Manik Prabhu
Manik Prabhu Maharaj | |
|---|---|
| File:Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj.jpg | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 1817[1] Ladwanti, Basavakalyan |
| Died | 1865 (aged 47–48)[2] Manik Nagar, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Organization | |
| Founder of | Sakalamata Sampradaya |
| Philosophy | Advaita Vedanta |
Manik Prabhu was an early 19th century Hindu saint, philosopher, poet and mystic.[3] He is also regarded as an incarnation of Dattatreya by the people of Datta Sampraday. Prabhu's philosophy, The SAKALAMATA SIDDHANTA basically rests on the principles of Advaita Vedanta as propagated by Adi Sankara. Manik Nagar is the place where he took Sanjeevani Samadhi. Shri Prabhu composed numerous Bhajans and Padas in various languages such as Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit . Shri Prabhu was also associated with the First war of Indian Independance in 1857[4].[5] Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, Shri Bramhachaitanya of Gondavale and many other contemporary saints are believed to have visited Maniknagar to interact with Prabhu on matters of deep spiritual wisdom.[2]. All biographers refer to Shri Prabhu as a saint of great spirituality and mysticism. Shri Prabhu's teachings basically lay stress on the path of Bhakti. Alongside, he moralizes in the most remarkable manner on the 'Vedantic Truths' concerning the 'spiritual unity' of beings.
Early life
Manik Prabhu was born to Manohar Naik and Baya Devi, a Bramhin couple, on 22 December 1817 (Margashirsha Pournima - Datta Jayanti) in his maternal grandparent's house at Ladwanti near Basavakalyan (Now in the Bidar district of Karnataka.).[6] He lost his father at an early age and thus grew up under the guardianship of his uncle, who was employed with the Nawab of Basavakalyan. As he grew older, his uncle tried to formally educate him, thinking that education would make him a breadwinner for the family, but in vain. On a hot summer afternoon, when Prabhu was taking a royal siesta on his uncle's bed, he got a strong reprimand from his uncle. This was reason enough for Prabhu to renounce all worldly ties and leave his hometown for his chosen mission. After leaving home, Prabhu travelled on foot as a wandering Yogi across the length and breadth of the country covering all places of religious importance such as Varanasi, Haridwar, Badri, Puri, Dwarka, Tirupati and Rameshwaram. During his countrywide travel, he composed numerous bhajans in praise of various deities in Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit. These Bhajans and Abhangas are compiled in book called Padyamala.[7]
Maniknagar
After completing his spiritual journey across the country, Prabhu finally decided to settle on the banks of the rivulets Viraja and Guruganga in the year 1845 which later came to be konown as Maniknagar (a place near Humnabad in Bidar District of Karnataka).[8] Maniknagar thus became his permanent abode and also a center for the propagation of his philosophy of SAKALAMATA SIDDHANTA. Manik Prabhu established the GAADI (spiritual seat) of Lord Dattatreya in the very hut where he used to reside. The unique thing about it was that he did not place any idol or spiritual icon on the GAADI and instead decided to keep it empty. The idea behind it was that his devotees could visualise the PARABRAMHA(The supreme reality), in whatever form they liked and worship him accordingly. The name and fame of Manik Prabhu spread quickly like a wildfire and people of all religions, sects and communities started flocking to Maniknagar. Prabhu used to held a gathering everyday called DARBAR where thousands of people visited him and sought his blessings.[9] Prabhu guided his devotees in spiritual matters and even helped them overcome their material difficulties. Prabhu was equally revered by all communities while his Muslim followers thought him to be an incarnation of Mehboob Subhani(The famous Sufi saint of Baghdad), his Lingayat devotees would worship him as Lord Basaveshwara and his Sikh followers saw him as in the form of Guru Nanak.[10] Stories of his miracles and eye witness accounts, which bear testimony to the manner in which he brought succor to the distressed and the sorrowing, to the afflicted and the wronged, who, ardently and with deep faith and devotion sought his spiritual intervention are available. Prabhu attained Sanjivini Maha-Samadhi on a pre-determined day in the Hindu Lunar Month of Margasheersha(Mokshada Ekadashi or Geeta Jayanti - 29 November 1865). With his Maha-Samadhi, Maniknagar, the abode of Shri Prabhu, became the headquarters of Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan and also a place of attraction for the people who have been visiting this place to pay their respects to the holy Samadhi of Shri Prabhu.
Guru Prampara
Maniknagar is the only Datta-Peetha where a Guru-Parampara exists for the spiritual guidance of the devotees. Shri Prabhu's mission was ably carried forward by his successors who contributed in their own ways in spreading the message of Shri Prabhu and enriching and enhancing the glory of the institution established by him. Shri Manohar Manik Prabhu (Birth: 1858, Peetharohan: 1865, Mahasamadhi: 1877), Shri Manik Prabhu's nephew, was the immediate successor to him.He became the Peethadhipati at the tender age of 7 years. He acquired mastery over the Sanskrit language and the scriptures and went on to lay down the Upasana Paddhati (Principles of Worship) of the Sakalamata Sampradaya. Like his Guru, he too composed numerous Vedantic compositions in various languages and Stotras in Sanskrit. Within a very short stint as the Peethadhipati of the Samsthan he completed the important task of construction of the Samadhi Mandir(Main Temple) of Shri Manik Prabhu. Like his Guru Shri Manik Prabhu he too attained Sanjeevani Mahasamadhi.[11] Shri Martand Manik Prabhu (Birth: 1860, Peetharohan: 1877, Mahasamadhi:1936), younger brother of Shri Manohar Prabhu and Nephew of Shri Manik Prabhu, was the third Peethadhipati of the Samsthan. During his 60 year long stint as the head of the Samsthan, He developed the institution into an important spiritual centre. He is credited for opening the doors of Vedanta to the comman man through his simple yet impactful writing, elucidating the most difficult Vedantic principles in the language of the masses. He was a prolific composer in Marathi, Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit and Kannada. The Pundits and Scholars of Varanasi conferred on him the title of 'Abhinava Shankaracharya' for his bold and independent views on Adwaita Philosophy in his magnum opus 'Gnyan Martanda'. He was also a musicologist who worked on the scientific relation of music with spirituality. Musical Stalwarts of his time such as Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar sought his guidance and blessings. The erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State Maharaja Kishan Pershad Bahadur were among his followers. He attained Mahasamadhi in the year 1936.[12] Shri Shankar Manik Prabhu[13] and Shri Siddharaj Manik prabhu.[14] Presently, Shri Dnyanraj Manik Prabhu is the Peethadhipati of Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan .[15]
Sakalamata Sampradaya
[16] [17] The Sampradaya is called SAKALAMATA as it involves and assimilates all sects and creeds. It is not at all antagonistic to the rest of others but only means to supplement them. Shri Prabhu was considered to be a 'Raja Yogi' by his followers. This Sampradaya has three types of Upasanas (Ways of Worship). The first is 'Adhyatmic Upasana', in which Chaitanya Dev(Bramhan) is the main Deity. The Second is 'Adhidaivik Upasana' in which Manik Prabhu is worshiped as the fourth incarnation of lord Dattatreya. The third is 'Adhibhautik Upasana' in which Manik Prabhu is worshiped in the Sadguru roopa. The philosophy of this tradition is that there is no resistance to any kind of religious faiths in the world. All faiths are believed to give the ultimate godliness to its followers. This tradition was started by Shri Manik Prabhu of Maniknagar. There is no distincton made on the basis of caste, creed, religion or gender. The Sampradaya is firmly based on Adi Sankara's Adwaita Philosophy.
Datta Jayanti
Manik Prabhu is the only saint in Datta Sampradaya who was born on Datta Jayanti[18] i.e. Margashirsha Pournima. Prabhu's birth anniversary is celebrated in Manik nagar as an annual 7-day Mahotsava called Datta Jayanti mahotsava. It is a religious and cultural extravaganza in which hundreds of vedic Pundits, Musicians, Folk artists along with lakhs of devotees assemble in Maniknagar to pay their tributes to the Samadhi of Manik Prabhu. It concludes with an event called Darbar, after the Birth Celebrations of Manik Prabhu.
References
- ^ Bhawuk, Dharm (2011). Spirituality and Indian Psychology: Lessons from the Bhagavad-Gita. Springer. p. 27. ISBN 1441981101.
- ^ a b V. B. Kher (1991). Sai Baba of Shirdi. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN 8172240309. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ History and legend in Hyderabad. Department of Information and Public Relations, Hyderabad (India). 1953. p. 36.
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/this-spiritual-seat-also-took-on-the-british/article18452343.ece
- ^ http://www.shreeswami.org/avatars/shri-manik-prabhu-maharaj/.
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/shri-manik-prabhu-maharaj/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/purchase-books-online/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/how-to-reach/
- ^ http://saiamrithadhara.com/bidar.html
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/vision-and-mission/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/shri-manohar-manik-prabhu/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/shri-martand-manik-prabhu/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/shri-shankar-manik-prabhu/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/shri-siddharaj-manik-prabhu/
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/shri-dnyanraj-manik-prabhu/#
- ^ https://books.google.com/books/about/Dakhani_Hindi_aura_sakalamata_sampradaya.html?id=m93omgEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
- ^ http://www.manikprabhu.org/Philosophy
- ^ http://manikprabhu.org/datta-jayanti-mahotsava/