Tribute to Maverick monk Karmayogi Kripasharan Mahasthvir

Sumanapal Bhikkhu

The nineteenth century India saw the revolt and the subsequent movement to dislodge the British rule in India. It was also the period when the revival movement of Buddhism had started. For the Buddhists this period is of immense significance as it was the time the revival of Buddhism started in the land of its birth with the arrival of Sir Edwin Arnold who wrote at length to arouse the Buddhists of Asia from their deep slumber. With his arousal arrived Rer. Anagarika Dharmapala known as David Hewanitharana from Sri Lanka and followed by Ven. Kripasharan Mahathera from Chittagong to carry the movement further. Recounting Ven. Kripasharan’s life in this context is of immense significance today as he is in the main responsible figure to bring together all the Buddhists living scattered in West Bengal and the north eastern part of India.

         Ven. Kripasharan was born in the village of Unainpura, in the district of Chittagong in the then undivided India (now in Bangladesh) on 22^nd June 1865 in a pious Buddhists family to Ananda Kumar Barua, his father and Aradhana Barua, his mother. Both his parents were devout Buddhists who despite being illiterate kept the banners of Buddhism aloft and inspired their children to be devoted Buddhist who despite being illiterate kept the banners of Buddhism aloft and inspired their children to be devoted to religious practice and to be compassionate and righteous but at a tender age of ten he best his father who succumbed to illness. The family being economically poor, Kripasharan had to earn his living by doing manual labour but at the same time passed through a period of self culture and self realization. At the age of sixteen Kripasharan was initiated as a novice into the Buddhist Sangha by the renowned monk Ven. Sudhanchandra Mahathera of Unainpura wheeze attention was drawn by Kripasharan due to his calm and quit temperament and reflection bent of mind. During his initiate years he was trained in the Vinaya and philosophy under the able guidance of his teacher. After attaining the age of 20, as per the rules, in year 1885 he was given Upasampada (higher ordination) to be initiated in the Sangha under the preceptor ship of Ven. Acharya Purnachar.

          Acharya Puranachar wanted to visit the sacred places where the Buddha was born, the Buddha attained enlightenment, where he gave his first sermon and where he attained Mahaparinirbbana. In the year 1885 Acharya Puranachar brought the young Kripasharan along with him on a pilgrimage which was a turning point in the young Kripasharan’s life. The visit of three holy places not only reminded him of the glorious days of the Buddha and its subsequent years, his teacher and preceptor had also lectured him during his study about the Buddha’s message and how it spread from India throughout Asia and in the West. It was during this visit that Kripasharan realized how important Buddhism is to the world and what a gift India had given to the world civilization : The Buddhist period is also a glorious period in Indian history as it is during this period that India attained the height of prosperity in all spheres of life, art, culture, commerce and industry. Kripasharan could feel the loss and realized where this noble religion now stood almost extinct in the land of its birth due to manmade misery and nature’s calamity.

          Standing under the shade of the Bodhi tree at Buddhagaya he made a silent resolve to dedicate his life for the revival of Buddhism in India. It was after returning from his pilgrimage that he lost his mother Aradhana Barua. After the pilgrimage the young Kripasharan at the age of 21 arrived at Calcutta and put up his residence at the Mahanagar Vihara at Bow Street of Calcutta. Kripasharan decided to make Calcutta his base for the work of regeneration of Buddhism because it was the capital of the British Raj and the biggest city in the eastern part of India.

          In the year 1892 the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha (The Bengal Buddhist Association) was established to carry forward the work of Kripasharan. Many branches of the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha was also established at Simla (1907), Lucknow (1907), Dibrugarh (1908), Ranchi (1915), Shillong (1908), Darjeeling (1919), Jamsedpur (1922) etc. he also undertook the reconstruction and restoration of various viharas/temples like the vihara of Noapara in 1913, Unainpura in 1921 and Rangamati in 1921. He was also always conscious about the Buddhists in other parts of the country especially in interior of inaccessible hills. He always undertook upon himself the task of helping others in building viharas and arranging Buddha statues for some viharas.

           At the age of 37 Kripasharan conferred the title of Mahathera (a title for senior monks) by the Sangha at the Sakyamuni Vihara in Chakma kingdom. Ven Kripasharan was able attract many other young monks to work with him sharing some of his responsibilities.

           His works created an aura around him which could be recognized by all at home and abroad one of his greatest and ardent admirer Anagarika Dharmapalas founder of the Mahabodhi Society of India. Both of them worked hand in hand for the revival of Buddhism. There were occasions when both travelled together to make a joint representation to Government official at Lucknow, Delhi and Calcutta. Kripasharan went to Sri Lanka in 1911 on the invitation of Anagarika Dharmapala and received a grand reception there. He went on a pilgrimage to the various places of religious significance such as Anuradhapura where the sacred Bodhi tree stands, the sapling of which was taken by Sanghamitra as a gift from the land of the Buddha. He remained in Sri Lanka for nearly a month and a half and developed a closer intimacy with the Anagarika and was able to gather a more minute detail about Buddhism as was being practiced in Sri Lanka. Later in the year 1915 the Anagarika had also paid a visit to Chittagong on the invitation of Kripasharan. Kripasharan was also invited to visit Burma (now Myanmar) in 1908 by U. Sagara Mahathera and U. Tejabanta Mahathera. People in large numbers thronged to the streets and viharas to have a glimpse of Kripasharna who had come from the land of the Buddha. Wherever he went he was received with due reverence and ovation.

      Although Kripasharan was wholly engaged with the revival of Buddhism he could not forget the pangs of education which hindered his progress at a faster pace. His lack of educational qualification could be felt by him as he faced certain impediments in the course of his work. The made him concentrate in the field of education creating infrastructures and facilitating them with other needs. He devoted a considerable amount of time for the spread of education not only amongst the youth but even for the elderly. This would not have been possible without the help and support of Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, the chancellor of Calcutta University. At Kripasharan’s insistence higher studies in Pali was introduced in Calcutta University by Sir Asutosh who also made recommendation to the Government of India for sanctioning scholarships for higher studies in Pali in the Universities of United Kingdom. Mr. Hercourt Butler, the then Education Secretary who also personally knew Kripasharan duly accepted the proposal and Dr. Benimadhab Barua was selected from amongst the three candidates selected by Kripasharan to go to the London University in 1914 for study and research in Pali. Subsequently Dr. Benimadhab Barua became the first Asian recipient of a D. Lit from the London University in 1917.

            Kripasharan’s love for education influenced him so much that he started the publication of Jagajjyoti, a periodical in 1908 under the editorship of kavidhwaja Gunalankar Mahathera and Swami Purnananda which even continues up to this day. Kripasharan also founded a library named as the kavidhwaja Gunalankar Library in 1909 which functions even today as a treasure trove of rare books. Education to the children had become his prime motivation which prompted him to start a free Institution in 1912 which gave admission not only to the Buddhists but even to the children of other communities. The foundation and emotional set up of the school was so strong that it continues to function even today although it has been rechristened as the Kripasharan Continental Institution.

          In the course of his work, Kripasharan realized the strength of the youth and the need to motivate them for social and religious works. In 1910 he organized a connection of Young Men’s Buddhist Association which brought forward all the youths under a common banner. In 1918 he also organized a Buddhist Women’s Conference under the President ship of Ms A. L. Junnan, the Principle of Bethune College which shows how open he was to the rights of women when the social set up of those days demanded that women remain indoors.

        Kripasharan’s life and work was so pioneering and inspiring that in 1915 a life-size marble statue of Kripasharan sculpted by an Italian artist was installed during his own life time which show the respect and adulation he commanded from his disciples and well wishers. During this installation ceremony in the midst of many luminaries present, Sir Asutosh Mukherjee in his address confirmed his admiration for Kripasharan and the attraction towards Buddhism and its literature.

         Kripasharan’s other great work was to organize a World Buddhist Conference which he convened from the 6-14 December 1924 at the Nalanda Park, Calcutta. This was possible due to his love and respect for the Buddha’s message of love, compassion, brotherhood and equanimity.

        The Buddha Dharmankur sabha since its inception in 1892 gradually became a centre for Buddhist ideals and culture and became the central point for all the Buddhists living in the eastern and north-eastern part of India. His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet was given a grand reception in Calcutta during his visit in 1910 when he was an honored guest of the Government of India.

        The physical strains was bound to reflect on him and gradually his health started deteriorating but he continued with his goal and worked harder than ever. He fell seriously ill and no amount of medical attention by eminent physicians and prayers of his devotees could not bring him back to his good health. The end for him came on the 30^th April 1926. He breathed his last leaving behind a rich and lasting legacy for others to emulate and to carry forward the unfinished task of Kripasharan. He had a desire that his funeral ceremony and last rites be performed in his native village, Unainpura and thus his mortal remains were taken there as to fulfill his wish and cremated with full honor beside the pyre of his teacher Acharya Purnachar.    

I, from the core of my heart, convey my deep respect and admiration to the great activist Kripisaran Mahasthavir on his 150^th year of birth celebration for his unbound contribution to the society through his great piece of work.

Bibliography:

1.      Bhikkhu Bodhipal, Kripasaran an epitome of Buddhist revival, The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 2005.

2.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha At a glance, (The Bengal Buddhist Association) The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 2005.

3.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, (Edited) Hundreds years of the Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha (1892-1992) The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 1992.

4.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, Bengal Buddhist Association and its Founder President Kripasaran Mahasthavir, The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 1987.

5.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, (Ed.) Jagajjyoti, Kripasaran Mahasthera 125^th Birth Anniversary Volume, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha, Kolkata, 1990.

6.      Ram, Dr. Rajendra, Jagajjyoti (1908-2008) Hundred years of Excellence and Splendour, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha, (The Bengal Buddhist Association), Kolkata, 2011.

7.      Brahmacari, Shilananda, Karmayogi Kripasharan, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha, (The Bengal Buddhist Association), Kolkata, 2007.