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| Harichand Tagore |
Mahamanab Harichand Tagore was born in a farming family of Namah caste on Wednesday, March 11, 1812 (Bengal 1218) in Sofaladanga village of Gopalganj subdivision of Faridpur district of East Bengal.
Harichand Tagore's father's name is Jashomantha Tagore and mother's name is Annapurna. Harichand Tagore's childhood name was Haridas. They were five brothers. Their names were respectively- 1) Krishnadasa, 2) Haridasa, 3) Vaishnavadasa, 4) Gauridasa and 5) Swarupadasa.
Poet Tarakchandra Sarkar wrote a book on the life of Harichand Tagore called Sri Sri Harililamrita. From that book we can know a lot about Harichand Tagore.
Harichand Tagore's father was an ardent Vaishnava ie devotee of Krishna. Some also called him Jashomantha Bairagi. Although their surnames are believed, they received the title of Tagore from everyone for performing daily sadhuseva, Tagore Puja, rituals of Vaishnavism a few years ago.
Since then
everyone knew Jasomanta and his sons as Tagore. That is why they are called Tagore.
Harichand was very adventurous in his childhood. He used to graze cows with Braj, Natu, Viswanath and others as childhood companions. He could not tolerate the Vaishnavas. When the Vaishnavites came home, their father Jasomanta Tagore would disobey them when they asked them to drink Charanamrit and wash their feet. Many times when the Vaishnavites came to their house, they would throw them into the water by hiding them up to the Jhola.
Harichand Tagore's wife's name was Shantibala, whom we call Shantimata. His birthplace was in the village of Jikabari in Faridpur district (present day Bangladesh). His father's name was Lochan Pramanik.
The Harichand Thakurs lived in the zamindari of the zamindar Suryamani Majumdar. Zamindar Suryamani Majumdar took the house of the Thakurs in his own name by issuing a decree in a false case.
Forced, they left Safladanga and took refuge in Sen's house in Ramdia of the same district. From there, he later took refuge in the house of Srivajaram Chowdhury in the neighboring village Orakandi.
Harichand Tagore did not get any chance of formal education. In those days Namajati was called Chandal. As Chandaljati were untouchable they had no right to education. So he could not go to school. Because of which he could not learn education.
Even though he did not know education, he was a keen intelligence and a very talented scholar. His intelligence became apparent to his friends in his childhood. Friends and companions all therefore surrounded him. He would solve all the problems of everyone.
Although not educated in traditional education, he grasped science and rational philosophy with keen intelligence. In his career, he emerged as the emancipator of the deprived masses i.e. fallen people who were exploited by his knowledge and intelligence.
In those days the medical system was not as special as it is now, nor was there so much improvement. The condition of the rural areas was very miserable. There were no doctors in rural areas, especially in villages inhabited by downtrodden people. Ojha's Jharfunk, Kabach-Tavij holding and dependence on God was their only treatment. In this situation, Harichand Thakur took the role of the natural medicine doctor of the village people due to his own intelligence.
He used to give different remedies for different diseases; Also, to increase the morale of the patient, he used to chant the name of Haribol at the patient's house, along with the patient.
As a result of this treatment and naming, most of the diseases were cured due to the mental strengthening of the patient. As a result, he was established as a savior among the villagers. He was regarded as an incarnation of the so-called God to the rural people who were influenced by the Vedic religion of that time.
Harichand Tagore also took a leading role in all kinds of social work for the people of backward society. He led the Nilkuthi Abhiyan of Gopalganj sub-division Jonasur along with the farmers to protest Nilkar sahibs' atrocities against the farmers. He engaged in various jobs at different times to support the family. At one time he was in the oil business.
At one time he traveled from village to village selling various groceries. He improved agriculture by cultivating uncultivated land with the expansion of entrepreneurship and improved scientific methods. By doing all these things, he showed all the backward people the right way to raise their family and build a better life.
Harichand Tagore's real struggle was against the inhuman principles and rules of Vedic religion and Hinduism which created illusions, inequalities and false distinctions, against the religion and scriptures full of illusions - Vedas, Puranas, Manusanghita, etc., to establish rationalism. Standing against those false scriptures, he said, "Even if I get the dog's leftover food, I will eat it." I don't accept ritual toileting.
The way Harichand Tagore used to perform religious ceremonies to the sound of 'Haribol' with his companions, his opponents, especially the Brahmins-Kayasthas, mockingly called them as Matta-Mautya-Matua. Harichand Tagore also accepted the name Matua. He himself said - different community mora matua narrative. Now those who follow the non-vedic ideals of Harichand Tagore are Matuas.
The real purpose of establishing this religion is to unite the superstitious, uneducated, uneducated, degenerate castes and other degenerate races in one religion, to determine the means of attaining perfect peace in a better domestic life, and to establish world-fraternity by abolishing social inequality.
Matuadharma is the religion of action and righteousness, that action is innocent, scientific and praised by saints. Which is actually known as true humanistic religion. The main features of this religion are the principles of truth, equality, love and purity based on action.
Harichand Tagore has given some main instructions for practicing Matua Dharma, they are-
1) Always speak the truth,
2) To give mother knowledge to women,
3) Devotion to parents,
4) Giving love to the world i.e. loving all beings,
5) Non-discrimination,
6) Not to blaspheme anyone,
7) Giving up adornment of external organs,
8) Establishment of Sri Hari Mandir,
9) Beware of conspiracies,
10) Naming with hands and mouth,
11) Praying daily
12) Surrender to God.
Apart from this, he gave many other advices to his devotees at different times.
In Matua Dharma, parents are the main deities. They are the creators. They nurture children and make them human. The first and foremost duty of the child is to serve the parents, to solve their sufferings and grievances immediately.
The definition of God in Matuyadharma is completely different. He who saves is his God.
Salvation means a transition from a degraded state to a better life. And to follow that ideal of God is self-sacrifice to Him. Here Sri Sri Harichand Tagore is the savior of the fallen race, to follow his ideals is self-sacrifice.
There is no place for any imaginary gods and goddesses in Matua religion and there is no provision for worshiping them. But sadly, many Matua people practice various forms of worship in their homes. Next to the portrait of Harichand Tagore, portraits of various gods and goddesses are seen performing worship.
This is not correct at all. Worship of imaginary gods and goddesses is prohibited in Matua Dharma. About this, Guru Chand Tagore, the son of Harichand Tagore and a great man, said - there is no worship for Matua. But the common Matuas are habitually doing this at the instigation of the Brahmins.
The main characteristics of Matua Dharma are truth, love, purity, equality, friendship and honesty, love for all, not to think of anyone as small or inferior, equal freedom, equal rights for all, not looking for any imaginary god but feeling happiness through life service etc.
Matuyadharma largely follows the ancient Sanatanism and Buddhism of India. But even more, it has been made more simple, homely, rational and scientific. Matuyadharma has much in common with the ancient Sanatana Dharma. In the original Sanatan religion, which was based on equality and justice, there was no caste distinction, no one was superior or inferior because of birth. Everyone had equal rights in all matters in the society. Matuadharma is also based on all these. That is why this religion is called Sukla Sanatanadharma.
Harichand Tagore used to preach the simple religion Matua Dharma which he introduced and also advised that education is needed among all for the development of this nation. However, he could not do anything special in his short life for teaching in the environment of the time. But he instructed his son Guru Chand Tagore to complete this incomplete work.
In fact, the introduction of Matuadharma in Brahmanical India is nothing but a religious movement or religious revolution against Vedas, Brahmans, Yagyagna. This is a declaration of war by Harichand Tagore against the separatists of caste, creed, community etc. Each Matua is a soldier in a war in which men and women are equal.
Matuadharma's triangle is a red flag with white borders on three sides. Red means constant struggle for revolution or progress and white means peace. Indeed revolution for peace on the principle of co-existence with equal rights with all. Revolution to establish equality by eliminating untouchability, inequality, superstition, inhumanity and human differences in the society.
Jaydankas, kansars and trumpets are sounded to spread the frenzy to more and more people to announce the victory, like the matua's hand sign.
The main objective of Matua Dharma is to establish equal rights for all people. Harichand also expressed his opinion against the discrimination that exists in the society between men and women. Against women's gates of hell, he said - ideal domestic religion cannot be established by despising women.
Women are the center of the home. The world cannot be imagined without women. Women should be taken along the religious path. That is why he instructed everyone to educate women, give dignity to women and protect their rights.
Harichand Tagore lived only sixty-six years. He passed away in the early hours of March 13, 1878 AD (Bangla 1284). Like his birthday that day was also Wednesday. Before passing away, he entrusted the task of completing his unfinished work to his eldest son, Mahamanava Guruchand Tagore. Guru Chand Tagore followed his father's instructions to the letter with complete devotion.
