philosophy. Kartabhaja
s consider Aulchand to be an incarnation of Vishnu
and therefore think him one with Krishna
and Gouranga
.
in Nadia
discovered an abandoned male child in a betel plantation and decided to adopt him. At that time, the child was about eight years of age. He named the child Purna Chandra and raised him for 12 years. At the age of 20, Purna Chandra left his house. Thereafter he stayed in the house of a Gandhabanik
for two years and then in the residence of a landlord
for another one and half years. At the age of 24, he completely denounced the material life and went about wandering from place to place. He travelled to various regions especially in the districts of Nadia, 24 Parganas
and the Sunderban area.
. He was cremated in Parari village near Chakdaha
in Nadia
.
Bengali Hindu
Bengali Hindus are an ethno-linguistic group, belonging to the Indo-Aryan family and are native to the Bengal region of the Indian Subcontinent. The Bengali Hindus along with other related ethno-linguistic groups constitute the vast majority of Hindus...
spiritual leader who founded the Kartabhaja
Kartabhaja
The Kartabhaja , also known as the Kartabhaja Sampradaya , literally, the Worshippers of the Master, is a religious community of West Bengal in eastern India, which came in to prominence in the mid 18th century...
philosophy. Kartabhaja
Kartabhaja
The Kartabhaja , also known as the Kartabhaja Sampradaya , literally, the Worshippers of the Master, is a religious community of West Bengal in eastern India, which came in to prominence in the mid 18th century...
s consider Aulchand to be an incarnation of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and therefore think him one with Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and Gouranga
Gouranga
Gauranga is a term popularized by the Hare Krishna movement in the 1970s.It is derived from Sanskrit "having a white or yellowish body", a bahuvrihi compound from "white, yellowish, reddish" and "limb, member; the body"....
.
Early life
In 1694, Mahadeb Barui, a resident of UlaBirnagar
Birnagar is a city and a municipality under Taherpur police station of Ranaghat subdivision in Nadia district in the state of West Bengal, India.-History:...
in Nadia
Nadia District
Nadia district is a district of the state of West Bengal, in the north east of India. It borders with Bangladesh to the east, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts to the south, Bardhaman district to the west, and Murshidabad district to the north....
discovered an abandoned male child in a betel plantation and decided to adopt him. At that time, the child was about eight years of age. He named the child Purna Chandra and raised him for 12 years. At the age of 20, Purna Chandra left his house. Thereafter he stayed in the house of a Gandhabanik
Gandhabanik
Gandhabaniks are a Bengali Hindu trading caste, who as their caste name suggests, traditionally used to trade in perfumes, incense and exotic spices. Chinese traveller Fa Hien referred to the Gandhabaniks as the Hindu businessmen of India. The Gandhabaniks trace their lineage to Chand Sadagar and...
for two years and then in the residence of a landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
for another one and half years. At the age of 24, he completely denounced the material life and went about wandering from place to place. He travelled to various regions especially in the districts of Nadia, 24 Parganas
24 Parganas
24 Parganas district is a former district of the Indian state of West Bengal. The district was split into two districts — North 24 Parganas district and South 24 Parganas district, with effect from 1 March 1986....
and the Sunderban area.
Spiritual life
At the age of 37, he arrived at the village of Bejra, where Hatu Ghosh and others became his disciple. Most of his initial twenty two disciples were from the lower castes.
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Later life
In 1769, Aulchand left for his heavenly abode in the village of Boalia near present day KalyaniKalyani
Kalyani may refer to:* Kalyani , a rāga in the Carnatic music of South India as well as Hindustani music* Kalyani , a type of ancient Hindu bathing well or pond* Kalyani, West Bengal, a town in the Nadia District of West Bengal...
. He was cremated in Parari village near Chakdaha
Chakdaha
Chakdaha is a city and a municipality in Kalyani subdivision of Nadia district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Geography:Chakdaha is located at . It has an average elevation of 11 metres...
in Nadia
Nadia District
Nadia district is a district of the state of West Bengal, in the north east of India. It borders with Bangladesh to the east, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts to the south, Bardhaman district to the west, and Murshidabad district to the north....
.