Bauddha Rishi Mahapragya (Nepali:बौद्धऋषि महाप्रज्ञा; bornNani Kaji Shrestha; 21 May 1901 – 1979) was one of the most influential figures in the revival ofTheravada Buddhism in Nepal in the 1920s. In 1926, he was jailed and then exiled by the tyrannicalRana regime for converting to Buddhism fromHinduism.[1][2]
Mahapragya (alternative names: Bhikshu Mahapragya, Palden Sherab, M. P. Pradhan, Prem Bahadur Shrestha) was also a writer and is known for his Buddhist books, poetry and hymns inNepal Bhasa andHindi.[3]
Mahapragya was born at Lhugah (ल्हूघ:) inKathmandu to father Kul Narayan and mother Hira MayaShrestha. He was named Prem Bahadur Shrestha. As a youth, he was inclined towards composing and singing hymns.[4] He had an early marriage which broke up.[5]
In 1924, inspired by the sermons of Tibetan Buddhist monk Kyangtse Lama who was then visiting Kathmandu, Prem Bahadur followed him toKyirong,Tibet where he was ordained as a Tibetan monk along with two otherNewars. He was given the name Mahapragya. He returned to Kathmandu with one of the novices, and they lived on Nagarjuna hill with a lama named Tsering Norbu. Three of Mahapragya's friends joined them and also became monks.[5]
The people of Kathmandu were inspired by the sight of the men in ochre robes as they made their alms round. The Ranas did not like Mahapragya, born a Hindu, becoming a Tibetan Buddhist monk, or the monks going around the city begging. In 1926, the five monks and Tsering Norbu were expelled to India.[6][7] The six went toBodh Gaya where they became Theravada monks under a Burmese teacher. They then moved toKolkata, and Mahapragya decided to travel to Tibet with Tsering Norbu to learn Buddhism.[5]
InLhasa, Mahapragya met Kul Man SinghTuladhar whom he convinced to become a Tibetan monk. Mahapragya and Kul Man Singh, now known as Karmasheel, wandered around Tibet and then went toKushinagar, India in 1928 where they were reordained as Theravada monks. Karmasheel (who would later become known asPragyananda Mahasthavir) returned to Kathmandu in 1930 as the first Theravada monk in Nepal since the 14th century.[8]
But Mahapragya, still under an expulsion order, could not enter the country. However, in March 1930 during theMaha Shivaratri festival, he slipped into Kathmandu disguised as a woman and blending with the throngs of Indian pilgrims. He returned to Kushinagar shortly for fear of detection. He then traveled toBurma where he lived in the jungle and varied monasteries before moving toKalimpong, India in 1934.[9]
Mahapragya lived inKalimpong as he waited to be allowed to return to Nepal. In 1945, he disrobed and became alayman to marry a widow with whom he had two children. He worked as a photographer, and also taught Buddhism. In 1962, he broke up with her and lived in Kathmandu as a Buddhist sage (Bauddha Rishi).[10]
Mahapragya has published 18 books which include his most famous workLalitavistara, the Buddha's life story first published in 1940,[11] and his autobiography in three volumes (1983).[3] The hymn "The Light of Wisdom has Died" is among the most popular of his compositions.[12]
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