Mahanam Sampradaya

Bengali: মহানাম সম্প্রদায়
Prabhu Jagadbandhu considered avatar by Mahanam Sampradaya
Formation	1891 as movement[1]
Founder	Prabhu Jagadbandhu (inspirator) Sripad Mahendraji (organisator)
Founded at	Bengal, British India
Type	Hindu denomination Religious organization
Purpose	Educational, philanthropic, religious studies, spirituality
Headquarters	Mahauddharana Math, Maniktala, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Sri Angan, Faridpur, Bangladesh
Location	ashrams/temples, dispensary, medical camps, schools
Area served	India & Bangladesh
Membership	more than 1 million
Official languages	Bengali
Previous head	Mahanambrata Brahmachari
Current head	Upasakbandhu Bramachari in India and Kantibandhu Brahmachari in Bangladesh
Key people	Mahanambrata Brahmachari
Affiliations	Hinduism

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Mahanam Sampradaya (Bengali: মহানাম সম্প্রদায়) is a monastic organisation founded in the last decade of the 19th century within Hinduism in the Bengal Presidency of colonial British India and spiritually inspired by Prabhu Jagadbandhu.^[1] As the tradition-sampradaya is also known as a Krishnaite institution and it was formed in the early 20th century by Sripad Mahendraji.^[2] Presently followers of Mahanam Sampradaya are centered in both India and Bangladesh.^[1] Radha Krishna, Gaur Nitai and Prabhu Jagadbandhu are the chief deities worshiped by the Mahanam Sampradaya.^{[citation needed]}

Formation of Mahanam Sampradaya started with the advent of Prabhu Jagadbandhu (1871 – 1921) — a mystic and author of kirtan songs^[3]—who was the focus of a new revival movement within the Bengali Vaishnavas in the last decade 19th century, and whom Mahanam Sampradaya (and many others) believe as an avatar of Krishna as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu^[4] and Nityananda. At the first time, in 1891 Annada Charan Datta—the leader of Hari Sabha, a circle of devotees at Hooghly—was reported to have had a vision that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was reincarnate in the form of Prabhu Jagadbandhu.^[5]

Prabhu Jagadbandu was a great Hindu saint and yogi from Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He said^[6]

Show kindness and compassion and do well to all creatures. Make a free gift of religion to all. Initiation in the hallowed name of Hari is the sure means of attaining salvation (i.e. deliverance from all agonies and sufferings). This is the secret of salvation. This is the secret of eternal good done to others

— Prabhu Jagadbandhu

Prabhu Jagadbandhu preached Krishnaism and Vaishnavism for 30 years. He asked people to chant the holy name of God (Radha Krishna and Gour Nitai), to develop love for God. He urged everyone to love all creatures irrespective of caste or creed.^{[citation needed]} This time period is referred to as the 'Maha Gambhira Lila' (in contrast to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Gambhira Lila).^{[citation needed]}

Sripad Mahendraji renounced the world at an early age of 20 years. He went to Vrindavan in search of lord Krishna. later, he went to Sri Angan where Prabhu Jagadbandhu was at that time, in the small cottage.

Sripad Mahendraji decided to settle in Sri Angan and lead the life of an ashramite Brahmachari i.e. Living in a ashram and follow Brahmacarya.

After few years, Prabhu jagadbandhu employed Sripad Mahendraji with a mission. Prabhu Jagadbandu asked Sripad Mahendraji to organise a band of selfless Brahmacharies i.e. those who follow Brahmacarya. He asked Sripad Mahendraji to go with the band of Brahmacharies from place to place and preach the 'Mahanam Sampradaya'.

Accordingly, a band of about 50 sannyasins was assembled, who together founded the Mahanam Sampradaya under the leadership of Sripad Mahendraji.^[7]

Later Sripad Mahendraji made his disciple Dr. Mahanambrata Brahmachariji, the head of Mahanam Sampradaya.

After the formation of Mahanam Sampradaya, Sripad Mahendraji received letter of invitation for the 2nd parliament of world religion ( or more commonly the world fellowship of faiths ) in the year 1933.^[7]

Sripad Mahendra ji sent Mahanambrata Brahmachariji, a scholarly leader of Mahanam Sampradaya, as a deligate to Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. to attend the conference.^[8]

After returning from Chicago and after the death of Sripad Mahendraji, Mahanambrata Brahmachari was made the head of Mahanam Sampradaya.

Under his guidance Mahanam Sampradaya developed further. Thus, 'Mahanam Sevak Sangha', a subsidiary of Mahanam Sampradaya was established for the non-ashramite followers. 'Mahanambrata Cultural and Welfare Trust', a publication was also initiated by Dr. Mahanambrata Brahmachariji.

Mahanambrata Brahmachari allowed Upasakbandhu Brahmachari and Nabanibandhu Brahmachari to carry forward the guru parampara or spiritual lineage or allowed them to give mantra diksha to initiate devotees.

By the time Mahanambrata Brahmachari died in 1999,^[9] Bangladesh attained its liberation.

So, in 1999, Upasakbandhu Brahmachari became the head of Mahanam Sampradaya in India and Nabanibandhu Brahmachari became the head of Mahanam Sampradaya in Bangladesh.

When Nabanibandhu Brahmachari died, Kantibandhu Brahmachari became the head of Mahanam Sampradaya in Bangladesh. Therefore, Upasakbandhu Brahmachari and Kantibandhu Brahmachari are the head of Mahanam Sampradaya in India and Bangladesh respectively.^[10]

Mahanam Sampradaya is a new Krishnaite Vaishava denomination. It believes in attaining the five principals of Mansatvya or Humanity namely-^[7]

1.Achourya [also called Asteya].(Not to steal)

2.Ahimsa. (Non-Violence)

3.Satya ( to be truthful)

4. Samyama ( Self-restraint)

5.shaucha ( cleanliness of both inner self and body )

Dr. Mahanambrata Brahmachariji once said the following about Mahanam Sampradaya's philosophy called Manav Dharma -^[11]

The perfection of human life is in the attainment of humanity. In order to gain humanity, one has to achieve five Qualities. Ahimsa(Non-Violence), Samyama(Self-restraint), Shaucha(cleanliness), Achourya( non- thiefness), and Satya(truth). Do not envy anyone. Do not steal anyone's goods. Body and mind, Keep them holy. Always be self - restrained in moral character. Don't let untruth touch(influence) your deeds and words . As a human being, we have just one Dharma i.e. Attaining Manushatvya (Humanity). This same thing has been told by Prabhu Jagadbandhu in the form of a Sutra - " Ei Marma Ei Dharma" I advice all to become human beings after attaining Manushatvya (humanity) and also help others to become human. This is the best service to the people.

— Dr. Mahanambrata Brahmachariji

According to Mahanam Sampradaya, Mahanam Mahakirtan is a key aspect of their religious practice and cult. Mahanam literally means 'Great Name'. It generally refers to the following lines from Prabhu Jagadbandhu's book named 'Chandrapath'^[12]

Hari Purusha Jagadbandhu Maha Uddharana

Charihasta Chandraputra Hakitapatana

(Prabhu Prabhu Prabhu Hey) (Anantanantamaya)

— Prabhu Jagadbandhu, 'MAHANAM', Chandrapath

Mahakirtan means 'Great Kirtan and congregation chanting of the holy name of God.'

So, Mahanam Mahakirtan literary means congregation chanting of above mentioned Mahanam. Whereas, Mahanam Mahakirtan more generally refers to the ceaseless congregation chanting of Mahanam around the sandalwood casket placed first in Sri Angan but later moved to Mahendra Bandhu Angan, a prominent temple of Mahanam Sampradaya in Ghurni, Krishnanagar, West Bengal, India. The sandalwood casket called 'Shree Samput' preserves the holy body of Prabhu Jagadbandhu. Sripad Mahendraji and Mahanambrata Brahmachari and Mahanam Sampradaya believes that Prabhu Jagadbandhu will someday come out from the sandalwood casket after hearing the Mahanam Mahakirtan.

Mahanam Mahakirtan was started on 18 October 1921. Mahanam Mahakirtan is also known as Mahanam 'Yajna'.^[7]

Social activities of Mahanam Sampradaya are carried out by Mahanam Sevak Sangha, a subsidiary of Mahanam Sampradaya.^[13]

Since 1981, Mahanam Sampradaya has run a charitable dispensary (free except 1 INR for registration of each patient) named Sri Sri Prabhu Jagatbandhu Sevangan.

Free medical camps are organised every year by Mahanam Sampradaya on the event of Ganga Sagar mela, an annual fair for pilgrims at Southern part of Sagar Island of West Bengal, India. A few ambulances are also operated by Mahanam Sampradaya.

Mahanam Sampradaya also donate free blankets for the poor and needy people in the winter months. Mahanam Sampradaya runs two schools of their own and also provide free books for the needy and meritorious students.^[14]

Mahanam Sampradaya has dozens of temples in India and Bangladesh. Some prominent temples are listed below.^[15]

There are some more temples of Mahanam Sampradaya which are not included in the above list.

• Sri Angan

• Official website Archived 2020-10-20 at the Wayback Machine