A reflection on Rajarshi Bhagyachandra's contribution to Vaishnavite culture and religion

Dr. K. Sobita Devi *

Meidingu Chingthangkhomba (1763-1798 A.D.), popularly known as Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Maharaj in Manipur's history, was not only a great conqueror, ruler and statesman, but also a deeply religious soul and a genius in the arts.

The king founded the image of Lord Krishna and dedicated the first ever performance of Maharas leela on the basis of the 10th book of Shrimad Bhagavat at the historic Langthabal Kunja with his daughter Vimbavati (Shija Laioibi) taking the lead role of Radha on the full moon night of Mera lunar month in 1779 A.D. The king created three forms of the Raas Leela, namely, Maharas, Vasanta Raas and Kunja Raas, as well as the Achouba bhangi pareng which is an indispensable part of all Raas performances in Manipur.

Accounts of how the Manipur king, Rajarshi Bhagyachandra popularized Vaishnavite culture and religion in Manipur and Bengal are few and far between, and we are truly ignorant of the great contributions of this king.

In the later part of his reign, Bhagyachandra Maharaj spent much of his time in devotion to the Lord. He made pilgrimages to places associated with Vaishnavite religion and culture, such as Nabadwip and Murshidabad in Bengal along with his daughter Vimbavati and around 800 of his subjects.

In those days, worship of Hindu gods were done clandestinely for fear of reprisal from the Muslim rulers of Bengal. The king sought to have a glimpse of the idol of Shree Shree Nabadwipchandra, but as it was hidden he had a hard time locating it. Finally, he found the idol being worshiped secretly by Pitambar Goswami at his home in Maljapara. The king was unhappy that the idol could not be worshiped openly. At the behest of Bhagyachandra Maharaj, the idols of Shree Shree Nabadwipchandra and Shree Shree Anumahaprabhu which were being worshiped clandestinely at Maljapara, were re-installed at Nabadwip with dignity. The ruler of Nadia principality, king Iswarchandra, the grandson of Maharaja Krishnachandra, allowed the worship of the god Shree Gouranga.

From Nabadwip the king traveled to Murshidabad with his daughter Vimbabati to attend the grand Shreepat Kheturi Sammelan (1682 Sakabda) where orthodox Vaishnavites from all over the country converged for the important Hindu congregation.

For his singular achievement in conquering the hearts of the people of Bengal with his religious temperament and his contribution to the promotion of Vaishnavite religion, the congregation attending the Sammelan honoured Bhagyachandra Maharaja by confering the Joypatra (merituous honour) 'Khunti' and acknowledging him as Raja Rishi (later shortening to 'Rajarshi" ) - the Saint King. This plaque of honour is still being preserved at Govindabari in Jiyaganj, Murshidabad district. The king dedicated a temple at Gambhilaghat village on the banks of the Ganga river. The following words are inscribed on the plaque –

"Shree Shree Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Goura
Shre Ganga Narayan Chakravorty Thakur Manipur Maharaja Shree Bhagyachandra Singh Dikshya grahan Khuntipradan Raas Purnima Sakabda 1682"

Till today, an annual ritual of worshiping the Khunti plaque as symbolic of the reverence to Rajarshi Bhagyachandra is observed as part of the Kheturi Sammelan (now referred as Kheturi Utsav). In 2014, the Utsav was held on the 20th of Mera lunar month.

An important aspect of the contribution of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra to Manipuri culture is the way in which the king inspired bis people towards a sense of belonging to the cultural heritage. The projection of his daughter Vimbavati in the lead role of Radha in the first ever performance of Raas Leela, her dedication to a religious life and the subsequent emergence of the Rasheswori Pala exclusively for women of the royal family led to the dignity of the Sankritana, and later on, an emancipation of women in the socio-religious life of the Manipuris.

According to the scholar, Leimapokpam Damodar Singh, "The period from the reign of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra up to Maharaja Chandrakriti (1850-1886) is the most well defined for the blossoming of Chaitanya school of Vaishnavism. During this period the Narottam parivar of Chaitanya was established as State Religion in Manipur. The introduction of Gouriya Vaishnavism was centered around the personality of this king from whom an intense energy was emanated which absorbed a whole nation into a matrix of religious ferment and cultural renaissance".