Bhima Bhoi
Encyclopedia
Bhima Bhoi was a poet and Satya Mahima Dharma
activist from Orissa
, India
.
The most permanent contribution of Orissa toour cultural heritage is Bhima Bhoi, Poet-prophet of Mahima dharma, who wielded his pen against the prevailing social injustice, religious bigotry, and caste discrimination. With his firm belief in one God, one society, one religion, he led this movement from Khaliapali Ashrama . The goal of his mission is " Jagata Uddhara " (liberation of entire world).
The 19th century in India was a period of decadence and disintegration that warranted religious and social reform. Mahima Dharma emerged as a Yuga Dharma (religion of the age) at a time of transition ( Yugasandhi ). It appears as a Loka Dharma (religion of the mass) ,when religious discriminations regarding race, caste and class were rife. In the 19th century Orissa,when this religion developed, the society was already ridden with divisive tendencies, casteism , selfishness, savagery and coercion. In the field of religion irrationality and fetishism reigned supreme immorality andcorruption were rampant.
Mahima Dharma is contemporary to the socio-religious movement like Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samajand Arya Samaj. Yet Mahima dharam differs very much from these reaction and movement. It rested on indigenous foundation and had nothing to do with external forces. It is exclusively Orissan . In essence it is for mankind and of mankind.
Though Mahima Gosain , Guru of Bhima Bhoi, is said to be the original founder of Mahima Dharma, the devotional catchy Prayer verses composed by Bhima Bhoi are greatly responsible for the spread of Mahima religion. In the history of Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi was to play the role of Vyasa the poet, expounder and propagator ordained by eternal God. Mahima dharma soon gained popularity in the tribal belts of not only Orissa but also neighboring. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattishgarh , Bengal and Assam .
While we know enough about the philosophy and poetry of Bhima Bhoi, his life still remains a mystery in many respects. We don't know for certain when initiated him. Mahima Gosain blessed him and said that he had a preordained role to play in the propagation of the tenets of Mahima religion in this century. Mahima Gosain blessed him to have the intense power of poetic vision. Bhima has referred perhaps to this incidents in the 1st chapter of his Nirveda Sadhana. Further in Adianta Gita Bhima writes that he started poetics at the age of 16 at the behest and blessing of his Guru.
Legend has it that Bhima Bhoi once inadvertently fell into a well and refused to come out until he was rescued by Mahima Gosain . At last Mahima Gosain , who was passingby, came to save him. It is pertinent to mention here that a site having awell at village Kandhara has recently been renovated to memorize the incident. Whatever the case may be, it symbolizes the indomitable will power of this young convert. It is however, undeniable that the entire event of Bhima Bhoi's flowering up as a saint poet is deeply associated with his come in contact with Mahima Gosain. In his Bhajan Bhima Bhoi has treated him as the anthropomorphic form of Sunya Braham. Bhima soon became the spokesman of the Mahima Religion.
Mahima Gosain sent two Brahmins namely Basu Panda and Haripanda of village Banhar near Attabira along with Markanda Das and Dharmananda Das belonging to Angul area, converted into the faith, to record the songs and hymns to the dictation of Bhima Bhoi. They met Bhima on the road to Kadligarh, and together, left for a hollock, at Kandhara, since Known as Bhima Dunguri.
As the days went by Bhima gained popularity as the poet and preacher of Mahima Dharma with his followers. Bhima started his mission from village to village. The Bhajans were first sent to Mahima Gosain, then these were song in different tungis and on the occasion of congregation held at different places in the West and East of Orissa.
Ordained by Mahima Gosain , one maiden named Annapurna of Madhigrama, near Dhenkanal surrender herself before Bhima Bhoi as his spiritual consort.
Satya Mahima Dharma
Satya Mahima Dharma is a religious tradition in Hinduism, from Orissa. It goes back to a historic person called Mahima Svama .He is said to have appeared in Puri in 1826...
activist from Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The most permanent contribution of Orissa toour cultural heritage is Bhima Bhoi, Poet-prophet of Mahima dharma, who wielded his pen against the prevailing social injustice, religious bigotry, and caste discrimination. With his firm belief in one God, one society, one religion, he led this movement from Khaliapali Ashrama . The goal of his mission is " Jagata Uddhara " (liberation of entire world).
The 19th century in India was a period of decadence and disintegration that warranted religious and social reform. Mahima Dharma emerged as a Yuga Dharma (religion of the age) at a time of transition ( Yugasandhi ). It appears as a Loka Dharma (religion of the mass) ,when religious discriminations regarding race, caste and class were rife. In the 19th century Orissa,when this religion developed, the society was already ridden with divisive tendencies, casteism , selfishness, savagery and coercion. In the field of religion irrationality and fetishism reigned supreme immorality andcorruption were rampant.
Mahima Dharma is contemporary to the socio-religious movement like Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samajand Arya Samaj. Yet Mahima dharam differs very much from these reaction and movement. It rested on indigenous foundation and had nothing to do with external forces. It is exclusively Orissan . In essence it is for mankind and of mankind.
Though Mahima Gosain , Guru of Bhima Bhoi, is said to be the original founder of Mahima Dharma, the devotional catchy Prayer verses composed by Bhima Bhoi are greatly responsible for the spread of Mahima religion. In the history of Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi was to play the role of Vyasa the poet, expounder and propagator ordained by eternal God. Mahima dharma soon gained popularity in the tribal belts of not only Orissa but also neighboring. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattishgarh , Bengal and Assam .
While we know enough about the philosophy and poetry of Bhima Bhoi, his life still remains a mystery in many respects. We don't know for certain when initiated him. Mahima Gosain blessed him and said that he had a preordained role to play in the propagation of the tenets of Mahima religion in this century. Mahima Gosain blessed him to have the intense power of poetic vision. Bhima has referred perhaps to this incidents in the 1st chapter of his Nirveda Sadhana. Further in Adianta Gita Bhima writes that he started poetics at the age of 16 at the behest and blessing of his Guru.
Legend has it that Bhima Bhoi once inadvertently fell into a well and refused to come out until he was rescued by Mahima Gosain . At last Mahima Gosain , who was passingby, came to save him. It is pertinent to mention here that a site having awell at village Kandhara has recently been renovated to memorize the incident. Whatever the case may be, it symbolizes the indomitable will power of this young convert. It is however, undeniable that the entire event of Bhima Bhoi's flowering up as a saint poet is deeply associated with his come in contact with Mahima Gosain. In his Bhajan Bhima Bhoi has treated him as the anthropomorphic form of Sunya Braham. Bhima soon became the spokesman of the Mahima Religion.
Mahima Gosain sent two Brahmins namely Basu Panda and Haripanda of village Banhar near Attabira along with Markanda Das and Dharmananda Das belonging to Angul area, converted into the faith, to record the songs and hymns to the dictation of Bhima Bhoi. They met Bhima on the road to Kadligarh, and together, left for a hollock, at Kandhara, since Known as Bhima Dunguri.
As the days went by Bhima gained popularity as the poet and preacher of Mahima Dharma with his followers. Bhima started his mission from village to village. The Bhajans were first sent to Mahima Gosain, then these were song in different tungis and on the occasion of congregation held at different places in the West and East of Orissa.
Ordained by Mahima Gosain , one maiden named Annapurna of Madhigrama, near Dhenkanal surrender herself before Bhima Bhoi as his spiritual consort.