Jyotipal Mahathero was a Bangladeshi Buddhist monk. He was the 10th ''

Sangharaja Sangharaja (Pāli: ''sangha'' religious community + ''raja'' ruler, king, or prince) is the title given in many Theravada Buddhist countries to a senior monk who is the titular head either of a monastic fraternity ( nikaya), or of the ''Sangha'' t ...

'' (supreme patriarch) of Buddhists in Bangladesh.

Early life

Mahathero was born on 5 January 1914 in Kemtali,

Laksam Upazila Laksam ( bn, লাকসাম) is an upazila of Comilla District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Laksam is widely known as the birthplace of Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani. History Laksam was made into an upazila in 1983. On 6 April ...

Comilla District Comilla District, officially known as Cumilla District, is a district of Bangladesh located about 100 kilometres south east of Dhaka. Comilla is bordered by Brahmanbaria and Narayanganj districts to the north, Noakhali and Feni districts to t ...

. His father's name was Chandramoni Singh and his mother's name was Draupadi Bala Singh.

Career

Mahathero was initiated into Shramanya Dharma in 1933 at the age of 15. He became a monk in 1937. He acquired proficient knowledge of Pali language, literature, etc. at Pahartali Mahamuni Pali College, Calcutta and Nalanda Vidya Bhavana. He was proficient in Bengali, Hindi, Pali, English and Sanskrit languages. Mahathero is the founder of many charitable organizations, such as Boys 'High School in 1991, Chittagong University Peace Pagoda in 1982, Girls' High School (now College), Orphanage, etc. Mahathero was granted the title of World Citizen by the United Nations in 1995. He received the title of Epitome Master from Nalanda Vidya Bhavana. He was the ''

'', the highest religious guru of Bangladeshi Buddhists. He is the 10th religious guru of Buddhists in Bangladesh. He was awarded the title of 'Aggamhadharmjoti Kadhwaj' by the Government of Myanmar. His temple is named after him 'Sangharaj Jyoti: Pal Mahath's Buddhist Mahavihara Complex.

Death and legacy

Mahathero died on 12 April 2002, at the age of 92. He was buried with full state honors for his contribution to the

Bangladesh Liberation war The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...

. He received the Ekushey Padak in 2010 and the

Independence Day Award The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by t ...

(posthumously) in 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahathero, Jyotipal People from Comilla District 2002 deaths 1914 births Recipients of the Independence Day Award Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Bangladeshi Buddhist monks Buddhist writers Bengali writers 20th-century Buddhist monks