TessaLovins0 at 20:00, 17 September 2025

2025-09-17T20:00:32Z

New page

{{short description|Hindu religious movement from mid-19th century Bengal, India}}
{{morefootnotes|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox religion
| name = Brahmoism
| caption_bagcgj =
| image =
| imagewidth =
| alt =
| caption =
| abbreviation =
| type =
| main_classification = [[Hinduism]]
| orientation =
| scripture = [[Brahmo Dharma]]
| theology = [[Monotheism]]
| polity =
| governance =
| structure =
| leader_title = Pradhanacharya-1
| leader_name = [[Ram Mohan Roy|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]]
| leader_title1 = Pradhanacharya-2
| leader_name1 = [[Dwarkanath Tagore]]
| leader_title2 = Pradhanacharya-3
| leader_name2 = [[Debendranath Tagore]]
| fellowships_type =
| fellowships =
| associations = [[Brahmo Samaj]] ([[Adi Brahmo Samaj]] and [[Sadharan Brahmo Samaj]])
| area =
| headquarters =
| founder = [[Ram Mohan Roy]]
| founded_date = {{start date and age|1828|08|28|df=yes|p=y}}
| founded_place = {{nowrap|[[Calcutta]], [[British Raj|British India]]}}
| parent =
| merger =
| absorbed =
| separations =
| merged_into =
| defunct =
| hospitals =
| nursing_homes =
| aid =
| congregations =
| members = 
| ministers =
| missionaries =
| temples =
| primary_schools =
| secondary_schools =
| tax_status =
| tertiary =
| other_names =
| publications =
| website = {{url|true.brahmosamaj.in/}}
| footnotes =
}}
{{Universalism}}
'''Brahmoism''' is a [[Hindu]] religious movement which originated from the mid-19th century [[Bengali Renaissance]], the nascent [[Indian independence movement]].<ref>{{cite book |author=David Kopf|title=The Brahmo Samaj and the Shaping of the Modern Indian Mind |date=1979 |publisher=Princeton University Press |jstor=j.ctt13x0tkz |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt13x0tkz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222033241/https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt13x0tkz |archive-date=22 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Brahmo Samaj became the first organized vehicle for the expression of national awakening in India |url=https://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/SecICHCour/English/CH.05.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826224209/http://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/SecICHCour/English/CH.05.pdf |archive-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> Adherents, known as ''[[Brahmo]]s'' (singular Brahmo), are mainly of [[India]]n or [[Bangladesh]]i origin or nationality.

The [[Brahmo Samaj]], literally the "Society of Brahma", was founded as a movement by [[Raja Ram Mohan Roy]].<ref name="test">Chambers Dictionary Of World History. Editor BP Lenman. Chambers. 2000.</ref>

==Fundamental principles==

The [[Brahmo]] articles of faith derive from the Fundamental (''Adi'') Principles of the ''[[Adi Brahmo Samaj]]'' religion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brahmosamaj.in/ |title=Brahmo Samaj Website |access-date=5 June 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501051459/http://www.brahmosamaj.in/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* On God: There is always Infinite (limitless, undefinable, imperceivable, indivisible) Singularity – Immanent and Transcendent Singular Author and Preserver of Existence – "He" whose Love is manifest everywhere and in everything, in the fire and in the water, from the smallest plant to the mightiest oak.
* On Being: Being is created from Singularity. Being is renewed by Singularity. Being exists to be one (again) with Singularity. (''See [[Tat Tvam Asi]]'').
* On Intelligent Existence: Righteous (worshipful, intelligent, moral) actions alone rule (regulate [preserve]) Existence against Chaos (loss [decay, return, pervading emptiness]). Knowledge (Intelligence [reason, sentience, intuition]) of Pure Conscience (light within) is the One (Supreme) Ruler (authority [law, dharma]) of Existence with no symbol (creation [scripture, book, object]) or intermediary (being [teacher, messiah, ruler]).
* On Love: Respect all creations and beings but never venerate (worship) them for only Singularity can be Loved (adored, worshipped).

===Articles of faith===

The Articles of faith for Brahmos are:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brahmosamaj.in/ |title=brahmosamaj.in - BRAHMO SAMAJ |access-date=5 June 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501051459/http://www.brahmosamaj.in/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Brahmos embrace righteousness as the only way of life.
* Brahmos embrace truth, knowledge, reason, free will and virtuous intuition (observation) as guides.
* Brahmos embrace secular principles but oppose sectarianism and imposition of religious belief into governance (especially propagation of religious belief by government).
* Brahmos embrace the co-existence of Brahmo principles with governance, but oppose all governance in conflict with Brahmo principles.
* Brahmos reject narrow theism (especially polytheism), idolatry and symbolism.
* Brahmos reject the need for formal rituals, priests or places (church, temple, mosque) for worship.
* Brahmos reject dogma and superstition.
* Brahmos reject scriptures as authority.
* Brahmos reject revelations, prophets, gurus, messiahs, or avatars as authority.
* Brahmos reject bigotry and irrational distinctions like caste, creed, colour, race, religion which divide beings.
* Brahmos reject all forms of totalitarianism.
* Brahmos examine the prevalent notion of "sin".
* Brahmos examine the prevalent notions of "heaven" or "hell".
* Brahmos examine the prevalent notion of "salvation".

Adherence to these articles are required only of ''Adi'' Brahmos or such ''Sadharan'' Brahmos who accept ''Adi''-ism i.e. [[Trust Deed of Brahmo Sabha]] (1830). Brahmoism is considered a synthesis of Hinduism, Islam and Unitarianism.<ref name="Natesan 1948 p. ">{{cite book | last=Natesan | first=G.A. | title=The Indian Review | publisher=G. A. Natesan & Company | issue=v. 49 | year=1948 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zJjDHHkTlbEC&q=%22protestant%22 | access-date=2023-03-01 | page=}}</ref><ref name="Bergunder Frese Schröder 2011 p. 319">{{cite book | last1=Bergunder | first1=M. | last2=Frese | first2=H. | last3=Schröder | first3=U. | title=Ritual, Caste, and Religion in Colonial South India | publisher=Primus Books | year=2011 | isbn=978-93-80607-21-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OcEM2IsnA1AC&pg=PA319 | access-date=2023-03-01 | page=319 | archive-date=1 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301164421/https://books.google.com/books?id=OcEM2IsnA1AC&pg=PA319 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="van Bijlert 2020 p. 188">{{cite book | last=van Bijlert | first=V.A. | title=Vedantic Hinduism in Colonial Bengal: Reformed Hinduism and Western Protestantism | publisher=Taylor & Francis | series=Routledge Studies in Religion | year=2020 | isbn=978-1-000-16997-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WS3tDwAAQBAJ&q=%22protestant+brahmoism%22&pg=PT188 | access-date=2023-03-01 | page=188}}</ref><ref name="Indian Institute of World Culture 1993 p. ">{{cite book | author=Indian Institute of World Culture | title=Transaction - Indian Institute of World Culture | issue=90 | year=1993 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LfELAQAAIAAJ&q=%22brahmo+samaj%22+%22lutheran+protestants%22 | access-date=2023-03-01 | page=}}</ref><ref name="The Court Journal: Court Circular & Fashionable Gazette 1833 p. 723">{{cite book | title=The Court Journal: Court Circular & Fashionable Gazette | publisher=Alabaster, Pasemore & sons, Limited | issue=v. 5 | year=1833 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrYRAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22rammohun%22+%22was+a+lutheran+with%22&pg=PA723 | access-date=2023-03-01 | page=723}}</ref>

==History==
While Raja [[Ram Mohan Roy]] aimed at reforming the Hindu religion through [[Unitarianism]], his successor Maharshi [[Debendranath Tagore]] in 1850 rejected the infallibility of the Vedas. Tagore tried to retain some Hindu customs, but a series of schisms eventually resulted in the formation of the breakaway [[Sadharan Brahmo Samaj]] in 1878.

In 1901, a decision of the [[Privy Council]] of [[British India]] found that "the vast majority of Brahmo religionists are not Hindus and have their own religion."<ref>Official website http://www.brahmosamaj.in/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501051459/http://www.brahmosamaj.in/ |date=1 May 2016 }} "In 1901 (Bhagwan Koer & Ors v J.C.Bose & Ors, 31 Cal 11, 30 ELR IA 249) the Privy Council (Britain's highest judicial authority) upholds the finding of the High Court of the Punjab that the vast majority of Brahmo religionists are not Hindus and have their own religion"</ref>

The Brahma Dharma was first codified by Debendranath Tagore with the formulation of the Brahmo Dharma Beej and publication of the ''Brahma Dharma'', a book of 1848 in two parts. The Brahma Dharma is the source of every Brahmo's spiritual faith and reflects [[Brahmo]] repudiation of the Hindu Vedas as authority and the shift away from [[Ram Mohan Roy]]'s Unitarian version of God. The traditional seed principles and Debendranath's ''Brahmo Dharma'' (or religious and moral law) now stand evolved as the "Fundamental Principles of Brahmoism" and are supplemented by precise evolving rules for adherents, akin to "Articles of Faith" which regulate the Brahmo way of life. In addition the assembly of Brahmos (and also Brahmo Samajists) for meeting or worship is always consonant with the Trust Principles of 1830 or its derivatives.

==Brief history and timeline==

* 1828 : [[Raja Ram Mohun Roy]] establishes ''Brahma Sabha'' (assembly of Brahmins).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y-W6TjM2n1AC |title=Calcutta: Society and Change 1690-1990 |date=2005 |first=Samaren |last=Roy |publisher=[[IUniverse]] |isbn=9780595790005 }}</ref>{{Self-published inline |date=November 2021}}
* 1829 : [[Asiatic Society]] admits the first Indians to its membership, the first of whom are [[Ramkamal Sen]], [[Dwarkanath Tagore]] and Prasanna Coomar Tagore.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/gautam/heri0004.htm |title=Heritage Institute of India - article by Dr. Gautam Chatterjee |access-date=28 March 2008 |archive-date=10 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010182803/http://www.ibiblio.org/gautam/heri0004.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1830 : [[Dwarkanath Tagore]], Prasanna Coomar Tagore and Ors. establish the first Brahmo Place for Worship through a legal Trust Deed<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://brahmosamaj.org.googlepages.com/trustdeed.html |title=brahmosamaj.org - Banian "Trust" Deed Chitpore Road Brahmo Sabha |access-date=2008-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119092423/http://brahmosamaj.org.googlepages.com/trustdeed.html |archive-date=2009-11-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> at [[Chitpur]] ([[Jorasanko]] [[Kolkata]] [[India]]). Ram Mohun departs for Britain.
* 1833 : Ram Mohun dies in Bristol.
* 1839 : [[Debendranath Tagore]] forms ''Tattwabodhini (Tattvaranjini) Sabha'', the "Truth & Life Purpose Seekers" association on 6 October 1839.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mohanta |first=Sambaru Chandra |year=2003 |chapter=Tattvabodhini Sabha |chapter-url=http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/T_0089.htm |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=First |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004141649/http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/T_0089.htm |archive-date=4 October 2006}}</ref>
* 1843 : Tattwabodini Sabha merged with Brahmo Sabha<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nau.edu/cline/courses/Hay_-_Leaders_of_hindu_reform_and_revival_PDF.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530101812/http://www.nau.edu/cline/courses/Hay_-_Leaders_of_hindu_reform_and_revival_PDF.pdf |archive-date=2008-05-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Calcutta Brahmo Samaj established. Dwarkanath Tagore founds the Great Western Bengal Railway Co. in conflict with the State.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080530101807/http://www.ccsindia.org/lssreader/14lssreader.pdf |archive-date=2008-05-31 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.ccsindia.org/lssreader/14lssreader.pdf |title=Time for Planning Commission to Step Back!!! |first=Bhaskar |last=Roy |date=2004 }}</ref>
* 1850 : Publication of ''Brahma Dharma'' book in 2 parts by Debendranath. Repudiation of Vedic infallibility, separation from Hinduism, establishment of the new religion.
* 1855 : [[Keshub Chunder Sen]] founds "The British India Society" later associated with [[Christian mission]]aries [[James Long (Anglican priest)|James Long]] and [[Charles Dall]].<ref>[[Shivanath Shastri]]'s Brahmo History (1911) p. 114.</ref> Dall, a roving Unitarian missionary, is in a troubled marriage in Boston with [[Caroline Healey Dall|Caroline Wells Healey Dall]], suffering a series of mental depressions, and is sufficiently persuaded to grant his wife a ''Boston divorce'' by sailing to India forever as the first foreign Unitarian missionary.<ref>"Daughter of Boston: The Extraordinary Diary of Caroline Dall", by Helen Deese. p. XV.</ref>
* 1856 : Devendranath Thakur proceeds to hills of [[Shimla|Simla]].
* 1857 : Debendranath informs Unitarian preacher Charles Dall that he is no longer welcome at Calcutta Brahmo Samaj, and that "He would not hear the name of Jesus spoken in the Samaj." Dall then forms the ''Rammohun Roy Society'' to wean away the liberal Brahmos from Debendranath.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/charlesdall.html Charles Dall] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314160549/http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/charlesdall.html|date=March 14, 2008}}.</ref> Keshub Sen then subscribes to Calcutta Brahmo Samaj while Devendranath is away in Simla. The [[Indian Mutiny]] erupts, almost every Trustee of Brahma Samaj supports the Crown while seeking exemplary punishment for the mutineers.
* 1860 : Charles Dall now openly attacks Debendranath and affiliates to liberal Brahmo [[Christianity|neo-Christian]] group by promoting Theodore Parker and William Channing's methods to convert Hindus to Christianity.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
* 1866 : The First Brahmo Schism and Calcutta Brahmo Samaj is renamed as Adi (First) Brahmo Samaj to distinguish it from progressive breakaway group.
* 1871 : Adi Brahmo Samaj leaders publicly oppose the progressive faction over the divisive ''Brahmo Marriage Bill, 1871'' with Debendranath stating "We are Brahmos first, and Indians or Hindus second."
* 1872 : The Marriage Bill is ostensibly not limited to Brahmos and enacted as the ''Special Marriages Act (Act III) of 1872''. A declaration is required stating "I am not a Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Jew" to marry under this law which is used almost exclusively by Brahmos.
* 1878 : The breakaway faction splits again, the majority form the middle-path Sadharan (General) Brahmo Samaj and are formally welcomed back to Brahmoism by Debendranath Tagore and [[Rajnarayan Basu]] of the Adi Samaj. The eminent leaders of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj at the time include [[Sivanath Sastri]], [[Ananda Mohan Bose]] and Sib Chandra Deb.<ref>Primary Source: ''History of Brahmo Samaj'' by ''Sivanath Sastri'' 1911, Secondary Source: Official website brahmosamaj.org</ref>
*1898 : First branch of Brahmosamaj (Calicut) (Now [[Ayyathan School]] which runs under the patronage of Brahmo Samaj at Jail Road, Calicut) was founded by [[Ayyathan Gopalan]] a great social reformer and founder of Sugunavardhini movement in Kerala.
*1910 : Translation of "Bible of Brahmo Samaj" – "Brahmo Dharma" by [[Debendranath Tagore|Maharshi Debendranath Tagore]] into Malayalam.
*1924 : Second Branch of Brahmo Samaj in Kerala was set up by Ayyathan Gopalan at Alappuzha (Kerala) Poonthoppu, Kommady (now Grihalakshmi Gandhi Smaraka Seva Aangam).

==See also==
* [[Adi Dharm]]
* [[Ayyathan Gopalan]]
* [[Hindu reform movements]]
* [[History of Bengal]]
* [[New religious movement]]
* [[Prarthana Samaj]]
* [[Tattwabodhini Patrika]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline}}

{{Religion topics}}
{{Bengal Renaissance}}

[[Category:Brahmoism| ]]
[[Category:Bengal Renaissance]]
[[Category:Hindu new religious movements]]
[[Category:Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:Nirguna worship traditions]]
[[Category:Religious organisations based in India]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 20th century]]

Brahmoism - Revision history

TessaLovins0 at 20:00, 17 September 2025