Matua Mahasangha

Matua Mahasangha

Contents

Introduction

Matua is a sect of Hindu folk-religion. Matua-mahasangha refers to a religious reformation movement and all the people associated in any way with this movement. The great reformation movement was launched by Sri Harichand Thakur's followers. He is popularly known as God Harichand. Born in Namasudra (Namassej) community (in a peasant family), he attained atmadarshan at an early age and preached his darshan in Twelve Commandments. He preached for education, for uplifting the subaltern population and for ending social bashing.

Matua-mahasangha is not a religious organisation in the ordinary sense of Hinduism. There is no Gurutantra. Matua-mahasangha believe in self-dikshitisation. So anyone who has faith in darshan or philosophy belongs to the Matua-mahasanhga.

Matua-mahasangha have some simple meditation procedures and rituals, which anyone can follow.

Organisations

Initially the Matua-mahasangha followers or "matuas" formed an organisation in Orakandi, Faridpur (Bangladesh). After 1947 the followers formed a second organisation in Thakurnagar, West Bengal, India. Dr. C.S.Mead, a Catholic Missionary, was involved with this reformation movement. At first, it was very difficulty to form the Mandir (worshipping place) and the Mandir was looked after by the Holy Iconic family of Sri Harichand Thakur. Now they have handed the Mandir over to a Trustee chosen by the followers. Recently the State Government of West Bengal has offered the Matua Mahasangha 20 cottah of land to build a research oganisation.

There are many matua-mahasangha spread all over India and Bangladesh. In some locations, they have worshipping places. In the beginning matua-mahasangha followed some rituals, which were simplified, but today they follow Vaishnabism .

Many followers of matua mahasngha simply want to carry forward the reformation process .

Rituals and Services

References

  • [The Namasudras and other Addresses, Adelaide, 1911: C.S.Mead]
  • [Matua Dharma Darshan (in Bengali), Thakurnagar, 1393 B.S. p-47: Paramananda Halder]
  • [Sekhar Bandyopadhyay: Popular religion and social mobility : The Matua sect and the namsudras in R.K.Ray (ed) Mind Body and Society, Life and Mentality in colonial Bengal ( Calcutta) 1995]
  • [Hitesh Ranjan Sanyal: Social Mobility in Bengal, Calcutta,1985]
  • [Tarak Chandra Sarkar: Sri Sri Hari Lilamrita ( in Bengali ) Faridpur, 1323BS]
  • [Adal Badal (Bengali Monthly) June–July,1995 No IV and V ]
  • [The Family genealogy and community identity are after the living members of the clan in Thakurnagar as on 23 March 2011 ]
  • [Namasudra Movements in Bengal (1872–1947): R.K.Biswas :ISBN 81-88006-19-X: 2010: Progressive Book Forum, Kolkata]

See also

  • Namassej

External links


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