-Uzzal Kanti Barua
The name of His Excellency Mahasanghanayak Sri Saddharmabhanak Visudhananda Mahatha is like a bright star to the Bengali Buddhist community. In line with the identity of Buddhism and the community in Bangladesh, the name of Mahasanghanayak Sri Saddharmabhanak Visudhananda Mahatha (Varabhante) must be remembered with respect. Because he has dedicated himself to the service of society, Dharma and humanity despite hundreds of adversities. His role as a mantra giver to the neglected and backward Buddhist community of Bangladesh to become self-reliant with self-confidence was unique. His Excellency Mahasanghanayak, realizing the backwardness of the Buddhist community of Bengal in almost all areas compared to other communities, has been determined to move the society forward in a united manner and has served the country, society and Dharma by engaging in a continuous life struggle. Keeping the mantra of non-violence of Buddha in his heart, his 86-year-old radiant life is dedicated to the welfare of many and the happiness of many. The great qualities of his life will remain a source of inspiration for future generations.
The great philanthropist, devoted patriot, philanthropist, benefactor of the poor and neglected people, the embodiment of humanity, the great Karma Yogi, the great Mahasanghanayak Sri Saddharmabhanak Vishudhananda Mahather was born on 23 February 1909, 1315 Bangabhab, in the auspicious hour of dawn in the village of Howarapara in East Gujarat under Raojan Upazila of Chittagong District to his father Karmadhan Barua and mother Chintavati Barua, as the twenty-first representative of the Thaleshwar lineage. He was named Shashank Barua. Shashank received the direct companionship of his paternal Sanghanayak Saugatasurya Agrasar Mahasthavir from childhood, because he lost his father in childhood. As the Sudarshan Vihar, the birthplace of Agrasar Mahasthavira, and the Vihar Kendri Primary School were near their home, Shashank used to come and go to this Vihar and started his primary education there. As soon as he passed his childhood and entered adolescence, that is, while studying in high school, he joined the anti-British and freedom fighters of the country led by Masterda Surya Sen. In fact, from that time onwards, his bright sense of patriotism began. In continuation of that, his bright example of patriotism was set in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
In 1925, the patriarch of the Sangha, Agrasar Mahasthavira, initiated Shashanka into the monastic order at the age of 16, and gave him the name Sri Visudhananda. In 1930, he was ordained under the tutelage of his paternal guru, Agrasar Mahasthavira, and became known as Visudhananda Bhikkhu. He spent his first rainy season in a monastery in Pancharia village of Patiya upazila. In 1931, his paternal guru, Agrasar Mahasthavira, accompanied him during the opening of the doors of the Mulgandh Kuthi Vihara in Sarnath, India, and the reception of the Buddha's ashes. In 1934, he enrolled in the University of Sri Lanka to pursue higher religious education. After studying for two years, he was awarded the title of "Srisaddharmabhanak", the highest title of that university. Shrimat Vishudhananda returned to his homeland in 1936 and dedicated himself to the service of society, righteousness and humanity. In 1938, his role in the Buddhist Mahasammelan and Parivasavrata ceremony held in his native town on the occasion of the 75th birth anniversary of Gurudev Saugatasurya Agrasar Mahasthavira is still vivid and remains a part of history.
In 1943, against the backdrop of famine and epidemic, in 1944, as a sign of his deep resolve to stand by the distressed, destitute and hungry people and as a symbol of his Gurudev's memory, he established the "Agrasar Memorial Society", which over time turned into a huge welfare complex. It is worth mentioning that his paternal Gurudev Saugatasurya Agrasar Mahasthavir passed away in 1944. Along with his worthy disciple Anathapita Upasanghanayak Sugatanananda Mahathera, he expanded the Agrasar Memorial Society into various branches, such as 1. Agrasar Buddhist Orphanage, 2. Agrasar Pali College under the Agrasar Education Project, Agrasar Pali and Culture Testing Center, Agrasar Buddhist Orphanage High School, Agrasar Technical Training Center, Agrasar Girls' College 3. Agrasar Relief and Rehabilitation Project 4. Agrasar Premananda Library 5. Agrasar Printing Press 6. Agrasar Buddhist Dharma Practice, Research and Publication 7. Agrasar Transportation and Communication Project 8. Agrasar Industrial Estate currently has international standard garments under the name of Seagull Garments with the assistance of Japan 9. Agrasar Self-Employment and Loan Project 10. Agrasar Medical Project has now established a modern hospital called Agrasar Health Care. In 1982, Agrasar Memorial Society was recognized as the regional center of Bangladesh of the World Federation of Buddhist Brotherhood (WFB).
After the partition of the country in 1947, when communal clashes broke out, the young monk Deepta Visudhananda Bhikkhu, after going through various ups and downs, united with the aim of establishing a representative organization with the help of senior monks and intellectuals in 1948. As a result, he established the East Pakistan Buddhist Culture Promotion Association in 1949. Shrimat Visudhananda Bhikkhu was nominated as the president and Bangish Barua (Bangish Bhikkhu) as the general secretary. After independence, it was named Bangladesh Buddhist Culture Promotion Association, and Visudhananda Mahather served as the president of the association until his death. In 1950, a government delegation of Pakistani Buddhists joined the World Buddhist Conference held in Sri Lanka with representatives from 29 countries under the leadership of Visudhananda Bhikkhu. At this conference, the "World Buddhist Brotherhood Association" was unanimously formed. Shrimat Visudhananda Bhikkhu was a founding member of the World Buddhist Brotherhood and later nominated as the president of the human rights branch.
In 1952, he was nominated as a member of the selection committee for students admitted to the medical sciences by the then government. In 1953, with the help of the Buddhist community, Bengali Buddhist great scholar Atish Dipankar identified the residence of Srigyan at Vajrayogini in Munshiganj. In 1954, the Buddhist Bhikkhu Mahasabha, the oldest organization of Buddhist monks in this country, anointed him with the title of Mahather, his name was Vishudhananda Mahather, he was better known as "Mahather" abroad and "Barabhante" in the country. With the aim of establishing a Buddhist monastery in Dhaka with the aim of involving the Buddhist community in the international arena, he made many sacrifices for 10 years, maintained contacts with the government, and obtained an allotment of four acres of land in Kamalapur and established Dharmarajik Vihara in 1960. Under which, in 1972, along with his beloved disciple, Sanghanayak Shuddananda Mahathera, he established many philanthropic institutions including Dharmarajik Orphanage and Dharmarajik High School. Which is internationally known as Dharmarajik Mahacomplex. In recognition of his social service and inter-religious activities, the then government awarded the honorable Mahathera the title of "Taghma-e-Khedmat" in 1962 and "Taghma-e-Pakistan" in 1965. He was a member of the Queen Elizabeth Reception Committee in 1961, and during his visit to China as an official representative in 1962, he requested the Chinese government to provide the ashes of Atish Dipankar Shrigyan, the glory of Bengal. As a result, he received the ashes in 1978 and established the Dharmarajik Mahavihara.
In the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he played a unique role in the liberation war by providing various forms of support, including shelter and religious freedom, to the freedom-seeking masses and freedom fighters. Through his international activities, he forced the Pakistani military junta to be lenient towards the Buddhist community and anyone with the identity card he provided was allowed to move freely. Which was known as "Mahathar's Dandi Card" to the Pakistani military junta. His book "Rakta Jhara Dingulo", which contains the brutal barbarity and massacre of the Pakistani occupying forces in the liberation struggle and the background of independence, was presented to the then Prime Minister, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1972. Bangabandhu highly praised Mahathar.
In 1978, he established a monastery in Katalganj to meet the needs of the Buddhist community in the port city of Chittagong and for religious practice. He named it "Nav Pandit Vihar" to keep the 10th century "Pandit Vihar" bright in the memory of future generations.
In 1979, he participated in the World Religious Peace Conference in America and presented a paper on human rights. That year, he was nominated as the Sanghanayak of the Bangladesh Buddhist Bhikkhu Mahasabha and later, due to his performance, he was appointed as the Maha Sanghanayak. In 1980, the then President Ziaur Rahman laid the foundation stone of the Atish Dipankar Memorial under the Dharmarajik and named Mahathera as a non-governmental ambassador of the country.
In the long journey, under the leadership of His Excellency the Great Sanghanayak, he visited the 2500th Parinirvana Jayanti of Buddha in 1956, the royal visit of the King and Queen of Thailand in 1962, the World Religions and Peace Conference in Japan in 1970, and went to Ljubljana, Belgium and New Delhi for world peace. In 1971, he was nominated as the Secretary of the Bangladesh Sanskrit and Pali Education Board, in 1975, the Silver Jubilee of the Bangladesh Buddhist Culture Promotion Association, in 1983, the thousandth birth anniversary of Atish Dipankar, in 1985, the then President Ziaur Rahman visited the Agrasar Mahacomplex, and in that year, when the government formed the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust, he was nominated as its Vice-President. In 1986, he traveled to China, Korea, West Germany, America, and Australia to attend the World Religious Peace Conference and the Asia Religious Peace Conference, and spoke in favor of world peace on BBC and Voice of America. In 1987, at the international conference in Paharpur, world leaders called him the new Atish Dipankar of Bengal. In 1988, the First Lady of France visited the Agrasar Mahacomplex, and in 1989, he presided over the 58th founding anniversary of the Sarnath Mulgandh Kuthi Vihar. In 1992, he established the "Bodhgaya Bangladesh Buddhist Vihar" in Bodh Gaya, India. In addition, he visited more than 150 countries of the world and attended more than 1,000 international conferences and gatherings, highlighting the culture and tradition of his homeland.
Out of respect and gratitude to him, the Bengali Buddhist Society and the Bangladesh Buddhist Culture Promotion Association celebrated his birth anniversary in 1975, his diamond birth anniversary in 1984, his reunion in 1985, and his platinum birth anniversary in 1990 with great ceremonies. The then President, Vice President, Prime Minister, ministers, government representatives of various countries, and international and domestic scholars were present at these events and called the Mahathera the Bodhisattva of this era, the new Atisha of Bengal, and the traveling ambassador with utmost respect. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the promotion of world peace and interfaith harmony, His Excellency Mahasanghanayak Visudhananda Mahath was awarded the “Shanti Suvarna Padak” by the Asian Buddhist Peace Conference Organization in 1990 and the International Peace Prize by the Gandhi Peace Foundation of Norway in 1993. On the occasion of the funeral of Mahasanghanayak in 1995, the Bangladesh Postal Department released a “Memorial Envelope” to preserve the memory of Mahasanghanayak. In 2005, the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh awarded him the second highest national award of the state “Ekushey Padak” (posthumously) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to social service and anointed him with national dignity. In 2007, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp in memory of Mahasanghanayak Visudhananda Mahath as a memorable personality of the world.
Thus, through Karma Yoga, this great saint, born in a short time, transformed into a brilliant astrologer in the form of one of the greatest Sangha Manisha of the 20th century. His Excellency Mahasanghanayak Sri Saddharmabhanak Vishudhananda Mahather passed away on 2 March 1994 at the age of 86, leaving the entire Buddhist community in a sea of sad. On 13 February 1995, the National Funeral Celebration Council conducted his funeral with due religious and national dignity at the Agrasar Complex, his dream address in the village of Janpath, Hoarapara. The Buddhist community of Bengal remains eternally indebted to him.
Author Profile: Secretary, Lions Club of Chittagong Karnaphuli Elite.
