Karpatri Maharaj

June 29, 2022

A commemorative postage stamp on Swami Karpatri, a sanyasi from Hindu Dashanami (Order of Swamis) monastic tradition :

Issued by India

Issued on Jun 29, 2022

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Karpatri Maharaj.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure : Shri Anuj
Cancellation cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 201600

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Hari Narayan Ojha

Born on Aug 11, 1907 at Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died on Feb 7, 1982 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

About :

Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj was born on 1907 AD (Samvat 1964 Vikrami) on the second day of Shukla Paksha, in the month of Shravan in Bhatni village of Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh as the son of Smt. Shivrani Devi and Shri Ramnidhi Ojha. His surname was Harinarayan Ojha. Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj received education in the various disciplines of Sanskrit, Grammar, Philosophy, Bhagwat, Nyayashastra and Vedanta. Swami Ji was married to Mahadevi at the age of 16, but after a few years, after getting detached from worldly illusion, he started on the path of public welfare and spirituality in search of knowledge. In 1926 AD, after leaving home and wandering on the banks of the Ganges, he prayed at the feet of Swami Shri Brahmananda Saraswati for initiation of Sanyasa Deeksha. He was instructed to study in Narwar, Madhya Pradesh and thereafter taking Naishthik Brahmacharyavrata, he became Harihara Chaitanya from Padati Harinarayan and after reaching Narwar, he received all the teachings from Shaddarshanacharya Swami Shri Vishweshwarashram Ji within thirteen months. After attaining knowledge, while living in solitude on the banks of the Ganges he did severe penance and also meditated in the cave of Rishikesh Himalayas.
After coming out of deep self-realizing meditative contemplation (Samadhi), he continued to travel and disseminate knowledge. May truth prevail, may unrighteousness be destroyed, may there be goodwill among the living beings, may there be welfare of the world – he spread such knowledge to the people. Paramhansa Harihara Chaitanya got the name of Karpatri as he ate food without using a dish on his hand and he became popular as Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj.
In the year 1931-32, at the age of 24, after receiving due knowledge from Swami Shri Brahmanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj in Kashi, he came to be known as Hariharanand Saraswati and became a complete saint who became famous as “Paramhans Paribrajakacharya 1008 Baba Hariharanand Saraswati Shri Karpatri Ji Maharaj”. In the year 1932, by traveling all over India for the purpose of promoting religion, he awakened spiritual consciousness by interacting extensively with the teachers, scholars and religious lovers and in the year 1932 itself, on the occasion of Haridwar Kumbh, in Haridwar–Rishikesh, he exchanged scholarly thoughts with Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya.
Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj not only gave knowledge to the people in the society through his religious journeys but also wrote books along with the publication of various magazines. His main texts include Sankirtan Mimamsa and Varnashrama Maryada, Samanvaya Samrajya Sanrakshan, Sri Bhagvatatva, Marxism and Ramarajya, Ved ka Swaroop and Pramanya (Form of Vedas and their evidences), Veda Pramanya Mimamsa, Ahmartha and Paramartha Saar, Bhakti Rasarnava, Veda Swaroop Vimarsh, Chaturvarnya Sanskriti Vimarsh, Vichara Piyush, Vedarthparijat, Ramayan Mimamsa etc. He was bestowed honour for many of these books. He was honoured with five thousand rupees by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for his work on Bhakti Rasarnava Granth and five thousand rupees by Hanuman Trust, Calcutta for his work in Ramayana Mimamsa Granth. Considering his erudition, he was honoured with the degree of D.Litt in 1978 by Shri Sampurnanand Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi.
In the year 1940, he founded ‘Dharma Sangh’ and created awareness among the followers of Vedic Sanatan everywhere by undertaking extensive pilgrimages on foot. After establishing Shri Dharmasangh Shiksha Mandal, Kashi, he also established Sanskrit schools at various places under it. He also constituted the ‘Ramrajya Parishad’ and nominated several candidates on its ticket for the elections of 1951 and 1957. Till the end of life, remaining devoid of attachment, egoism and karma-attachment, he continued enthusiastically towards the promotion of Vedic religion culture. He passed away on February 7, 1982 and merged with the great universe.
Text : Referenced from the contents provided by UP Postal Circle.