Bhima Bhoi
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| Bhima Bhoi | |
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| Born | 1850, Baisakh Purnima Jatasinga near Subalaya, Subarnapur (previously Rairakhol, Sambalpur), Orissa, India |
| Died | 1895, Siva Chaturdasi Khaliapali, Subarnapur, Orissa, India |
| Cause of death | Natural |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Saint |
Bhima Bhoi (1850–1895)[1][2] was a poet and Satya Mahima Dharma activist from Orissa, India.[1]
The most permanent contribution of Orissa to India's cultural heritage is Bhima Bhoi, Poet-Saint of Mahima Dharma, who wielded his pen against the prevailing social injustice, and caste discrimination. With his firm belief in one God, one society, one religion, he led this movement from Khaliapali Ashrama. The goal of his mission is Jagata Uddhara (liberation of entire world).
The 19th century in India was a period of decadence and disintegration that warranted religious and social reform. Mahima Dharma emerged as a Yuga Dharma (religion of the age) at a time of transition (Yugasandhi). It appears as a Loka Dharma (religion of the mass), when religious discriminations regarding race, caste and class were rife. In the 19th century Orissa, when this cult developed, the society was already ridden with divisive tendencies, casteism , selfishness, savagery and coercion. In the field of religion irrationality and fetishism reigned supreme immorality and corruption were rampant.
Mahima Dharma is contemporary to the socio-religious movement like Brahma Samaj, Prarthana Samaj and Arya Samaj. Yet Mahima Dharma differs very much from these reaction and movement. It rested on indigenous foundation and had nothing to do with external forces. It is exclusively Orissan . In essence it is for mankind and of mankind.
Though Mahima Gosain (1826?-1876), the Guru of Bhima Bhoi, is said to be the original founder of Mahima Dharma, the devotional catchy prayer verses composed by Bhima Bhoi are greatly responsible for the spread of Mahima cult. In the history of Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi was to play the role of Vyasa the poet, expounder and propagator ordained by eternal God. Mahima Dharma soon gained popularity in the tribal belts of not only Orissa but also neighboring states Andhra Pradesh, Chhattishgarh, West Bengal, and Assam.
While we know enough about the philosophy and poetry of Bhima Bhoi, his life still remains a mystery in many respects. We do not know for certain who initiated him. Mahima Gosain blessed him and said that he had a pre-ordained role to play in the propagation of the tenets of Mahima cult in this century. Mahima Gosain blessed him to have the intense power of poetic vision. Bhima Bhoi has referred perhaps to this incidents in the first chapter of his Nirveda Sadhana. Further, in Adi-anta Gita Bhima Bhoi writes that he started poetics at the age of sixteen, at the behest and blessing of his Guru.
Legend has it that Bhima Bhoi once inadvertently fell into a well, and refused to come out until he was rescued by Mahima Gosain. At last Mahima Gosain, who was passing by, came to save him. It is pertinent to mention here that, a site having a well in the village Kandhara has recently been renovated to memorize the incident. Whatever may be the case, it symbolizes the indomitable will power of this young spiritual seeker. It is however undeniable that, the entire event of Bhima Bhoi's flowering up as a Poet-Saint, is deeply influenced by his association with Mahima Gosain. In his bhajans, Bhima Bhoi has treated him as the anthropomorphic form of Sunya Brahma. Bhima Bhoi soon became the spokesperson of the Mahima cult.
Mahima Gosain sent two Brahmins, namely Basu Panda and Hari Panda of village Banhar, near Attabira, along with Markanda Das, and Dharmananda Das belonging to Angul area, converted into the faith, to record the songs and hymns to the dictation of Bhima Bhoi. They met Bhima on the road to Kadligarh, and together, left for a hillock, at Kandhara, since known as Bhima Dunguri.
As the days went by, Bhima Bhoi gained popularity as the Poet and preacher of Mahima Dharma with his followers. He started his mission from village to village. The bhajans were first sent to Mahima Gosain, then these were sung in different tungis on the occasion of congregation held at different places in the West and East of Orissa.
Ordained by Mahima Gosain, one maiden named Annapurna of Madhigrama, near Dhenkanal surrendered herself before Bhima Bhoi as his spiritual consort.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Bannerjee, Ishita and Johannes Beltz 2008 (eds.), Popular Religion and Ascetic Practices. New studies on Mahima Dharma, New Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
- Bäumer, Bettina and Johannes Beltz 2010 (eds.), Verses from the Void: Mystic poetry of an Oriya saint, New Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
- Beltz, Johannes. 2003. “Bhima Bhoi: The making of a modern saint”, A. Copley (ed.) Hindu Nationalism and Religious Reform Movements, New Delhi: OUP, pp. 230–253.
- Bhima Bhoi. 1992. Bhaktakavi Bhimabhoi Granthavali. Edited by Karunakar Sahu and published by Vidhyadhar Sahu. Cuttack: Dharmagrantha Store.
- Mahapatra, Sitakant. 1983. Bhima Bhoi. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi (Makers of Indian Literature).
