Mahanubhava

Mahanubhava
Founder
Sarvajna Shri Chakradhar Swami
Regions with significant populations
Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and parts of North India
Scriptures
Leela Charitra, Siddhanta Sutrapatha, Bhagavad Gita
Languages
Marathi (Primary) • Sanskrit and others

Mahanubhava (also known as Jai Krishni Pantha) refers to Krishnaite Hindu denomination in India that was founded by Sarvadnya Shri Chakradhar Swami (or Shri Chakradhara Swami), an ascetic and philosopher who is considered as a reincarnation of Krishna by his devotees[1][2][3] Some sources list the founders as Chakrapani (Chāngadeva Rāuḷ) and Govinda Prabhu (Gunḍama Rāuḷ) with Shree Chakradhara Swami as the first "apostle" and propagator of Mahanubhava Pantha.[4] Mahanubhava Sampradaya was formally formed in modern-day Varhad region of Maharashtra in 1267 CE. It has different names such as Jai Krishni Pantha in Punjab and Achyuta Pantha in Gujarat. Mahanubhava Pantha was also known as Paramarga by its followers in 13th century.[5] Nagadevacharya, also known as Bhatobas, became the head of Sampradaya after Chakradhara.

In Mahanubhava, all members are accepted, irrespective of their castes, and the traditional ritualistic religion is rejected. Mahanubhava survives to the present. It teaches that Krishna is the supreme god.[6]

Mahanubhava Sampradaya has 13 different Amnaya (it is ancestral big family tracing their roots backwards). These traditions were founded by 13 different acharyas which include some disciples of Nagadevacharya and various successors in their lineages.

  1. ^ Doshi, Saryu (1985). Maharashtra. Marg Publications. p. 61. OCLC 473550290.
  2. ^ Feldhaus, Anne (1983). The religious system of the Mahānubhāva sect: the Mahānubhāva Sūtrapāṭha. South Asian studies, 12. New Delhi: Manohar. ISBN 9780836410051.
  3. ^ Priya, Kumar Ravi; Dalal, Ajit Kumar (2016-04-01). Qualitative Research on Illness, Wellbeing and Self-Growth: Contemporary Indian Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-93347-1.
  4. ^ Indian History. Allied Publishers. 1988. ISBN 9788184245684.
  5. ^ S. G. Tulpule, Mahānubhāva pantha āṇi tyāce vāṅmaya (महानुभाव पंथ आणि त्याचे वाङ्मय), Venus Prakashan, Pune, 1976, pp. 2-9
  6. ^ "Mahanubhav Panth". Hinduism Facts | Facts about Hindu Religion. Archived from the original on 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-01-11.