Tattwabodhini Sabha
Encyclopedia
The Tattwabodhinī Sabhā ("Truth Propagating/Searching Society") was a group started in Calcutta on 29 September 1839 as a splinter group of the Brahmo Samaj
, reformers of Hinduism
and Indian Society. The founding member was Debendranath Tagore
, previously of the Brahmo Samaj, eldest son of influential entrepreneur Dwarkanath Tagore, and eventually father to renowned polymath Rabindranath Tagore
. In 1859, the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā were dissolved back into the Brāhmo Samāj by Debendranath Tagore.
', leading to a vast amount of new found wealth and material prosperity amongst high caste Indians. Dwarkanath Tagore, Debendranath's father, is often seen as India's first Western-style entrepreneur. The Tattwabodhinī Sabhā was generally composed of young men of similar standing - a class dubbed the 'bhadralok
' (almost 'bourgeoisie').
Some notable members:
Debendranath Tagore
Ashkay Kumar Datta
Ishwarachandra Vidyasagar
Ramachandra Vidyasagar
Ram Gopaal Ghosh
Most scholars would also admit that Raja Rammohan Roy, who had a vast impact on the entire Bengal Renaissance, also had a huge influence on the ideas of Debendranath Tagore, and thus the group's ideology.
, the Upanishads that form the last part of the Vedās (hence Vedā-anta, meaning 'end of the Vedās'). With increasing missionary presence in Calcutta tending to view the Classical branch of 'Avaida' Vedānta as amoral and renunciatory, the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā aimed to shield themselves and their reformed faith from criticism by distancing themselves from this 'outdated' version.
Debendranath Tagore said in 1843 that "It was to counteract influences like these [missionary] and inculcate on the Hindu religious inquirer's mind doctrines at once consonant to reason and human nature, for which he has to explore his own sacred resources, the Vedānta, that the society was originally established". This focus on rationality and humanity, whilst alleviating Missionary pressure, also allowed the materially wealthy 'bhadralok' members of the society to participate in a spiritual medium which did not condemn worldly concern. The group's writings, particularly the recently rediscovered 'Sabhyadiger Vaktṛtā', display a marked stress upon the role of the 'householder' (gṛhastha) as a religious path, over that of the renouncer of hermit. The Brahman, like the renouncer, must restrain his senses and passions, but only to the extent of not becoming obsessed with, or overcome by, anything in the material world.
Essentially, the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā's humanism in displayed in a profound focus on society and its interrelation. Their view , at least in the early years, was that the world is created by God, and all things within it are pathways to knowledge of Brahman, the Ultimate Self, and the ultimate goal. Similarly, they saw that material wealth, if made and possessed with the correct intention - that of helping society and others - was in fact not only ethically sound, but an utter necessity for harmonious society. Once again, their rationality is evident.
From 1843 onwards, they published a journal, the Tattwabodhini Patrika
, which contained many discourses on their views on religion and society.
In 1855 Debendranath published his 'Brahmo Dharma' - an ethical guide for the members of the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā and Brāhmo Samaj.
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
, reformers of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Indian Society. The founding member was Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore was one of the founders in 1848 of the Brahmo Religion which today is synonymous with Brahmoism the youngest religion of India and Bangladesh....
, previously of the Brahmo Samaj, eldest son of influential entrepreneur Dwarkanath Tagore, and eventually father to renowned polymath Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
. In 1859, the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā were dissolved back into the Brāhmo Samāj by Debendranath Tagore.
Membership
In the early nineteenth century, following the influence and presence of British Missionaries, Bengal was in the throes of what has been dubbed the 'Bengal RenaissanceBengal Renaissance
The Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform movement during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the region of Bengal in Undivided India during the period of British rule...
', leading to a vast amount of new found wealth and material prosperity amongst high caste Indians. Dwarkanath Tagore, Debendranath's father, is often seen as India's first Western-style entrepreneur. The Tattwabodhinī Sabhā was generally composed of young men of similar standing - a class dubbed the 'bhadralok
Bhadralok
Bhadralok is a Bengali term used to denote the new class of 'gentlefolk' who arose during colonial times in Bengal. It is still used to indicate members of the upper middle and middle classes of Bengal.-Caste and Class makeup:...
' (almost 'bourgeoisie').
Some notable members:
Debendranath Tagore
Ashkay Kumar Datta
Ishwarachandra Vidyasagar
Ramachandra Vidyasagar
Ram Gopaal Ghosh
Most scholars would also admit that Raja Rammohan Roy, who had a vast impact on the entire Bengal Renaissance, also had a huge influence on the ideas of Debendranath Tagore, and thus the group's ideology.
Objectives and Beliefs
The main objective of the Sabhā was to promote a more rational and humanist form of Hinduism based on the VedāntaVedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
, the Upanishads that form the last part of the Vedās (hence Vedā-anta, meaning 'end of the Vedās'). With increasing missionary presence in Calcutta tending to view the Classical branch of 'Avaida' Vedānta as amoral and renunciatory, the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā aimed to shield themselves and their reformed faith from criticism by distancing themselves from this 'outdated' version.
Debendranath Tagore said in 1843 that "It was to counteract influences like these [missionary] and inculcate on the Hindu religious inquirer's mind doctrines at once consonant to reason and human nature, for which he has to explore his own sacred resources, the Vedānta, that the society was originally established". This focus on rationality and humanity, whilst alleviating Missionary pressure, also allowed the materially wealthy 'bhadralok' members of the society to participate in a spiritual medium which did not condemn worldly concern. The group's writings, particularly the recently rediscovered 'Sabhyadiger Vaktṛtā', display a marked stress upon the role of the 'householder' (gṛhastha) as a religious path, over that of the renouncer of hermit. The Brahman, like the renouncer, must restrain his senses and passions, but only to the extent of not becoming obsessed with, or overcome by, anything in the material world.
Essentially, the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā's humanism in displayed in a profound focus on society and its interrelation. Their view , at least in the early years, was that the world is created by God, and all things within it are pathways to knowledge of Brahman, the Ultimate Self, and the ultimate goal. Similarly, they saw that material wealth, if made and possessed with the correct intention - that of helping society and others - was in fact not only ethically sound, but an utter necessity for harmonious society. Once again, their rationality is evident.
From 1843 onwards, they published a journal, the Tattwabodhini Patrika
Tattwabodhini Patrika
Tattwabodhini Patrika [Tattwabodhini Patrika ] was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore on 16 th August, 1843, as a journal of the Tattwabodhini Sabha, and continued publication until 1883...
, which contained many discourses on their views on religion and society.
In 1855 Debendranath published his 'Brahmo Dharma' - an ethical guide for the members of the Tattwabodhinī Sabhā and Brāhmo Samaj.