Prajnalok Mahasthavir
Encyclopedia
Prajnalok Mahasthavir was a prominent scholar, writer and orator of Pali
and a preacher, educationist and writer of Buddhism
. In 1954, the Burmese government awarded him the title of Agga Mahapandit for his religious work and social services, . In 1933, Burma's most venerable group of vikkhus organised a grand assembly (mahasanghadan) to award him the title of Buddha Shasan Birzasthambha Shasan Dhwaj on his birthday.
, Chittagong, he came in contact with Acharya Punnachar Mahasthavir at the age of 21. He received from the acharya shramanya
and upasampada
at Shakyamuni Vihara and in 1909 he studied Dharma
and Vinaya
at Naikhaine.
Prajnalok went to Sri Lanka
to study the Tripitaka
under Upasen Mahasthavir, principal of Saddharmodaya Mahavidyalaya in 1913. Returning to Bengal, he formed an association called Zinshasan Samagam with his young vikkhu student friends to propagate Buddhism. In 1922 he established Vidarshanaram Vihara in the village of Kanaimadari in Patiya
and Sudarshan Vihara in the village of Mayani in Sitakunda
. He then left for Akyab.
In Akyab, he established the Bangiya Bauddha Samity and a vihara with support from Bengali Buddhists, and was made principal of Dharmadut Vihara. In 1928, Prajnalok and Sudhanshu Bimal Barua, along with a number of Buddhists of Bengali origin, established the Buddhist Mission Press in Rangoon. The Press, which was destroyed in bombing during the Second World War
, initiated the study of the Tripitaka in Bengali and, in 1930, started to publish the periodical Sanghashakti. When the Press was destroyed, Prajnalok walked back home through northern Burma
and Assam
.
During the famine and epidemics of 1945, Prajnalok organised a relief body with headquarters in the village of Tekota in Patiya. He died in Chittagong on 12 May 1971.
. While in Sitakunda, he translated Vikkhu Patimokhka's writings with commentaries and wrote textbooks Pali Patham Sikkhaand Vikkhu Kartavya O Grhi Kartavya. While in Akyab, Prajnalok compiled and wrote Danamanjari, Kathin Chivardananisangsa and Ratnamala Bishodhan. He also translated, compiled and edited Milinda Prashna (2 volumes), Theragatha, Lokaniti, Telaktaha Gatha, Pali Tripitaka (pamphlet), Prabas Suhrd, Grhiniti, Namrup, Buddher Yoganiti, Bidarshan Bhavana, Aryasatya, Dhammapada, Sutta Vibhanga and Buddher Dharma Parichaya.
Páli
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and a preacher, educationist and writer of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. In 1954, the Burmese government awarded him the title of Agga Mahapandit for his religious work and social services, . In 1933, Burma's most venerable group of vikkhus organised a grand assembly (mahasanghadan) to award him the title of Buddha Shasan Birzasthambha Shasan Dhwaj on his birthday.
Life
Born on 31 December 1879 as Dharmaraj Barua in the village of Vaidyapara in BoalkhaliBoalkhali Upazila
Boalkhali is an Upazila of Chittagong District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.-Geography:Boalkhali is located at . It has 33514 units of house hold and total area 137.53 km²....
, Chittagong, he came in contact with Acharya Punnachar Mahasthavir at the age of 21. He received from the acharya shramanya
Shramana
A shramana is a wandering monk in certain ascetic traditions of ancient India including Jainism, Buddhism, and Ājīvikism. Famous śramaṇas include Mahavira and Gautama Buddha....
and upasampada
Upasampada
Upasampadā literally means "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist monastic life....
at Shakyamuni Vihara and in 1909 he studied Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and Vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
at Naikhaine.
Prajnalok went to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
to study the Tripitaka
Tripiṭaka
' is a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various canons of scriptures. As the name suggests, a traditionally contains three "baskets" of teachings: a , a and an .-The three categories:Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the...
under Upasen Mahasthavir, principal of Saddharmodaya Mahavidyalaya in 1913. Returning to Bengal, he formed an association called Zinshasan Samagam with his young vikkhu student friends to propagate Buddhism. In 1922 he established Vidarshanaram Vihara in the village of Kanaimadari in Patiya
Patiya Upazila
Patiya is an Upazila of Chittagong District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.-Geography:Patiya is located at . It has 70218 units of house hold and total area 316.47 km².-Demographics:...
and Sudarshan Vihara in the village of Mayani in Sitakunda
Sitakunda Upazila
Sitakunda is an upazila, or administrative unit, in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh. It includes one urban settlement, the Sitakunda Town, and 10 unions, the lowest of administrative units in Bangladesh. It is one of the 14 upazilas, the second tier of administrative units, of the Chittagong...
. He then left for Akyab.
In Akyab, he established the Bangiya Bauddha Samity and a vihara with support from Bengali Buddhists, and was made principal of Dharmadut Vihara. In 1928, Prajnalok and Sudhanshu Bimal Barua, along with a number of Buddhists of Bengali origin, established the Buddhist Mission Press in Rangoon. The Press, which was destroyed in bombing during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, initiated the study of the Tripitaka in Bengali and, in 1930, started to publish the periodical Sanghashakti. When the Press was destroyed, Prajnalok walked back home through northern Burma
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
and Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
.
During the famine and epidemics of 1945, Prajnalok organised a relief body with headquarters in the village of Tekota in Patiya. He died in Chittagong on 12 May 1971.
Work
He wrote and edited more than thirty books, including Mahavagga (1937), a translation of Vinayapitaka published by the Tripitaka Publication Fund in ChittagongChittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
. While in Sitakunda, he translated Vikkhu Patimokhka's writings with commentaries and wrote textbooks Pali Patham Sikkhaand Vikkhu Kartavya O Grhi Kartavya. While in Akyab, Prajnalok compiled and wrote Danamanjari, Kathin Chivardananisangsa and Ratnamala Bishodhan. He also translated, compiled and edited Milinda Prashna (2 volumes), Theragatha, Lokaniti, Telaktaha Gatha, Pali Tripitaka (pamphlet), Prabas Suhrd, Grhiniti, Namrup, Buddher Yoganiti, Bidarshan Bhavana, Aryasatya, Dhammapada, Sutta Vibhanga and Buddher Dharma Parichaya.