Jyotipal Mahathero

Last updated

Jyotipal Mahathero was a Bangladeshi Buddhist monk. He was the 10th Sangharaja (supreme patriarch) of Buddhists in Bangladesh.

Contents

The Buddhist communities in Bangladesh have been benefited for the practice of the Buddha’s teaching because of Sangharaja Jyotipal Mahathero’s profound intellect in Buddhism. It was he who established a number of Buddhist educational centres around the main original Buddhistcentres at his native land of Comilla in Bangladesh. Many of his students and disciples are now living in various Buddhist countries and trying to propagate of Buddhism for the sake of humanity. That is to say, presently Buddhist institutions, scholars and many Buddhist developmental works are from Jyotipal Mahathero’s instructive model. One of his Buddhist knowledges is that he would never discriminate among the Buddhists, Muslims, Cristians and Hindus in Bangladesh. He wrote a number of books for the better understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, and now modern Buddhist scholars and in higher academic studies of Buddhism have widely been using for thefurthermentof Buddhist researches

Early life

Mahathero was born on 5 January 1914 in Kemtali, Laksam Upazila, Comilla District. His father's name was Chandramoni Singh and his mother's name was Draupadi Bala Singh. [1]

Career

Mahathero was initiated into Shramanya Dharma in 1933 at the age of 15. He became a monk in 1937. He acquired proficient knowledge of Pali language, literature, etc. at Pahartali Mahamuni Pali College, Calcutta and Nalanda Vidya Bhavana. He was proficient in Bengali, Hindi, Pali, English and Sanskrit languages. [1] [2]

Mahathero is the founder of many charitable organizations, such as Boys 'High School in 1991, Chittagong University Peace Pagoda in 1982, Girls' High School (now College), Orphanage, etc. [2]

Mahathero was granted the title of World Citizen by the United Nations in 1995. He received the title of Epitome Master from Nalanda Vidya Bhavana. He was the Sangharaja , the highest religious guru of Bangladeshi Buddhists. He is the 10th religious guru of Buddhists in Bangladesh. He was awarded the title of 'Aggamhadharmjoti Kadhwaj' by the Government of Myanmar. His temple is named after him 'Sangharaj Jyoti: Pal Mahath's Buddhist Mahavihara Complex. [1]

Death and legacy

Mahathero died on 12 April 2002, at the age of 92. He was buried with full state honors for his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation war. He received the Ekushey Padak in 2010 and the Independence Day Award (posthumously) in 2011. [1] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

Theravāda is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed Theravādins, have preserved their version of Gautama Buddha's teaching or Buddha Dhamma in the Pāli Canon for over two millennia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhahood</span> Condition of being fully spiritually awakened in Buddhism

In Buddhism, Buddha, "awakened one", is a title for those who are spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the supreme religious goal of Buddhism, variously described as nirvana, awakening (bodhi) and liberation (vimutti). A Buddha is also someone who has fully understood the Dharma, the true nature of things or the universal law. Buddhahood is the condition and state of a buddha. This highest spiritual state of being is also termed sammā-sambodhi. This state is interpreted in many different ways in the various schools of Buddhism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nalanda mahavihara</span> Ancient University in India

Nalanda was a renowned mahavihara in ancient Magadha, eastern India. Considered by historians to be the world's first residential university and among the greatest centers of learning in the ancient world, it was located near the city of Rajagriha and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) southeast of Pataliputra. Operating from 427 until 1197 CE, Nalanda played a vital role in promoting the patronage of arts and academics during the 5th and 6th century CE, a period that has since been described as the "Golden Age of India" by scholars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero</span> Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and scholar

Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who was one of the most distinguished scholars and expositors of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was highly respected by Sri Lankan Buddhists, who believed that he had achieved a higher level of spiritual development. Sri Lankan Buddhists also considered Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero as a Bodhisattva, who will attain Buddhahood in a future life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vihāra</span> Sanskrit and Pāli term for a residence, monastery usually Buddhist

Vihāra generally refers to a Buddhist monastery for Buddhist renunciates, mostly in the Indian subcontinent. The concept is ancient and in early Sanskrit and Pali texts, it meant any arrangement of space or facilities for dwellings. The term evolved into an architectural concept wherein it refers to living quarters for monks with an open shared space or courtyard, particularly in Buddhism. The term is also found in Ajivika, Hindu and Jain monastic literature, usually referring to temporary refuge for wandering monks or nuns during the annual Indian monsoons. In modern Jainism, the monks continue to wander from town to town except during the rainy season (Chaturmas), and the term "vihara" refers to their wanderings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prajñā (Buddhism)</span> Buddhist term often translated as "wisdom" or "intelligence"

Prajñā or paññā, is a Buddhist term often translated as "wisdom", "intelligence", or "understanding". It is described in Buddhist texts as the understanding of the true nature of phenomena. In the context of Buddhist meditation, it is the ability to understand the three characteristics of all things: anicca ("impermanence"), dukkha, and anattā ("non-self"). Mahāyāna texts describe it as the understanding of śūnyatā ("emptiness"). It is part of the Threefold Training in Buddhism, and is one of the ten pāramīs of Theravāda Buddhism and one of the six Mahāyāna pāramitās.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhism in Bangladesh</span> Overview of the role of Buddhism in Bangladesh

Buddhism is the third-largest religious affiliation and formed about 0.63% of the population of Bangladesh. It is said that Buddha once in his life came to this region of East Bengal to spread his teachings and he was successful in converting the local people to Buddhism, specially in the Chittagong division and later on Pala empire propagate and patronized Buddhist religion throughout the Bengal territory. About 1 million people in Bangladesh adhere to the Theravada school of Buddhism. Over 65% of the Buddhist population is concentrated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, where it is the predominant faith of the Rakhine, Chakma, Marma, Tanchangya, other Jumma people and the Barua. The remaining 35% are Bengali Buddhists. Buddhist communities are present in the urban centers of Bangladesh, particularly Chittagong and Dhaka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preah Maha Ghosananda</span> Prominent Buddhist monk, known for his annual peace marches in Cambodia

Maha Ghosananda was a highly revered Cambodian Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition, who served as the Patriarch (Sangharaja) of Cambodian Buddhism during the Khmer Rouge period and post-communist transition period of Cambodian history. His Pali monastic name, 'Mahā Ghosānanda', means "great joyful proclaimer". He was well known in Cambodia for his annual peace marches.

The Sangharaja Nikaya is a tradition of Theravada Buddhism, located in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhism in Cambodia</span> Buddhism by country

Buddhism in Cambodia or Khmer Buddhism has existed since at least the 5th century. In its earliest form it was a type of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Today, the predominant form of Buddhism in Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism. It is enshrined in the Cambodian constitution as the official religion of the country. Theravada Buddhism has been the Cambodian state religion since the 13th century. As of 2019 it was estimated that 97. 1 percent of the population are Buddhists.

Jagdish Kashyap was a Buddhist monk. He was born on 2 May 1908 in Ranchi, Bengal Presidency, India; he died 28 January 1976. The name Kashyap was given to him at his bhikkhu ordination in 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Buddhism in India</span>

Buddhism is an ancient Indian religion, which arose in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha, and is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha who was deemed a "Buddha", although Buddhist doctrine holds that there were other Buddhas before him. Buddhism spread outside of Magadha starting in the Buddha's lifetime.

Theravada Buddhism is the state religion of Cambodia, which has been present since at least the 5th century.

Aggamahāpaṇḍita is an honorific Burmese Buddhist title conferred by the Myanmar government to distinguished Theravada Buddhist monks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajguru Aggavamsa Mahathera</span>

Rajguru Aggavamsa Mahathera was one of the delegates from Bangladesh) in the Sixth Buddhist council held in Yangon, Burma in 1956.

Venerable Kripasaran Mahathera was a 19th and 20th century Bengali Buddhist monk and Indian yogi, best known for reviving Buddhism in British India. Kripasaran led a renaissance of Buddhist thought and culture in nineteenth century India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero</span> Last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka

Weliwita Asaranasarana Sri Saranankara Sangharaja Thero or popularly Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero was a Buddhist monk, who was the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. He was the pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, after the decline of the religion in the 17th and 18th centuries. Saranankara Thero was bestowed with the a title by king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe in 1753, the same year he received the Upasampada and re-established the Upasampada in Sri Lanka with the help of Mahasangha in Siam. He is also credited with the establishment of Silvath Samagama, a union of monks who lived in accordance with the Buddhist monastic discipline.

Mahavihara is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a great vihara and is used to describe a monastic complex of viharas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengali Buddhists</span>

Bengali Buddhists are a religious subgroup of the Bengalis who adhere to or practice the religion of Buddhism. Bengali Buddhist people mainly live in Bangladesh and Indian states West Bengal and Tripura.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 একুশে পদকপ্রাপ্ত পণ্ডিত জ্যোতিঃপাল মহাথের স্মরণে. Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  2. 1 2 "A review on Bangladesh in Liberation Struggle". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  3. "Nine receive Independence Award". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  4. "Funeral ceremony of Jyotipal Mahathero begins tomorrow". The Daily Star. 2003-01-08. Retrieved 2020-07-19.