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The '''Kartabhaja''' ({{lang-bn|কর্তাভজা}}), also known as the '''Kartabhaja Sampradaya''' ({{lang-bn|কর্তাভজা সম্প্রদায়}}), literally, the Worshippers of the Master,<ref>{{cite book |last=Urban |first=Hugh B. |year=2007 |title=Tantra: Sex, Secrecy, Politics and Power in the Study of Religion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wvtLClojU_4C&pg=PR12 |location=Delhi |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |page=xii |isbn=81-208-2932-8}}</ref> is a religious community of [[West Bengal]] in eastern [[India]], which came into prominence in the mid 18th century.<ref name="sen">{{cite book |last=Sen |first=Sukumar |year=1991 |orig-year=1940 |title=Bangala Sahityer Itihas |language=bn |volume=Vol.II |location=Kolkata |publisher=Ananda Publishers |pages=527–30 |isbn=81-7215-025-3}}</ref> It had a significant following in the late 18th century and early 19th century, but its following declined considerably in the early 20th century.

The founder of this community was [[Aulchand]] or Aulechand ({{Circa}} 1686-1769), about whom very little is known, except a number of legends. Significant early leaders of this community were Ramsharan Pal, a disciple of Aulchand, his wife Sarasvati, popularly known as ''Sati Ma'' and their son Dulalchandra Pal. Under their leadership, Ghoshpara village (presently, a neighbourhood of [[Kalyani, West Bengal|Kalyani]] city) in [[Nadia district]] became a major centre of activities and later a ''[[pitha]]'' for the sect.<ref name="sen"/><ref name="McDaniel">{{cite book |last=McDaniel |year=1989 |first=June |title=The Madness of the Saints: Ecstatic Religion in Bengal |url=https://archive.org/details/madnessofsaintse0000mcda |url-access=registration |location=Chicago |publisher=University Of Chicago Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/madnessofsaintse0000mcda/page/176 176]–9 |isbn=978-0-226-55723-6}}</ref> An annual fair in Ghoshpara, known as the ''Sati Mar Dol Mela'', is held in honour of ''Sati Ma'' on the day of ''[[Holi|Dol Purnima]]'' in February/March every year. This fair is attended by many followers of this sect.<ref>{{cite book |last=Maity |first=P. K. |title=Human Fertility Cults and Rituals of Bengal: A Comparative Study|year=1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gJS1slWE4X4C&pg=PA141 |location=New Delhi |publisher=Abhinav Publications |pages=141–2 |isbn=81-7017-263-2}}</ref>

==Aulchand and his disciples==
[[Aulchand]], founder of this community was also known as ''Aule Mahaprabhu'', ''Kangali Mahaprabhu'', ''Fakir Thakur'', ''Siddha Purush'', ''Sain Gosain'' and ''Purnachandra'' amongst his followers.<ref name="McDaniel"/> Most of the legends on ''Satyamahaprabhu'' Aulchand or Aulechand are collected by [[Horace Hayman Wilson]] and [[Akshay Kumar Datta]].<ref name="sen"/> According to these legends, in 1616 [[Saka era]] (1694), Mahadab Barui, a peasant of [[Birnagar|Ula]] village found Aulchand, an eight-year boy in his betel vine and decided to adopt him. After 12 years Aulchand left Ula and stayed in the house of a ''gandhabanik'' (perfumer) for two years. Next, he resided in the house of a landlord for 14 years. Next one and half year he lived somewhere in eastern [[Bengal]] and then started travelling from one place to another. At the age of 37, he came to Bejra village and Hatu Ghosh became his disciple. Soon, Ramsharan Pal also became his disciple. Besides Ramsharan Pal and Hatu Ghosh, his principal disciples included Bechu Ghosh, Nayan Das, Laksmhikanta, Nityananda Das, Khelaram Udasin, Krishnadas, Hari Ghosh, Kanai Ghosh, Shankar, Nitai Ghosh, Anandaram, Manohar Das, Bishnu Das, Kinu, Gobinda, Shyam Kansari, Bhimray Rajput, Panchu Ruidas, Sidhiram Ghosh and Shishuram. He died in Boyale village (in the present day Nadia district) in 1691 Saka era (1769).<ref name="datta">[[Akshay Kumar Datta|Datta, Akshay Kumar]] (1987) [1911]. ''Bharatvarshiya Upasak Sampradaya'' (in Bengali), Vol.I, Kolkata: Karuna Prakashani, pp.220-229</ref> In addition to his 22 principal disciples, Aulchand had a number of followers, both [[Hindu]] and [[Muslim]].<ref name="sen"/> The disciples of Aulchand believed him as the [[reincarnation]] of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]].<ref name="datta"/>

After Aulchand's death, his followers were divided into two major groups. His principal eight disciples under the leadership of Ramsharan Pal established a center for religious activities at Ghoshpara. The other group founded their center at Parari village near [[Chakdaha]] and cremated Aulchand's body there. The leadership of the group led by Ramsharan Pal became hereditary after his death and his descendants were mentioned as the ''Shriyut'' or the ''Shrishriyut''. The sectarian literature of this community mention the ''Guru''s (leaders) as the ''Mahashaya''s (hosts) and the common members as the ''Barati''s (guests).<ref name="sen"/>

==Dulalchandra Pal==
In 1783, after the death of Ramsharan Pal, his wife ''Sati Ma'' became the leader of the community and she was succeeded by her son Ramdulal Pal or Dulalchandra Pal (1775–1852) after her death. His anthology of spiritual songs, mostly written between 1824-28 under the nome de plume ''Lalshashi'' were collected by his four disciples and known as ''Bhaver Gita'' (Spiritual Songs). Almost 500 spiritual poems and songs written by a number of poets belonging to this community were published in two volumes, titled, ''Kartabhajar Gitavali'' (1872) and ''Shrishriyuter Padavali'' (1893). These works include most of the songs of ''Lalshashi''.<ref name="sen"/><ref name="McDaniel"/> Dulalchandra Pal was succeeded by wife and she was succeeded by their son Ishvarchandra Pal.

==Practices and beliefs==
According to H. H. Wilson, the distinctions of the [[Caste system in India|Indian caste system]] were not followed by the members of this sect during their religious celebrations.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/sketchofreligiou00wils#page/106/mode/2up|pages=107–8|year=1846|title=Sketch of the Religious Sects of the Hindus|last=Wilson|first=H. H.|author-link=Horace Hayman Wilson|location=Calcutta|publisher=Bishop's College Press}}</ref> According to Akshay Kumar Datta, the principal religious practices were chanting ''[[mantra]]'' and ''premanushthan'' (ritual of love), which they believe would lead to ''siddhi'' (perfection). The members of this sect met together regularly and these meetings, known as ''baithak''s, continued till early morning. In these ''baithak''s, they shared the expressions of ''prem'' (love) by crying, trembling, laughing loudly and grinding their teeth.<ref name="datta"/>

The four classes of the sect were Aul, Baul, Derveshes, and Sain.<ref>P. 87 ''Sai Baba of Shirdi (English)'' By V. B. Kher</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bengali Hindu people}}

[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Hindu denominations]]
[[Category:Vaishnava sects]]

Kartabhaja - Revision history

>Monkbot at 00:30, 30 January 2021