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{{Short description|Religious movement in Indian subcontinent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{more footnotes|date=April 2011}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}
{{Vaishnavism}}


'''Matua Mahasangha''' or '''MMS''' is a religious reformation movement that originated, around 1860 AD, in what is today [[Bangladesh]], with a considerable number of adherents both in Bangladesh and in [[West Bengal]] in India. Matua is a sect of [[Vaisnavism|Vaisnavite]] [[Hinduism]] who are [[Namasudra]]s, a Scheduled Caste group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/this-word-means-matua-community-5567348/|title=Matua community — Why are they important for Trinamool and BJP?|website=indianexpress.com}}</ref> The movement was launched as a reformation by the followers of [[Harichand Thakur]]. Thakur attained ''atmadarshan'' at an early age and would subsequently preach his [[Darśana|Darshan]] in Twelve Directives. The teachings of Thakur establish education as preeminently important for the adherent and the upliftment of the population the adherent's duty, while also providing a formula for ending social conflict.
{{Infobox religious group
|group=Matuaism
|population=
|image=Thakurnagar Matua Mahasangha and Thakur Bari Temple 05.jpg
|image_caption=The Thakurbari Temple of the Matua Mahasangha
|religions= [[Hinduism]]|founder=[[Harichand Thakur]]
|related-c=[[Namasudra]]s
}}
The '''Matuaism''' ({{langx|bn|মতুয়া মহাসংঘ}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-23 |title=In Bengal, battle for Matua vote heats up |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly-election/in-bengal-battle-for-matua-vote-heats-up-101616467190256.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>) is a [[Hindu reform movement]] that originated around 1860 AD in modern-day [[Bangladesh]]. Today, it has a considerable number of adherents both in Bangladesh and in [[West Bengal]], India.  


Matua-mahasangha believe in ''Swayam-Dikshiti'' ("Self-Realisation") through the chanting of Harinaam, i.e., chanting the Holy name of God [[Hari]]. [[Harichand]] stressed the congressional chanting of Lord's name [[kirtan]] as the sole mean to Mukti. His followers in 19th century were enchanted by congregational chanting of Lord [[Hari]], which in Bengali called 'hariname matuara' giving the sect current name 'Matua'. So anyone who has faith in the ''Darshan'' or ''Philosophy of God Harichand'' belongs to the Matua-mahasanhga.
The Matua movement originated among the [[Namasudra]]s, an ''[[Varna (Hinduism)|avarna]]'' ([[outcaste]]) community of [[Bengali Hindus]], founded by the followers of [[Harichand Thakur]]. The teachings of Harichand, also known as '''Matuaism''', emphasise the importance of education for the upliftment of the population, while also providing a formula for ending social conflict.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mukherjee|first=Sipra|date=2018-04-03|title=In Opposition and Allegiance to Hinduism: Exploring the Bengali Matua Hagiography of Harichand Thakur|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2018.1445400|journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies|volume=41|issue=2|pages=435–451|doi=10.1080/00856401.2018.1445400|issn=0085-6401|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
 
After Partition in 1947, many of the Matua migrated to West Bengal in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/caa-will-be-implemented-after-covid-vaccination-ends-amit-shah/articleshow/80857382.cms|title=CAA will be implemented after Covid vaccination ends|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
[[File:Thakurnagar Matua Mahasangha and Thakur Bari Temple 05.jpg|thumb|Thakurnagar Matua Mahasangha headquarters]]


== History ==
== History ==
[[Harichand Thakur]] was born to a peasant family belonging to the [[Namassej|Namahśūdras]] community. According to historian Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, Thakur "experienced ''atma darshan'' or self revelation, and the followers believe that he is the incarnation of God himself, born in this world to bring salvation to the downtrodden".<ref name="Bandyopadhyay1995">{{cite book |last=Bandyopadhyay |first=Sekhar |chapter=The Matua Sect and the Namahśūdras |year=1995 |editor-last=Ray |editor-first=Rajat Kanta |editor-link=Rajat Kanta Ray |title=Mind Body and Society: Life and Mentality in Colonial Bengal |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=163 |isbn=019-563757-7}}</ref> He established the Matua sect of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] Hinduism.<ref name="Bandyopadhyay1995" />
The Matua Mahasangha ("Matua Federation") was formed by adherents of Harichand's philosophy before 1915 to organize devotees. In the early 1930s, [[Pramatha Ranjan Thakur]], great-grandson of Harichand Thakur, rejuvenated the organization. He started an [[ashram]] in the Labanchora neighborhood of [[Khulna]], Bangladesh.<ref>{{harvnb|Bandyopadhyay|1995|pp=183–184}}</ref> After the [[partition of India]] in 1947, large numbers of Matua migrants settled in [[West Bengal]], India,<ref>{{harvnb|Mukherjee|2020|p=71}}</ref> Pramatha Ranjan Thakur among them. He founded the town of [[Thakurnagar]], which became the new headquarters of the Matua Mahasangha.<ref>{{harvnb|Lorea|2020|pp=11–12}}</ref>
 
==Notes==
The Matua Mahasangha movement was launched as a reformation by the followers of Harichand Thakur.
{{reflist}}
 
== Organisations ==
Initially the Matua-mahasangha followers or "matuas" formed an organisation in Orakandi, [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]] (now in Bangladesh). After 1947, followers formed a second organisation in [[Thakurnagar]], [[West Bengal]], India. At first, it was very difficult to form the temple. The temple was initially looked after by Thakur's family, but as of 2011 it was managed by a trustee chosen by the followers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=বীণাপাণি দেবীর কপি ভার্সন ২|url=https://eisamay.indiatimes.com/west-bengal-news/kolkata-news/binapani-devis-copy-version-2/articleshow/68277292.cms|access-date=2021-04-11|website=EI Samay|language=bn}}</ref>
 
Followers may be found throughout India and Bangladesh. In some locations they have established worshipping places. In the beginning Matua-mahasangha followed simplified rituals, but later adopted [[Vaishnavism]].
 
==See also==
* [[Pramatha Ranjan Thakur]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bandyopadhyay |first=Sekhar |date=17 November 1990 |title=Community Formation and Communal Conflict-Namasudra-Muslim Riot in Jessore-Khulna |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/1990/46/special-articles/community-formation-and-communal-conflict-namasudra-muslim-riot |journal=Economic & Political Weekly |volume=25 |issue=46 |pages=2563–2568 |jstor=4396995}}
* {{cite book |last=Bandyopadhyay |first=Sekhar |chapter=The Matua Sect and the Namasudras |year=1995 |editor-last=Ray |editor-first=Rajat Kanta |editor-link=Rajat Kanta Ray |title=Mind Body and Society: Life and Mentality in Colonial Bengal |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=019-563757-7}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Lorea |first=Carola Erika |editor-last=Ludden |editor-first=David |encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Asian History |title=Religion, Caste, and Displacement: The Matua Community |url=https://oxfordre.com/asianhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277727-e-428 |date=28 February 2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.013.428|isbn=978-0-19-027772-7 |url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite journal |last=Mandal | first=Mahitosh |date=2022 | title=Dalit Resistance during the Bengal Renaissance: Five Anti-Caste Thinkers from Colonial Bengal, India |journal=Caste: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=11–30 | doi=10.26812/caste.v3i1.367 |url=https://journals.library.brandeis.edu/index.php/caste/article/view/367/96|doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Aditi |title=Re-thinking protracted displacements: insights from a namasudra refugee camp-site in suburban Calcutta |journal=Contemporary South Asia |date=2020 |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=58–73 |doi=10.1080/09584935.2019.1666089|doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last=Walker |first=Dennis |date=Winter 1999 |title=Matua Untouchable Writers In West Bengal: Between Islam And India's Changing Upper Caste-Led System |journal=Islamic Studies |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=563–602 |jstor=20837062}}


==Further reading==
==External links==
* {{Banglapedia|Matua|Matua}}
* {{Banglapedia|Matua|Matua}}
* Matua Dharma Darshan (in Bengali), Thakurnagar, 1393 B.S. p-47: Paramananda Halder
* Sekhar Bandyopadhyay: Popular religion and social mobility : The Matua sect and the Namahśūdras in R.K.Ray (ed) Mind Body and Society, Life and Mentality in colonial Bengal (Calcutta) 1995
* Hitesh Ranjan Sanyal: Social Mobility in Bengal, Calcutta,1985
* Adal Badal (Bengali Monthly) June–July,1995 No IV and V
* Namahśūdras Movements in Bengal (1872–1947), R.K.Biswas, {{ISBN|81-88006-19-X}}, 2010, Progressive Book Forum, Kolkata


{{Hindu reform movements}}
{{Hindu reform movements}}
{{Bengali Hindu people}}
{{Bengali Hindu people}}


 
[[Category:Bengal Presidency]]
 
{{West Bengal}}
 
[[Category:History of Bengal]]
[[Category:Hindu denominations]]
[[Category:Hindu denominations]]
[[Category:Hindu new religious movements]]
[[Category:Hindu new religious movements]]
[[Category:Vaishnava sects]]




{{Hinduism-stub}}
{{Hinduism-stub}}

Latest revision as of 04:58, 13 March 2026


Matuaism
The Thakurbari Temple of the Matua Mahasangha
The Thakurbari Temple of the Matua Mahasangha
Founder
Harichand Thakur
Religions
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Namasudras

The Matuaism (Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Lang/configuration' not found.[1]) is a Hindu reform movement that originated around 1860 AD in modern-day Bangladesh. Today, it has a considerable number of adherents both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal, India.

The Matua movement originated among the Namasudras, an avarna (outcaste) community of Bengali Hindus, founded by the followers of Harichand Thakur. The teachings of Harichand, also known as Matuaism, emphasise the importance of education for the upliftment of the population, while also providing a formula for ending social conflict.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

The Matua Mahasangha ("Matua Federation") was formed by adherents of Harichand's philosophy before 1915 to organize devotees. In the early 1930s, Pramatha Ranjan Thakur, great-grandson of Harichand Thakur, rejuvenated the organization. He started an ashram in the Labanchora neighborhood of Khulna, Bangladesh.[3] After the partition of India in 1947, large numbers of Matua migrants settled in West Bengal, India,[4] Pramatha Ranjan Thakur among them. He founded the town of Thakurnagar, which became the new headquarters of the Matua Mahasangha.[5]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "In Bengal, battle for Matua vote heats up". Hindustan Times. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Mukherjee, Sipra (3 April 2018). "In Opposition and Allegiance to Hinduism: Exploring the Bengali Matua Hagiography of Harichand Thakur". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 41 (2): 435–451. doi:10.1080/00856401.2018.1445400. ISSN 0085-6401.
  3. ↑ Bandyopadhyay 1995, pp. 183–184
  4. ↑ Mukherjee 2020, p. 71
  5. ↑ Lorea 2020, pp. 11–12

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]


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