Kartabhaja
Encyclopedia
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. It had a significant following in the late 18th century and early 19th century, but its following declined considerably in the early 20th century.
The founder of this community was Aulchand
or Aulechand ( 1686-1769), about whom very little is known, except a number of legends. Significant early leaders of this community were Ramsharan Pal, a disciple of Aulchand, his wife Sarasvati, popularly known as Sati Ma and their son Dulalchandra Pal. Under their leadership, Ghoshpara village (presently, a neighbourhood of Kalyani
city) in Nadia district
became a major centre of activities and later a pitha
for the sect. An annual fair in Ghoshpara, known as the Sati Mar Dol Mela, is held in honour of Sati Ma on the day of Dol Purnima
in February/March every year. This fair is attended by a large number of followers of this sect.
, founder of this community was also known as Aule Mahaprabhu, Kangali Mahaprabhu, Fakir Thakur, Siddha Purush, Sain Gosain and Purnachandra amongst his followers. Most of the legends on Satyamahaprabhu Aulchand or Aulechand are collected by Horace Hayman Wilson
and Akshay Kumar Datta
. According to these legends, in 1616 Saka era (1694), Mahadab Barui, a peasant of Ula
village found Aulchand, a eight year boy in his betel vine and decided to adopt him. After 12 years Aulchand left Ula and stayed in the house of a gandhabanik (perfumer) for two years. Next, he resided in the house of a landlord for 14 years. Next one and half year he lived somewhere in eastern Bengal
and then started travelling from one place to another. At the age of 37, he came to Bejra village and Hatu Ghosh became his disciple. Soon, Ramsharan Pal also became his disciple. Besides Ramsharan Pal and Hatu Ghosh, his principal disciples included Bechu Ghosh, Nayan Das, Laksmhikanta, Nityananda Das, Khelaram Udasin, Krishnadas, Hari Ghosh, Kanai Ghosh, Shankar, Nitai Ghosh, Anandaram, Manohar Das, Bishnu Das, Kinu, Gobinda, Shyam Kansari, Bhimray Rajput, Panchu Ruidas, Sidhiram Ghosh and Shishuram. He died in Boyale village (in the present day Nadia district) in 1691 Saka era (1769). In addition to his 22 principal disciples, Aulchand had a number of followers, both Hindu
and Muslim
. The disciples of Aulchand believed him as the reincarnation
of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
.
After Aulchand's death, his followers were divided in to two major groups. His prinicipal eight disciples under the leadership of Ramsharan Pal established a center for religious activities at Ghoshpara. The other group founded their center at Parari village near Chakdaha
and cremated Aulchand's body there. The leadership of the group led by Ramsharan Pal became hereditary after his death and his descendants were mentioned as the Shriyut or the Shrishriyut. The sectarian literature of this community mention the Gurus (leaders) as the Mahashayas (hosts) and the common members as the Baratis (guests).
were not followed by the members of this sect during their religious celebrations. According to Akshay Kumar Datta, the prinicipal religious practices were chanting mantra
and premanushthan (ritual of love), which they believe would lead to siddhi (perfection). The members of this sect met together regularly and these meetings, known as baithaks, continued till early morning. In these baithaks, they shared the expressions of prem (love) by crying, trembling, laughing loudly and grinding their teeth.
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
in eastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which came in to prominence in the mid 18th century. It had a significant following in the late 18th century and early 19th century, but its following declined considerably in the early 20th century.
The founder of this community was Aulchand
Aulchand
Aulchand was a Bengali Hindu spiritual leader who founded the Kartabhaja philosophy. Kartabhajas consider Aulchand to be an incarnation of Vishnu and therefore think him one with Krishna and Gouranga.- Early life :...
or Aulechand ( 1686-1769), about whom very little is known, except a number of legends. Significant early leaders of this community were Ramsharan Pal, a disciple of Aulchand, his wife Sarasvati, popularly known as Sati Ma and their son Dulalchandra Pal. Under their leadership, Ghoshpara village (presently, a neighbourhood of Kalyani
Kalyani, West Bengal
Kalyani is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority....
city) in Nadia district
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....
became a major centre of activities and later a pitha
Pitha
Pitha , or pithe is a type of cake or bread common in Bangladesh and India, especially the eastern states of Assam, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and the northeastern region. Pithas are typically made of rice flour, although there are some types of pitha made of wheat flour...
for the sect. An annual fair in Ghoshpara, known as the Sati Mar Dol Mela, is held in honour of Sati Ma on the day of Dol Purnima
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
in February/March every year. This fair is attended by a large number of followers of this sect.
Aulchand and his disciples
AulchandAulchand
Aulchand was a Bengali Hindu spiritual leader who founded the Kartabhaja philosophy. Kartabhajas consider Aulchand to be an incarnation of Vishnu and therefore think him one with Krishna and Gouranga.- Early life :...
, founder of this community was also known as Aule Mahaprabhu, Kangali Mahaprabhu, Fakir Thakur, Siddha Purush, Sain Gosain and Purnachandra amongst his followers. Most of the legends on Satyamahaprabhu Aulchand or Aulechand are collected by Horace Hayman Wilson
Horace Hayman Wilson
Horace Hayman Wilson was an English orientalist.He studied medicine at St Thomas's Hospital, and went out to India in 1808 as assistant-surgeon on the Bengal establishment of the British East India Company....
and Akshay Kumar Datta
Akshay Kumar Datta
Akshay Kumar Datta was born in Chupi in Bardhaman. Son of Pitamber Dutta, he was one of the initiators of the Bengal Renaissance. After studying in the Oriental Seminary under the special care of Hardman Jeffroy, he had to give up studies because of the death of his father and go job-seeking...
. According to these legends, in 1616 Saka era (1694), Mahadab Barui, a peasant of Ula
Birnagar
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:...
village found Aulchand, a eight year boy in his betel vine and decided to adopt him. After 12 years Aulchand left Ula and stayed in the house of a gandhabanik (perfumer) for two years. Next, he resided in the house of a landlord for 14 years. Next one and half year he lived somewhere in eastern Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and then started travelling from one place to another. At the age of 37, he came to Bejra village and Hatu Ghosh became his disciple. Soon, Ramsharan Pal also became his disciple. Besides Ramsharan Pal and Hatu Ghosh, his principal disciples included Bechu Ghosh, Nayan Das, Laksmhikanta, Nityananda Das, Khelaram Udasin, Krishnadas, Hari Ghosh, Kanai Ghosh, Shankar, Nitai Ghosh, Anandaram, Manohar Das, Bishnu Das, Kinu, Gobinda, Shyam Kansari, Bhimray Rajput, Panchu Ruidas, Sidhiram Ghosh and Shishuram. He died in Boyale village (in the present day Nadia district) in 1691 Saka era (1769). In addition to his 22 principal disciples, Aulchand had a number of followers, both Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. The disciples of Aulchand believed him as the reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
.
After Aulchand's death, his followers were divided in to two major groups. His prinicipal eight disciples under the leadership of Ramsharan Pal established a center for religious activities at Ghoshpara. The other group founded their center at 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...
and cremated Aulchand's body there. The leadership of the group led by Ramsharan Pal became hereditary after his death and his descendants were mentioned as the Shriyut or the Shrishriyut. The sectarian literature of this community mention the Gurus (leaders) as the Mahashayas (hosts) and the common members as the Baratis (guests).
Dulalchandra Pal
In 1783, after the death of Ramsharan Pal, his wife Sati Ma became the leader of the community and she was succeeded by her son Ramdulal Pal or Dulalchandra Pal (1775-1852) after her death. His anthology of spiritual songs, mostly written between 1824-28 under the nome de plume Lalshashi were collected by his four disciples and known as Bhaver Gita (Spiritual Songs). Almost 500 spiritual poems and songs written by a number of poets belonging to this community were published in two volumes, titled, Kartabhajar Gitavali (1872) and Shrishriyuter Padavali (1893). These works include most of the songs of Lalshashi. Dulalchandra Pal was succeeded by wife and she was succeeded by their son Ishvarchandra Pal.Practices and beliefs
According to H. H. Wilson, the distinctions of the Indian caste systemCaste system in India
The Indian caste system is a system of social stratification and social restriction in India in which communities are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jātis....
were not followed by the members of this sect during their religious celebrations. According to Akshay Kumar Datta, the prinicipal religious practices were chanting mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
and premanushthan (ritual of love), which they believe would lead to siddhi (perfection). The members of this sect met together regularly and these meetings, known as baithaks, continued till early morning. In these baithaks, they shared the expressions of prem (love) by crying, trembling, laughing loudly and grinding their teeth.