Phalgunanda

For rural municipality in Panchthar District, see Phalgunanda Gaunpalika.

Phalgunanda Lingden
महागुरू फाल्गुनन्द लिङ्देन
Born	1885 November 11 Ibhang 25 Dandagaun in Illam district
Died	1949 April 4
Nationality	Nepali
Occupation(s)	Cleric and scholar of Kiranti Mundhum

Mahaguru Phalgunanda (महागुरु फाल्गुनन्द) also known as "Mahaguru Phalgunanda" or Phalgunanda Lingden (1885–1949) was a religious leader of the Kirat people of Eastern Nepal.

Phalgunanda Lingden was born in 1885 A.D. in Ilam district, Nepal. He is renowned as Mahaguru (the great teacher) especially among the Kirat Limbus. He is credited for creating a new Kirat religion on puritan principles which include: vegetarianism, a ban on alcohol and following Limbu traditions and scripts. He is remembered for his outstanding socio-cultural and religious messages in the Limbu ethnicity. His main message includes calling on a ban on animal sacrifice, since this sacrifice (taboo) raises social expenditures on celebrations; like birth, wedding and funeral. His further messages are similarly: eliminate social orthodoxies, run school for children, give literacy and awareness to children through their mother tongue. Education he stressed on chiefly because he believed it brings in knowledge to wash one's heart clean which alone is key to emancipation which again is the Ultimate Truth to realize God. In his philosophy there can be no better friend than love and nonviolence. Falgunanda who also built innumerable shrines, died in 1949. (source: Nepal Government, Postal Services Department, Nepal Philatelic Bureau, Kathmandu)

Nepal Government, Postal Services Department, Nepal Philatelic Bureau, Kathmandu has issued his Postal stamp as in Distinguished Personalities Series in 1993. He is the 16th luminary of Nepal..