Trailokyanath Sanyal
Encyclopedia
Trailokyanath Sanyal (also spelt Trailokya Nath Sanyal) was one of the Brahmo missionaries, who assisted in combining the ideals of traditional Vaishnavism
with those of Brahmo Samaj
. Through hundreds of devotional songs which he created, he developed Brahma Sangit, devotional songs of Brahmo Samaj, as an art form. Rabindranath Tagore
later brought this musical art to perfection and popularised it in Bengal. Sanyal’s songs are till this day sung extensively with prayers of the Brahmo Samaj. He used to set his songs not only to classical tunes but also to a folk tune like Bhatiali and popular Ramprasadi.
. He joined to Brahmo Samaj under the influence of Vijay Krishna Goswami and Aghore Nath Gupta
in 1867. Those were turbulent days in the Brahmo Samaj. Keshub Chunder Sen and the progressives had formed the Brahmo Samaj
of India in 1866.
As the young reformers marched towards the site of the contemplated mandir, enthusiastically singing characteristic hymn, many thousands of citizens of all classes flocked to the streets, through which the former passed, to witness the new Brahmo street procession. The hymn and its manner of singing deeply impressed them.
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
has added, “Keshub held his nagar sankirtan with great flags inscribed with theistic mottoes… Vaishnava kirtans had degenerated into mobbish assemblies and it required great moral courage and deep religious compulsion to be able to borrow and reform them.”
was made the professor of Hinduism
, Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
, the professor of Christianity
, Aghore Nath Gupta
, the professor of Buddhism
and Girish Chandra Sen
, the professor of Islam
. Subsequently, Trailokya Nath Sanyal was ordained as an adhyapak of music and was known as the singing apostle of the New Dispensation. He was named Chiranjib Sharma by Keshub Chunder Sen.
. Every morning he used to have tea with another Brahmo missionary, Braja Gopal Niyogi and discuss about various matters. Although serious-minded he was a sweet tempered person. His songs and kirtan
s not only inspired great people like Keshub Chunder Sen, but also numerous others who were raised to a higher level of divine consciousness. He had given himself a name “Premdan”.
Apart from composing songs, he wrote extensively. Keshub Chunder Sen took part in one of his plays Navabrindavan, illustrating the principles of the New Dispensation. He travelled extensively as a missionary and had many well-wishers and followers throughout the country. He accompanied Keshub Chunder Sen to Mumbai
when he went there in 1867 to establish links with the newly established Prarthana Samaj
.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
with those of Brahmo 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...
. Through hundreds of devotional songs which he created, he developed Brahma Sangit, devotional songs of Brahmo Samaj, as an art form. 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...
later brought this musical art to perfection and popularised it in Bengal. Sanyal’s songs are till this day sung extensively with prayers of the Brahmo Samaj. He used to set his songs not only to classical tunes but also to a folk tune like Bhatiali and popular Ramprasadi.
Early life
The son of Ramnidhi Sanyal, the family belonged to Chakpanchanan in NabadwipNabadwip
Nabadwip is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Its name means "9 islands" in the Bengali language. The islands are named Antardwip , Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Koladwip...
. He joined to Brahmo Samaj under the influence of Vijay Krishna Goswami and Aghore Nath Gupta
Aghore Nath Gupta
Aghore Nath Gupta was a great scholar of Buddhism and a preacher of the Brahmo Samaj. He was designated Sadhu after his premature death in recognition of his pious life...
in 1867. Those were turbulent days in the Brahmo Samaj. Keshub Chunder Sen and the progressives had formed the Brahmo 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...
of India in 1866.
New temple
On 24 January 1868, Keshub Chunder Sen, laid the foundation stone of his mandir (temple). On that day, he introduced the Vaishnava mode of propagation, namely a singing procession through the streets, called nagar sankirtan. Early in the morning before the glorious sunbeams had scarcely pierced through the dewy vestures of the retreating night, people in the streets heard the voice of the new band of singers. In the hymn composed for the occasion by Trailokyanath Sanyal, they sang:-
- tora aere bhai!
- eto dine dukkho nisi holo abasan, nagare uthilo brohmonam.
- karo sabey anandete brohmo-sankirtan,
- paap-taap-o dhue jaabe jurabe jibon.
-
- Come, all of you, brothers!
- At last the night of sorrows has lifted, Brahma's name rises in town.
- Let everybody happily sing Brahmo-sankirtan without hesitation,
- Sin and repentance will wash away, life will be filled with satisfaction.
As the young reformers marched towards the site of the contemplated mandir, enthusiastically singing characteristic hymn, many thousands of citizens of all classes flocked to the streets, through which the former passed, to witness the new Brahmo street procession. The hymn and its manner of singing deeply impressed them.
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar was a member of the Hindu reform movement the Brahmo Samaj, and a close associate of Keshub Chandra Sen. He is best known for his research into the "oriental" aspects of the teachings of Jesus....
has added, “Keshub held his nagar sankirtan with great flags inscribed with theistic mottoes… Vaishnava kirtans had degenerated into mobbish assemblies and it required great moral courage and deep religious compulsion to be able to borrow and reform them.”
Professor of Music
In 1869, Keshub Chunder Sen selected from his missionaries four persons and ordained them as adhypaks or professors of four old religions of the world. Gour Govinda RayGour Govinda Ray
Gour Govinda Ray, Upadhyay, was a notable scholar on Hinduism and a Brahmo missionary. He had edited for forty years Dhamatattva, an official publication of the Brahmo Samaj and assisted Keshub Chunder Sen in the compilation of Slokasangraha, a collection of quotes from different religious...
was made the professor 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...
, Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar was a member of the Hindu reform movement the Brahmo Samaj, and a close associate of Keshub Chandra Sen. He is best known for his research into the "oriental" aspects of the teachings of Jesus....
, the professor of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Aghore Nath Gupta
Aghore Nath Gupta
Aghore Nath Gupta was a great scholar of Buddhism and a preacher of the Brahmo Samaj. He was designated Sadhu after his premature death in recognition of his pious life...
, the professor 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...
and Girish Chandra Sen
Girish Chandra Sen
Girish Chandra Sen , a Brahmo Samaj missionary, was the first person to translate the Qur’an into Bengali language in 1886. It was his finest contribution to Bengali literature.-Early life:...
, the professor of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Subsequently, Trailokya Nath Sanyal was ordained as an adhyapak of music and was known as the singing apostle of the New Dispensation. He was named Chiranjib Sharma by Keshub Chunder Sen.
Personal traits
Sanyal used to live in “Mangabari”, a house adjacent to “Kamal Kutir” in KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Every morning he used to have tea with another Brahmo missionary, Braja Gopal Niyogi and discuss about various matters. Although serious-minded he was a sweet tempered person. His songs and kirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
s not only inspired great people like Keshub Chunder Sen, but also numerous others who were raised to a higher level of divine consciousness. He had given himself a name “Premdan”.
Apart from composing songs, he wrote extensively. Keshub Chunder Sen took part in one of his plays Navabrindavan, illustrating the principles of the New Dispensation. He travelled extensively as a missionary and had many well-wishers and followers throughout the country. He accompanied Keshub Chunder Sen to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
when he went there in 1867 to establish links with the newly established Prarthana Samaj
Prarthana Samaj
Prarthana Samaj, or "Prayer Society" in Sanskrit, was a movement for religious and social reform in Maharashtra based on earlier reform movements and traditions of Maharashtra formed in 1849 by Ram Balkrishna Jaykar and others in Mumbai. It was secret in order to avoid the wrath of the powerful...
.