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Sarvajna Shri Chakradhara Swami | |
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| Personal life | |
| Born | Haripaladeva 1194 |
| Died | Unknown |
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| Known for | Founding ofMahanubhava sect |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Mahanubhava, Dvaitism |
| Part ofa series on | |
| Hindu philosophy | |
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| Orthodox | |
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Chakradhara (also known asSarvajña Shri Chakradhar(a) Swāmī orKunwar Haripāladeva[1]) was an Indian Hindu saint and philosopher, who was the founder ofMahanubhava sect ofKrishnaism. Chakradhara advocated worship of the godKrishna and preached a distinct philosophy based onBhakti. He was an exponent of theDvaita philosophy withinHinduism.
Chakradhara did not recognize caste distinctions, and distinguished only between thehouseholder andrecluses.[2] Some sources claim that Chakrapani Prabhu and Govinda Prabhu as the originators of Mahanubhava doctrine and Chakradhara as the first apostle who systematized Mahanubhava as a school of Bhakti philosophy.[3] Chakradhara is considered as anavatar of Krishna by his disciples. his incarnation day is observed on theTithi ofBhadrapada Shukla Dwitiya.
Chakradhara was born into aGujarati[4]SamavediBrahmin family[5][6] inBharuch,Gujarat. According to his biographyLilacharitra, he was the son of a royal minister of Gujarat.[7] He tookSannyasa at a young age and left his home for pilgrimage toRamtek. During his journey, he received initiation from hisguru Govinda Prabhu at Ridhapur in modern-dayAmravati district. For twelve years, he stayed in forests ofVindhya mountain as an ascetic. After attaining the awakening, he started preaching a new philosophy,Mahanubhava tattvajnana to the common people.[8] Although his native language wasGujarati, he had excellent command overMarathi. Chakradhara moved among all sections of society. He discoursed his philosophy effectively among the people in their own language. TheLilacharitra confirms that he also spoke fluentSanskrit along with Gujarati and Marathi. He used formulaic language full of meaning in a compact style. He insisted that his disciples should write only in Marathi. Thus the teachings of Chakradhara and Mahanubhava Sampradaya are found inMarathi literature.[9]
Chakradhara's philosophy focused on asceticism and renunciation. His fourfold teachings were: non-violence (ahimsa), celibacy (brahmacharya), asceticism (sannyasa) and devotion (bhakti). He prescribed different aspects of God to be worshipped: name, form, activity, deeds, place, vachanas (Shruti), memories (Smriti) and the blessing of God's incarnation. He considered five forms of God as Supreme called "Pancha Krishna":Dattatreya,Krishna, Chakrapani, Govinda Prabhu and Chakradhara himself.[7]
As per Chakradhara, one can practice bhakti by memorizing deeds of God. The aspirant for salvation must sacrifice his country, village and his relations and offer his life to God. He also taught his disciple when, where, how, how much alms they should be beg for. The central theme of his teaching was, "Feel the soul and not the body". Living the life of mendicant and practicing asceticism severely, the devotee should live according to principle, "God is mine and I am God's". The core of his code of behaviour is summed up in the following line for the benefit of his followers: "Even if the head is cut off, the body should worship God".
Besides teaching strictvegetarianism, the Mahanubhava sect forbids the use ofalcohol and teaches non-violence. It teaches that Krishna is the Supreme God; other deities are his powers. As per scriptures of Mahanubhava that Nirvana (Moksha) can only be achieved by knowing and worshiping Krishna as the lone ultimate and thus one must give up on worshiping and getting involved unconsciously in the other powers of ultimate, It can be relatively explained as one should not be satisfied in loving the creation but love the creator.
Chakradhar Swami was against the use of Sanskrita even in religious rituals. He advocated worship of lord Krishna. He did not recognize caste distinctions, and like Buddha had only two others viz the householder and recluses.
Similarly, there are many points in the lilacaritra that appear to reinforce a claim that Chakradhar is a Lad Brahmin of the Samavedi branch from Gujarat.