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{{Infobox organization
| name = Bharat Dharma Mahamandala
| full_name =
| formation = 1887
| founder = Din Dayalu Sharma
| founding_location = [[Haridwar]], [[India]]
| dissolved =
| type = [[List of Hindu organisations|Hindu religious organization]]
| status =
| purpose = To unify and support orthodox Hindu communities
| headquarters =
| location = [[Haridwar]], [[British India]]
| region_served = [[Indian subcontinent]]
| products =
| services = Book publishing, Religious education, social reform, temple maintenance
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| key_people = Pandit Din Dayalu Sharma<br>[[Madan Mohan Malaviya|Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya]]<br>[[Nabagopal Mitra]]<br> [[Rajnarayan Basu]]
| main_organ =
| parent_organization =
| affiliations =
}}
'''Bharat Dharma Mahamandala''' was a [[List of Hindu organisations|Hindu organization]] founded in [[colonial India]] in 1887 by Pandit Din Dayalu Sharma in [[Haridwar]]. It had purpose to unify and support [[Orthodox Hinduism|orthodox Hindu]] communities in colonial India during a period marked by religious and social reform.<ref name="Allied"/><ref>Shri Bharat Dharma Mahamandala. 1924. The World's Eternal Religion. Benares: Bharat Dharma Syndicate.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kasturi |first1=M. |title=Sadhus, sampradaya, and Hindu nationalism : the Dasnamis and the Shri Bharat Dharma Mahamandala in the early twentieth century |date=2015 |publisher=Nehru Memorial Museum and Library |isbn=9789383650873 |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/Sadhus-sampradaya-and-Hindu-nationalism-:-the-Dasnamis-and-the-Shri-Bharat-Dharma-Mahamandala-in-the-early-twentieth-century/oclc/933250659}}</ref> The Mahamandala emerged during a period of social and religious reform movements in India. It positioned itself as a defender of [[orthodox Hinduism]] against critiques and alternative interpretations from groups like the [[Arya Samaj]], [[Theosophists]], and [[Ramakrishna Mission]].<ref name="Allied">{{cite book |title=Indian History |date=1988 |publisher=Allied Publishers |isbn=9788184245684 |page=165 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MazdaWXQFuQC&dq=Bharat+Dharma+Mahamandala&pg=RA3-PA165}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Modern History |publisher=Arora IAS |page=209 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NOuEAAAQBAJ&dq=Bharat+Dharma+Mahamandala&pg=PA209}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Markovits |first1=Claude |title=A History of Modern India, 1480-1950 |date=2002 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=9781843310044 |page=458 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzOmy2y0Zh4C&dq=Bharat+Dharma+Mahamandala&pg=PA458}}</ref>

== History ==
The Bharat Dharma Mahamandala was established with the goal of consolidating the leadership within orthodox Hindu circles and preserving Sanātana Dharma (considered as the eternal law in Hinduism). Pandit Din Dayalu Sharma, also known for founding the [[Hindu College, Delhi|Hindu College]] in [[Delhi]] in 1899, envisioned the Mahamandala as a central body for various Hindu organizations.<ref name="Allied"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |date=21 August 2012 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=9781135189792 |page=786 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kzPgCgAAQBAJ&dq=Bharat+Dharma+Mahamandala&pg=PA786}}</ref>

The first meeting of the organization was attended by various notable participants, including figures like [[Henry Steel Olcott]] of the [[Theosophical Society]], Raja Harbans Lal of [[Sheikhupura]], Diwan Ramjas of [[Kapurthala]], Bal Mukand Gupta, and Pandit Ambika Dutt Vyas. Over time, the Mahamandala evolved into an all-India society and organized assemblies in locations including [[Haridwar]], [[Mathura]], and [[Lahore]], extending its presence across the Indian subcontinent.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Satish Chandra Mittal |author1-link=Satish Chandra Mittal |title=Haryana, a Historical Perspective |date=1986 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers |isbn=9788171560837 |page=70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2RKTigrrP1cC&dq=Pandit+Din+Dayalu+Sharma&pg=PA70}}</ref>

Initially, the Mahamandala garnered support from members of the ruling Hindu aristocracy, landowners, religious leaders, and [[Theosophists]]. Although its activities were concentrated in [[North India]] at first, it gradually expanded its influence to [[South India]], becoming one of the leading orthodox Hindu organizations in India.<ref name="Allied"/>

In the early 20th century, [[Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya]], an educationist and nationalist, became closely associated with the Mahamandala. The Bharat Dharma Mahamandala led to the formation of the Sanatan Dharma Sabhas, an offshoot established to defend Hinduism against criticisms from both within and outside the community.<ref name="Allied"/>

According to a report from ''[[The Friday Times]]'', a Pakistani publication, [[Nabagopal Mitra]] and [[Rajnarayan Basu]] were also co-founders of the Bharat Dharma Mahamandala. The organization advocated for the establishment of a Hindu Raj ([[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nation]]) or [[Aryan race|Aryan]] State and later influenced the formation of the [[Hindu Mahasabha]], a nationalist political party founded in 1915 that included leaders from the radical faction of the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Muhammad Umair |title=Of Fact, Fiction And The Two Nation Theory |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/05-May-2023/of-fact-fiction-and-the-two-nation-theory |publisher=[[The Friday Times]] |date=May 5, 2023}}</ref>

In the late 19th century, various groups known as Sanatana Dharma Rakshini Sabhas and similar organizations emerged throughout India. These groups later unified under the Bharat Dharma Mahamandala.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Agrawal |first1=Purushottam |title=Sanatana, A Living Being |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/sanatana-a-living-being-news-300944 |publisher=[[Outlook India]] |date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>

== Work ==
The Bharat Dharma Mahamandala functioned through various departments. It engaged in propagation by training paid missionaries to preach orthodox Hindu principles. It had established [[Sanātana Dharma|Sanatan Dharma]] schools to promote traditional Hindu education and published literature supporting orthodox beliefs. Their activities included the repair and maintenance of temples and pilgrimage sites. The organization worked for social reforms, including dowry abolition. It promoted modern education, and established educational institutions, homes for widows, and almshouses for indigent women.<ref name="Allied"/>

== Notable people ==
* [[Madan Mohan Malaviya|Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya]]
* [[Nabagopal Mitra]]
* [[Maharajadhiraja]] [[Sir]] [[Rameshwar Singh]]
* [[Maharajadhiraj]] [[Sir]] [[Kameshwar Singh]]
* [[Amarendranath Chatterjee]]
* [[Mokshadacharan Samadhyayi]]

== See also ==
* [[List of Hindu organisations]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Hindu nationalism}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=India |portal2=Hinduism |portal3=Politics |portal4=Coservatism}}

[[Category:Hindu nationalism]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in India]]

Bharat Dharma Mahamandala - Revision history

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