The Kartabhaja (Bengali: কর্তাভজা), also known as the Kartabhaja Sampradaya (Bengali: কর্তাভজা সম্প্রদায়), literally, the Worshippers of the Master,[1] is a religious community of West Bengal in eastern India, which came into prominence in the mid 18th century.[2] 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 (c. 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 city) in Nadia district became a major centre of activities and later a pitha for the sect.[2][3] An annual fair in Ghoshpara, known as the Sati Mar Dol Mela, is held in honour of Sati Ma on the day of Dol Purnima in February/March every year. This fair is attended by many followers of this sect.[4]
^Urban, Hugh B. (2007). Tantra: Sex, Secrecy, Politics and Power in the Study of Religion. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. p. xii. ISBN 81-208-2932-8.
^ abSen, Sukumar (1991) [1940]. Bangala Sahityer Itihas (in Bengali). Vol. II. Kolkata: Ananda Publishers. pp. 527–30. ISBN 81-7215-025-3.
^McDaniel, June (1989). The Madness of the Saints: Ecstatic Religion in Bengal. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press. pp. 176–9. ISBN 978-0-226-55723-6.
^Maity, P. K. (1989). Human Fertility Cults and Rituals of Bengal: A Comparative Study. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. pp. 141–2. ISBN 81-7017-263-2.
The Kartabhaja (Bengali: কর্তাভজা), also known as the Kartabhaja Sampradaya (Bengali: কর্তাভজা সম্প্রদায়), literally, the Worshippers of the Master, is...
These, rediscovered and re-popularized by Tagore, resemble 19th-century Kartābhajā hymns that emphasize inward divinity and rebellion against bourgeois bhadralok...
1779) was a Bengali Hindu spiritual leader who founded the Kartabhaja philosophy. Kartabhajas consider Aulchand to be an incarnation of Chaityana. In 1694...
came popular saints like Syamananda and the founder of the influential Kartabhaja sect, Aulchand. In the process, they changed their jati affiliation by...
spiritualism. He associated with disciplines as diverse as Baul, Kapalik, Kartabhaja etc. He met Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Dakshineswar during this period...
These, rediscovered and repopularised by Tagore, resemble 19th-century Kartābhajā hymns that emphasise inward divinity and rebellion against bourgeois bhadralok...
affiliated themselves with Bauls, like Darbesi, Nera and two sub-sects of Kartabhajas — Aul and Sai. The Bauls themselves attribute their lack of historical...
thought to have been influenced greatly by the Hindu tantric sect of the Kartabhajas as well as by Sufi sects. Bauls travel in search of the internal ideal...
thought to have been influenced greatly by the Hindu tantric sect of the Kartabhajas as well as by Muslim Sufi philosophers. Bauls traveled and sang in search...
Khagra/Baharampur/Mursidabad: Mursidabad Carca Kendra, 1395 (Beng. Era), pp. 93-122. Kartabhajas on the contrast maintain: guru thaken sahasrare, sat-cakra upare "The...
pen had authored immense detailed work on the sub-religions and cult of Kartabhaja, Balahari, Sahebdhani, their belief community and their songs, which were...
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