Lokenath Brahmachari
| Lokenath Brahmachari | |
|---|---|
 Lokenath Brahmachari | |
| Born |
Lokenath Ghoshal 31 August 1730 Gregorian and Bengali calendar of the year 1730 Kachua Dham, Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Begal, India |
| Died |
1860 Barodi, Dhaka, Bengal, British India |
| Nationality | India |
Lokenath Brahmachari (Bengali: লোকনাথ ব্রহ্মচারী), who is called Baba Lokenath or simply Lokenath, was an 18th-century saint and philosopher in Bengal, most notably preached by Nityagopal Saha.
Birth
No documented evidence exists about the date of birth of Lokenath. Disciples believe he was born on or about 31 August 1730 (according to the Bengali calendar 18th Bhadra, 1137) on the holy day of Krishna Janmashtami in Kachua Dham (in present day North 24 Parganas of West Bengal state). His father was Ramnarayan Ghoshal and his mother was Kamala Devi.
Later years
According to folklore, Baba Lokenath finished his meditations as he had attained Samadhi (highest meditation) meditating on the formless Brahman, rather than on any of the deities of the Hindu pantheon. He then went to the eastern part of India, and settled at a small town village called Barodi, near Dhaka (in present day Bangladesh) and started living at Dangu Kormokar’s house. The zamindar family of Barodi "Nag Chowdhury" bacame Baba's devotees and an Ashram was built later where Baba resided and took mahasamadhi. His followers believe, at the age of 160, on June 1, 1890, Baba Lokenath took his mahasamādhi (intentional withdrawal of life).
An annual festival in remembrance of Lokenath is held every year by millions of devotees and followers, in many ashrams and in millions of households through worship, keertan, yajna, food offerings and in many other religious ways on the 19th day of the Hindu month of Jyaishtha (falls mostly on June 2 or 3rd).
Preaching
First, Baba Lokenath's name was only heard in Bangladesh. Later, many devotees spread His name to neighbouring countries like India, Myanmar and Nepal. Most notable among them was Nityagopal Saha. He was known as the messenger sent to earth by Baba Lokenath! He is so famous that a temple is made in his name in the Kachua Dham complex itself! Baba Lokenath said to his devotees: "রণে, বনে, জলে, জঙ্গলে যখনই বিপদে পড়িবে, আমাকে স্মরণ করিও, আমিই রক্ষা করিব ।" (“Whenever you are in danger, whether in war, forest, ocean or jungle, remember Me. I shall save you.”)
Controversy over Birthplace
There is a controversy about the birthplace of Lokenath. Some disciples believe it was Kachua Dham, while others believe it to be Chakla Dham. There was always a hud-to-hud competition between Kachua Dham and Chakla Dham for the birthplace of Baba Lokenath. Nityagopal Saha pulled up a case in court in the early 20th Century and he won for the Kachua Dham. From then on, legally, Kachua Dham is regarded as the real birthplace of Lokenath Brahmachari. Later on, many historians revealed a script of Baba Lokenath telling this:
আমি লোকনাথ ব্রহ্মচারী. আমার বাড়ি চাকলা. I am Lokenath Brahmachari. I live in Chakla.
This revealed that he lived in Chakla Dham but wasn't born there. So, Kachua Dham is his birthplace.
Temples of Lokenath Brahmachari
1) Kachua Dham - North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India.
2) Gangasagar Lokenath Mandir - South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India.
3) Teghoria Lokenath Mandir - Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
4) Barodi Lokenath Ashram, Barodi, Bangladesh.
5) Chakla Dham - North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India.
6) Salkia Lokenath Mandir - Salkia, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
References
http://www.lokenathmission.com/ (official website);
http://www.lokenathmission.org/
|