Sangharaj Jyotipal Mahathero
The 10th Supreme Patriarch of Bangladesh Buddhists
Birth :
Born on 5th January, 1914 Sunday at the village of Kemtali
Baraigaon, Laksam Police Station in Comilla District south-east of Bangladesh.
Father :
Chandramoni Singha, a mddle class farmer.
Mother :
Dropaudi Bala Singha, a house-wife.
Renunciation :
Renounced family life in 1933 at the age of 15 with a view to acquire knowledge
and truth. He became a novice in Theravada Tradition of Buddhism. He was then
named Jyotipal.
Education :
Obtained the title of Tripitaka Visarad (well versed in the Tripitaka) from the
Nalanda Bidya Bhavan , Calcutta and won Gold Medal for standing first in the
Abhidharma Title Examination held in 1946 by the Sanskrit and
Pali Board, Calcutta. Although Ven. Jyotipal had a short span to
receive formal education, he spent a long period of his life acquiring
knowledge of different faculties coming in close association with many eminent
monks, teachers and scholars.
Ordination :
Ordained as Buddhist monk on the 14th July, 1938 under
Gunalankar Mahastavir, the then Deputy Chief of the Sangharaj Bhikkhu
Mahashava(the Supreme Sangha Council) and a reformer.
Social Works :
Young Jyotipal realized that education and socio-economic measures could
emancipate the people of his society from extreme poverty and all out
backwardness. He undertook various steps and programmes for the socio-economic
development of the people of his society. He himself erected many income
generating projects and founded educational institutions as well as inspired
others to do so. So he played the role of a social worker, a reformer and a
preacher. He founded monasteries to spread education and message of peace and
non-violence, some of the major projects or institutions founded by Ven.
Jyotipal are as follow:
(1) Seven Buddhist Monasteries in
various backward villages of Comilla District (It should be noted here that
these monasteries functioned as schools yielding both formal and religious
teachings).
(2) One of the founders of
Harishchar Union High School, 1949.
(3) Baraigaon Complex: a) Baraigaon Kanaka Chetiya Vihara – Estd. 1938
(b) Baraigaon Pali
College – Ested, 1939.
(c) Baraigaon Orphanage –
Ested 1942.
(d) Baraigaon Social Welfare Agency
– Ested, 1956.
(e) Farmers Cooperative Association
– Ested, 1949.
(f) Weaving Factory – Ested, 1949.
(g) Wool Knitting Factory – Ested,
1949.
(h) Sewing Factory –Ested, 1949
(i) Bee keeping and Honey Research
Factory – Ested, 1948.
(j) Girls’ High School – Ested,
1991.
(k) Boys’ High School –Ested, 1991.
(l) Primary School – Ested, 1968.
(4) Founder President and Abbot of
World Peace Pagoda, Chittagong University, Bangladesh,
1982.
Writings and
publications:
Venerable
Jyotipal is the author of many important books and Writings. He has made
arduous and comprehensive works on translation research and findings that help
common people, historians, writers, researchers and intellectuals learn many
things about Buddhism, its history and development. His articles writings and
speeches are full of information and authenticity. Here are some of his major
works on writings.
(1) Karmatattva (theory of kamma)
published in 1955.
(2) Puggala pannatti
(Designation of human types) published in 1961.
(3) Bodhi charyya
Vatara(Important Bengali translation of Acharya Santidev) published in 1977.
(4) Sadhanar
Antaraya (Obstruction to Meditation) Published in 1978.
(5) Prajna Bhumi Niddesa
(Seventeen Chapter of Visuddhi Magga) Published in 1983.
(6) Rise and fall of Buddhism
in India – Published in 1984.
(7) Bramha Vihar (Loving
Kindness, Compassion, And Sympathetic Joy Equanimity) Published in 1987.
(8) Charya Pada (Buddhism
Mystic songs, Earliest Bengali Language Translated into modern) – Published in
1991
(9) Buddher Jeeban O Vani
(Buddha’s Life and Version) – Published in 1992.
(10) Rabindra Sahitye Bouddha
Sanskriti(Buddhist Cultural Contribution to Tagore Literature) – Published in
1996.
(11) Soumya Samyai Santir Karan
(Loving Kindness and Compassion in the cause of peace and harmony) – Published
in 1989.
(12) Boudha Dharma Siksha –
Published in 1981.
(13) Bangladesh Mukti Songram –
Published in 1976.
(14) Malaysia Tour Programme –
Published in 1968.
(15) Deputy Sangharaj
Gunalankara – 1985.
(16) Bhakti Satakam (one
hundred respectful verses) – 1999.
(17) Bouddha Dharmer Krama
Bikash O Pancha Buddha (volition of Buddhism) – 2000.
(18) Tathya Nibandhabali(Informative
articles in the light of Buddhism) – 2002.
(19) Edited Dictionary on Pali
to Bangla – Written by Ven. Santarakkhita Mahathera-2002.
(20) Edited the Budhi Patra and
World Peace Pagoda.
Association with Organisations: He was actively involved
in various organizations many of which were set up by his own efforts or
initiative. His dedication, endeavour and service gave him the honor to be the
leader of many organizations. The organizations, he was associated with key
role are as follow:
(1) President: Noakhali-Tripura
Bouddhist Association 1946-1960.
(2) Vice President: East Pakistan
Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha and National Centre of World Fellowship of
Buddhists 1962-1970.
(3) President: Bangladesh Bouddha
Kristi Prachar Sangha and National Centre of World Fellowship of Buddhists
1971-1982.
(4) Chairman: Advisory Council of
Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha 1982-till his death.
(5) Founder President: Bangladesh
National Centre of Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace 1975-1982.
(6) President: Bangladesh Sangharaj
Bhikkhu Mohamandol, 1991.
(7) President: Sambodhi Society of
Bangladesh, 1987.
(8) President: Baraigaon Jyotipal
Orphanage Estd: 1942, Baraigaon Girls high School, Estd: 1969, Baraigaon
Jyotipal Orphanage High School, Estd: 1980.
(9) Sangharaj: (Supreme Patriarch
of Buddhist of Bangladesh) January 11th, 2001, the Supreme Sangha Council of
Bangladesh.
National and International
Recognitions and Rewards: Venerable Jyotipal Mahathero received and recognition from
National and International arena for his campaign for non-violence, peace,
security and disarmament at home and abroad and sincere service for
development. Here are some diploma and rewards he held.
(1) Tripitaka Visarad: Gold Medal
from Sanskrit & Pali Board, Calcutta in 1946.
(2) Maha Sasanadhar : From
Bangladesh Bhikkhu Mahasabha 1974.
(3) Maha Dhamma Nidhi : From
Aburkhil Jana Kalyan Samiti in 1991.
(4) Santir Pratik: (Pioneer of
peace) Gold Medal From Mongolia by Asian Buddhist Conference for peace ABCP.
(5) Sangharaj: From Bangladesh
Sangharaj Bhikkhu Mahasabha-11 January 2001.
(6) World Citizenship: By
International Organisation for World peace, Disarmament, Development Human Rights,
New York, USA in 1995.
(7) Religious and peace Award: By
International Association for Religious Freedom IABF, Oxford United kingdom.
(8) Aggamaha Saddammajotikadhaja –
by Myanmar Government in 2001.
Countries Visited: Ven. Jyotipal Mahathero
visited many countries and attended many international conferences carrying the
messages of peace and friendship. As a representantive of his country he spoke
strongly of human rights, Non-violence, world peace and disarmament to the
conferences. Actually he spent his whole life, working on peace, friendship and
development within his country and countries outside. Here are names of the
countries he visited:
(1) India: Several times
(2) Nepal- 3 times (3) Thailand – many time (4) Malaysia – two times (5) Singapore
– two times (6) Hong Kong – one times (7) China – two times (8) Japan – three
times (9) Mongolia – three times (10) Russia – four times (11) Srilanka – two
times (12) Myanmar – three times (13) Korea – one times (14) USA – two times.
Joining in freedom struggle : Joined in Bangladesh Independence struggle in 1971
touring many countries of Asia organising different levels of people to
understand the real cause of his country freedom that want a long way to avert
bloodshed, aggression and massacre carried out by Pakistani occupation forces.
Extra qualities: He possessed a great
personality. He could impress all high or low with gentle but artistic
presentation. He was an uncommon orator and a good presenter; sometimes he
would present and recite the trip take in radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh
television. He presided over many national and international level meet or
conferences.
Death: passed
away on 12th April 2002 of the age of 91 at J.J. Hospital in
Mumbai, India.
Reception after death: His dead body was
received at the airport in Dhaka with full state honor and due solemnity by the
Government of the people Republic of Bangladesh, people of all walks of life
and different Buddhist organization of Bangladesh.