MahaMahopadhyaya Pt Gopinath Kaviraj ji
"Gopinath Kaviraj : a mystic who was probably this century's leading expert on the Shaiva traditions" -From an Interview with Prof Deba Brata Sensharma, Editor of "International Journal of Tantric studies",Asiatica Association, by Maryellen Lo Bosco in Moksha Journal,Summer 1998.
Padam Vibhushan Pt Kaviraj ji was a direct disciple of Sri Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa. Pt Kaviraj ji's spiritual literature in Bengali & Hindi particularly with reference to "Tantra" is well known.
A Great Savant: Mahamahopadhyaya Gopinath Kaviraj by Govind Gopal Mukhopadhyaya
Published by Jagdiswar Pal, Calcutta.
Dr Gopinath Kaviraj, a profound scholar of Indian philosophy, an explorer of the realms of consciousness and a thorough gentleman, was a unique interpreter of Vedic and Tantric wisdom and brought forth the fundamental unity behind the Indian schools of philosophy. His erudition and spiritual proclivities earned him the title "Sachala Vishwanath" — "A living or loving Visvanatha".
Born in a Bengali Brahmin family on December 7, 1887, at Dhamrai, a hamlet in Dhaka district (now in Bangladesh), Gopinath Kaviraj received education at Dhaka, Jaipur and Allahabad from where he earned his master’s degree in Sanskrit in 1913 bagging the first position. He worked as a librarian at Saraswati Bhawan at Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi, and later served as Principal of the same college. During his tenure as librarian he delved into the labyrinths of manuscripts and other unexplored writings and published more than 70 works. After taking voluntary retirement, he undertook academic work besides taking spiritual guidance from Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa of Varanasi, well-known for his supernatural powers.
"What he had learnt at the feet of another great master, Sivaramakinkara Yogatryananda, who had revealed the secrets of the scriptures to him, was now verified through his initiation in yoga by Swami Vishuddhananda," observes the author.
Gopinath Kaviraj received a number of honours for his versatility and wisdom. The British government bestowed on him the title Mahamahopadhyaya in 1934. He was also given the Coronation Medal in 1937. The Indian government honoured him with Padma Vibhushan in 1964. Many Indian universities and cultural organisations of merit recognised his contribution and announced degrees and awards.
REMINISCENCES By Jaideva Singh
I was a regular reader of "Kalyan", a Hindi journal published from Gita Press, Gorakhpur( UP). Kaviraj ji's articles used to appear in "Kalyan". I was greatly impressed with his depth of insight and flashes of original interpretation by reading those articles. Acharya NarendraDeva was a great friend of mine. From him I learned that Kaviraj ji was his classfriend in M.A. I requested him to introduce me to him. He was at that time the Acharya of Kashi Vidhyapitha and was living in Varanasi. I was then a lecturer in D.A.V.College, Kanpur. I came to Banaras in 1937 only to meet Kaviraj ji. Acharya NarendraDev introduced me to him. I was so impressed by his illuminating thought that I finally settled down in Varanasi. I used to go to him everyday in the afternoon and put questions to him on philosophy and Yoga. He used to give luminous exposition of the philosophy of others. I used to sit at his feet along with others in order to listen to his discourses on the Patanjali Yoga and thoughts embedded in Tantraloka, Spanda Karika and others. I feel myself highly indebted to his exposition of Kashmir Saivism. HIs insight to unravel the mystery and clarity of exposition made me a daily visitor to his abode of peace.
Kaviraj ji was an institution. There was not a single branch of Indian philosophy which he had not fully mastered. He was equally at home in Vedanta, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya-yoga, Buddhism, Jainism, Saivagama, Vaishnavagama etc and the Tantras. He had also a thorough knowledge of Sufism and Christian mysticism.
He was not simply an arm chair philosopher, but also a great sadhaka, a great Yogi. He was initiated into Yoga by Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa on 21st Jan, 1918. Since then he practised Yoga himself and rose to be a great yogi himself. It is not easy to characterise his philosophy or yoga. He was a great jyani as well as a bhakta and a yogin. He was chiefly interested in Saiva-Sakta philosophy. Kaviraj ji's vision & samkalpa in the form of Akhanda Mahayoga for the transformation of totality stands firm.
Pt GOPINATH KAVIRAJ By Dr N H Chandrashekara Swami
It is an auspicious occasion to write about the saint and Yogi of India, who has rendered great and valuable contribution to Indian philosophy in general and to Tantra in particular. The author is fortunate to say that he could spend his twenty years with him as antevasi. I fortunately met him in 1954 and then studied under him Darsan Shastra & Shakta philosophy. Being a traditional sadhaka in the Shaiva-agams, I was keenly interested in Shaivism so I could get contact and learnt much from him. Slowly I became so close to him that he showered his blessings in 1964 and I started my sadhana under his guidance. After completing my individual sadhana he initiated me in Akhanda Mahayoga. His dynamic external & internal guidance was there regularly. I could listen to him apparently in my inner world,then I used to discuss with him whatever I received in my sittings. A great Yogi, Kaviraj ji's life was complete in all dimensions. He was the fountainhead of love and compassion. There are many sadhakas who have benefitted by his kind guidance. His whole life was busy with these facts. Day and night he was inspiring and delivering his thoughts among the aspirant souls in different branches of oriental learning. He had a rich fund of knowledge and genuine experiences. He taught the spiritual aspect of Yoga and Tantra according to different levels of the sadhakas. Kaviraj ji's theology on Akhanda MahaYoga is very important and most dynamic. On the one side his gigantic and sharp intellect and on the other his intutional experience both joined together in it.
SHIVRAMA KINKAR YOGATRAYANANDA LINK: "An Interview with Prof DebaBrata Sensharma ,Editor of "International Journal of Tantric studies", Asiatica Association, "by Maryellen Lo Bosco, Moksha Journal, Summer 1998
Kavarajji told me that he got that knowledge when he was a student from one Shivarama Kinkar Yogatrayananda, whom he met in Banaras. Shivarama was a householder who wanted to study the Yoga Sutra, but he could not find a suitable teacher. And he decided, out of a sort of dejection, that he would give up his life. "Such a beautiful scripture," he thought, "And there's no one to teach it." But one early morning after he made this decision, he saw a beautifully illuminated form in his room. He got up from his bed immediately. He was surprised at first and thought he might be dreaming. Then that illumination took the shape of a human being—a RISHI.
That RISHI told him: "You want to study the Yoga Sutra? All right. I am Patanjali. I will teach you." And he brought the book. They just went on turning over the pages. They did not even read it. But he understood it, and he got all that was contained in it—-what we call the secret of Yoga. He got it. And Kavirajji had the good fortune to study the Yoga Sutra with that sadhaka.
(Ref: http://www.santosha.com/moksha/sensharma1.html)
IGNCA:
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts has a unique Library which houses the personal collections of doyens of scholarship, such as, Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Thakur Jaidev Singh, Kaviraj Gopinath, Krishna Kriplani and others. These personal collections are an invaluable treasure for any scholar who wishes to meander through the primary and secondary sources which these scholars used.
(Ref: http://www.ignca.nic.in/bib_0001.htm)
YREC :
"In more recent years, Yoga and Tantra research has been promoted by scholars like Gopinath Kaviraj,..."-"Important Hindu Yoga Researchers and Translators of the 18th to the 20th Century" by Georg Feuerstein, Yoga Research & Education Centre.
(Ref : http://www.yrec.org/yogaresearchers.html)
TANTRA HOMEPAGE :
"Gopinath Kaviraj, a renowned scholar of tantra in the first half of this century, describes the Kalachakra and the Nityas succinctly in the introduction to the Sanskrit edition of Yogini Hridaya. (Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala, 1963):","The Fifteen Nityas Translated by Mike Magee.
(Ref: http://www.hubcom.com/tantric/nitya.htm , www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/tantra)
Akhanda MahaYoga, Dr N H Chandrashekara Swami, NavMundi Asana - A powerful Centre,
Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa, HOME
(e-mail : amvaranasi@yahoo.com)
"Gopinath Kaviraj : a mystic who was probably this century's leading expert on the Shaiva traditions" -From an Interview with Prof Deba Brata Sensharma, Editor of "International Journal of Tantric studies",Asiatica Association, by Maryellen Lo Bosco in Moksha Journal,Summer 1998.
Padam Vibhushan Pt Kaviraj ji was a direct disciple of Sri Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa. Pt Kaviraj ji's spiritual literature in Bengali & Hindi particularly with reference to "Tantra" is well known.
A Great Savant: Mahamahopadhyaya Gopinath Kaviraj by Govind Gopal Mukhopadhyaya
Published by Jagdiswar Pal, Calcutta.
Dr Gopinath Kaviraj, a profound scholar of Indian philosophy, an explorer of the realms of consciousness and a thorough gentleman, was a unique interpreter of Vedic and Tantric wisdom and brought forth the fundamental unity behind the Indian schools of philosophy. His erudition and spiritual proclivities earned him the title "Sachala Vishwanath" — "A living or loving Visvanatha".
Born in a Bengali Brahmin family on December 7, 1887, at Dhamrai, a hamlet in Dhaka district (now in Bangladesh), Gopinath Kaviraj received education at Dhaka, Jaipur and Allahabad from where he earned his master’s degree in Sanskrit in 1913 bagging the first position. He worked as a librarian at Saraswati Bhawan at Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi, and later served as Principal of the same college. During his tenure as librarian he delved into the labyrinths of manuscripts and other unexplored writings and published more than 70 works. After taking voluntary retirement, he undertook academic work besides taking spiritual guidance from Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa of Varanasi, well-known for his supernatural powers.
"What he had learnt at the feet of another great master, Sivaramakinkara Yogatryananda, who had revealed the secrets of the scriptures to him, was now verified through his initiation in yoga by Swami Vishuddhananda," observes the author.
Gopinath Kaviraj received a number of honours for his versatility and wisdom. The British government bestowed on him the title Mahamahopadhyaya in 1934. He was also given the Coronation Medal in 1937. The Indian government honoured him with Padma Vibhushan in 1964. Many Indian universities and cultural organisations of merit recognised his contribution and announced degrees and awards.
REMINISCENCES By Jaideva Singh
I was a regular reader of "Kalyan", a Hindi journal published from Gita Press, Gorakhpur( UP). Kaviraj ji's articles used to appear in "Kalyan". I was greatly impressed with his depth of insight and flashes of original interpretation by reading those articles. Acharya NarendraDeva was a great friend of mine. From him I learned that Kaviraj ji was his classfriend in M.A. I requested him to introduce me to him. He was at that time the Acharya of Kashi Vidhyapitha and was living in Varanasi. I was then a lecturer in D.A.V.College, Kanpur. I came to Banaras in 1937 only to meet Kaviraj ji. Acharya NarendraDev introduced me to him. I was so impressed by his illuminating thought that I finally settled down in Varanasi. I used to go to him everyday in the afternoon and put questions to him on philosophy and Yoga. He used to give luminous exposition of the philosophy of others. I used to sit at his feet along with others in order to listen to his discourses on the Patanjali Yoga and thoughts embedded in Tantraloka, Spanda Karika and others. I feel myself highly indebted to his exposition of Kashmir Saivism. HIs insight to unravel the mystery and clarity of exposition made me a daily visitor to his abode of peace.
Kaviraj ji was an institution. There was not a single branch of Indian philosophy which he had not fully mastered. He was equally at home in Vedanta, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya-yoga, Buddhism, Jainism, Saivagama, Vaishnavagama etc and the Tantras. He had also a thorough knowledge of Sufism and Christian mysticism.
He was not simply an arm chair philosopher, but also a great sadhaka, a great Yogi. He was initiated into Yoga by Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa on 21st Jan, 1918. Since then he practised Yoga himself and rose to be a great yogi himself. It is not easy to characterise his philosophy or yoga. He was a great jyani as well as a bhakta and a yogin. He was chiefly interested in Saiva-Sakta philosophy. Kaviraj ji's vision & samkalpa in the form of Akhanda Mahayoga for the transformation of totality stands firm.
Pt GOPINATH KAVIRAJ By Dr N H Chandrashekara Swami
It is an auspicious occasion to write about the saint and Yogi of India, who has rendered great and valuable contribution to Indian philosophy in general and to Tantra in particular. The author is fortunate to say that he could spend his twenty years with him as antevasi. I fortunately met him in 1954 and then studied under him Darsan Shastra & Shakta philosophy. Being a traditional sadhaka in the Shaiva-agams, I was keenly interested in Shaivism so I could get contact and learnt much from him. Slowly I became so close to him that he showered his blessings in 1964 and I started my sadhana under his guidance. After completing my individual sadhana he initiated me in Akhanda Mahayoga. His dynamic external & internal guidance was there regularly. I could listen to him apparently in my inner world,then I used to discuss with him whatever I received in my sittings. A great Yogi, Kaviraj ji's life was complete in all dimensions. He was the fountainhead of love and compassion. There are many sadhakas who have benefitted by his kind guidance. His whole life was busy with these facts. Day and night he was inspiring and delivering his thoughts among the aspirant souls in different branches of oriental learning. He had a rich fund of knowledge and genuine experiences. He taught the spiritual aspect of Yoga and Tantra according to different levels of the sadhakas. Kaviraj ji's theology on Akhanda MahaYoga is very important and most dynamic. On the one side his gigantic and sharp intellect and on the other his intutional experience both joined together in it.
SHIVRAMA KINKAR YOGATRAYANANDA LINK: "An Interview with Prof DebaBrata Sensharma ,Editor of "International Journal of Tantric studies", Asiatica Association, "by Maryellen Lo Bosco, Moksha Journal, Summer 1998
Kavarajji told me that he got that knowledge when he was a student from one Shivarama Kinkar Yogatrayananda, whom he met in Banaras. Shivarama was a householder who wanted to study the Yoga Sutra, but he could not find a suitable teacher. And he decided, out of a sort of dejection, that he would give up his life. "Such a beautiful scripture," he thought, "And there's no one to teach it." But one early morning after he made this decision, he saw a beautifully illuminated form in his room. He got up from his bed immediately. He was surprised at first and thought he might be dreaming. Then that illumination took the shape of a human being—a RISHI.
That RISHI told him: "You want to study the Yoga Sutra? All right. I am Patanjali. I will teach you." And he brought the book. They just went on turning over the pages. They did not even read it. But he understood it, and he got all that was contained in it—-what we call the secret of Yoga. He got it. And Kavirajji had the good fortune to study the Yoga Sutra with that sadhaka.
(Ref: http://www.santosha.com/moksha/sensharma1.html)
IGNCA:
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts has a unique Library which houses the personal collections of doyens of scholarship, such as, Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Thakur Jaidev Singh, Kaviraj Gopinath, Krishna Kriplani and others. These personal collections are an invaluable treasure for any scholar who wishes to meander through the primary and secondary sources which these scholars used.
(Ref: http://www.ignca.nic.in/bib_0001.htm)
YREC :
"In more recent years, Yoga and Tantra research has been promoted by scholars like Gopinath Kaviraj,..."-"Important Hindu Yoga Researchers and Translators of the 18th to the 20th Century" by Georg Feuerstein, Yoga Research & Education Centre.
(Ref : http://www.yrec.org/yogaresearchers.html)
TANTRA HOMEPAGE :
"Gopinath Kaviraj, a renowned scholar of tantra in the first half of this century, describes the Kalachakra and the Nityas succinctly in the introduction to the Sanskrit edition of Yogini Hridaya. (Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala, 1963):","The Fifteen Nityas Translated by Mike Magee.
(Ref: http://www.hubcom.com/tantric/nitya.htm , www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/tantra)
Akhanda MahaYoga, Dr N H Chandrashekara Swami, NavMundi Asana - A powerful Centre,
Swami Vishuddhananda Paramhamsa, HOME
(e-mail : amvaranasi@yahoo.com)
