A Forgotten Buddhist Philanthropist from Boṅgabhūmi: The Life and Works of Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō (1865–1927)
Issued Date
2022-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
13363786
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85148896037
Journal Title
Studia Orientalia Slovaca
Volume
21
Issue
2
Start Page
89
End Page
115
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Studia Orientalia Slovaca Vol.21 No.2 (2022) , 89-115
Suggested Citation
Chowdhury S.B. A Forgotten Buddhist Philanthropist from Boṅgabhūmi: The Life and Works of Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō (1865–1927). Studia Orientalia Slovaca Vol.21 No.2 (2022) , 89-115. 115. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/83452
Title
A Forgotten Buddhist Philanthropist from Boṅgabhūmi: The Life and Works of Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō (1865–1927)
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This article outlines the life, legacy, philanthropic contributions, and times of Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō, focusing on his prominence as a well-known Buddhist philanthropist in undivided India and in the wider Bengali Buddhist community of Boṅgabhūmi. It aims to fill a gap in current research by presenting Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō’s contribution to Buddhist transmission. By doing so, this research seeks to shed some light on the life of one of the most significant Buddhist figures in the history of undivided India and Boṅgabhūmi. This study intends to explore, in three separate parts, Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō’s earlier biography, including his spiritual journey, his missionary service in establishing Buddhist institutions, and his insights on educational welfare, as well as an overview of the highlights of his remarkable career. As this article demonstrates, all three of these stages are equally significant turning points in Kṛpāśaraṇa Mahāthērō’s life; and his altruistic contributions to Theravāda Buddhism in Bangladesh and India at different times can be better understood in the context of the corresponding era.