Brahmo Samaj

Join in the festival Maghotsava - traditional festival os Brahmos held in the month of January worldwide which are open to people of all religions and denominations.

Read about the liturgy of the Brahmo Samaj its evolution and learn about the prayers for different occassions. Know more about the prayers in other World Religions.

Learn more about the impact of the Brahmo movement which has affected India in the field of culture, society, education and music and its work for the cause of women.

The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj Library has a large number of books - which can now be availed On Demand at a noiminal price. Digitization is underway and we are in the process of modernization,

Send in your contact address / email etc. We wish to make a contact database.

Your feedback is important to us and it will help us to make the site better. If you want to contribute to any section of this site please email us.

Special programme on 242nd Birth Anniversary of Rammohun

To celebrate the 242nd Birth Anniversary of Raja Rammohun Roy - the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj library is arranging a first of a kind programme in the history of the Samaj on 24th May 2014. Dr. David Wilson FSA, the noted art historian from London will join the audience live over the internet and educate us on the plaster bust of Rammohun at the library and the bust of Rammohun made by George Clarke. Dr. John Stevens of SOAS, London will speak on the Life and Works of Raja Rammohun Roy. Prof Goutam Neogi will speak about the history of the library while Prof. Arun Ghosh will speak on Library development. The library newsletter will also be inaugurated in the programme.

A new Book on the portrait bust of Raja Rammohun Roy - by David Wilson

This concise and beautifully illustrated book by David Wilson tells the story of the most important sculpted portrait of Raja Rammohun Roy (probably 1772–1833). The Raja was ‘the greatest creative personality of nineteenth-century India’, a man who became a great celebrity and was fêted by King William IV and members of the Royal Family following his arrival in England in 1831. An exceptionally rare and important ivory bust of the great Indian religious and social reformer, it was carved in London in 1832 by the renowned Benjamin Cheverton with the aid of a mechanical invention. .

Rare ivory bust of Rammohun unveiled in Bristol on 22nd Sep 2013

A previously unknown ivory portrait bust of Indian social reformer Ram Mohan Roy was unveiled by an art historian at the Arnos Vale Cemetery here at a commemoration event to mark the 180th anniversary of his death Sep 27, 1833. The bust was inaugurated by the noted art historian David Wilson. The bust is raised on a Rosso Antico-type marble plinth, the ivory, including turned socle, 11 cm high; 18 cm high overall including marble plinth. It is considered as the best and most accurate three-dimensional likeness of Rammohun Roy. The ivory bust is a replica of a bigger bust by noted English sculptor George Clarke (1796-1842).

Ramanando Bandopadhyay inaugurates book on Upendrakishore

The noted illustrator Sri Ramanando Bandopadhyay inaugurated a book by Upendrakishore Roychowdhury - "Baharatiya Sangeet" - collection of his essays on Indian music at the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj on 12th May 2013. The book has been edited by Debjit Bandopadhyay and published by Sutradhar. The book launch was to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of this versatile Brahmo. The book launch had a galaxy of speakers - Sri Anup Motilal - Director, Rabindra Teertha, spoke on Upendrakishore while the Sr. librarian of Aajkal publications - Sri Debasis Mukhopadhyay spoke on Upendrakishore's pioneering work on printing. Brahmosangeet was sung by Sayan Bandopadhyay.

The phrase Brahmo Samaj literally means the society of the worshippers of the One True God. Brahmo means one who worships Brahma, the Supreme Spirit of the universe and Samaj means a community of men. The Brahmo Samaj, therefore represents a body of men who want to establish the worship of the Supreme Being in spirit as opposed to the prevailing idolatry of the land. The movement was started by Raja Rammohun Roy and his friends by opening a place for public worship on the Chitpore Road in Calcutta, and was duly and publicly inaugurated in January 1830 by the consecration of the first house of prayer, now known as the Adi Brahmo Samaj.

There are not many active Brahmo Samajes in India now - the main activities are centred around Bengal in the East, Mumbai in West, Kakinada in Andhra and New Delhi in the North. As per a thronging congregation - Kolkata tops the list with Mumbai a close second.

Building a replica of the mausoleum of Raja Rammohun Roy at Radhanagar

The 11th of June 2012 witnessed a very important event in the village of Radhanagore. The Radhanagar Raja Rammohun Roy Smriti Raksha Samity had decided to erect a replica of the mausoleum of Raja Rammohun Roy near his birthplace at Radhanagar. The unveling of the plaque was done Sri Arindam Neogi, SDO of Arambagh. The memorial soil for this occasion was brought from Bristol by Sri Anup Kumar Roy, one of the branch descendants of Rammohun Roy, resident of Kaiba village. Incidentally Mr. Roy also carried the soil from Radhanagore and sprinkled it near the mausoleum in Arnos Vale.

Ordinance by West Bengal Government on teacher recruitment

The West Bengal Government has promulgated an Ordinance on 5th September 2012 which will allow schools run by charitable organizations allow recruitment of teachers bypassing the directives of the West Bengal School Service Commission Act, 1997. See the Oridinance at http://www.wbsed.gov.in.

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150th Birth Anniversary of Upendrakishore celebrated

The 150th birth centenary of Upendrakishore Roychowdhury was celebrated on12th May 2012, at the Shivnath Memorial Hall of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj library.

Eloquent tributes were paid by the speakers - Sri Debasish Sen, noted children's writer and close associate of Sandesh and Sri Debasis Mukhopadhyay, Sr. Librarian of Aajkal Publications. The children of Mahila Bahavan also put up a performance.

Interested in joining the Brahmo Samaj?

If you are intersted to join the Brahmo Samaj, you must strictly adhere to its principles. You are advised to go through the Brahmo Dharma and the Creed that is the essence of this religion. Above all you must acknowldge God, the One alone, the Absolute.

You can get in touch with a chapter of the Brahmo Samaj in your locality. If you are UK or Europe based you can contact the London Brahmo Samaj, and in US there are fellow followers who will be happy to help you. Please get in touch with us and we will be happy to guide you to a chapter near you.

Rev. Peronne Boddaert talks of the Significance of Interfaith Dialogue

Rev. Peronne Boddaert of the IARF and board member of the Dutch Interfaith Council gives her views on the Signficance of Interfaith Dialogue and her personal motive on Interfaith activities. We hope to reach out to all like minded communities throughout the world.

NEWS

The noted human rights activist and crusader for social justice Dr. Binayak Sen - a Brahmo by birth, met the members of the Brahmo Sammilan Samaj on 10th July 2011. In an interactive session Dr. Sen spelled out his views on social equality and his work with the poor in Chattisgarh.

Garbo Garnham - the great grand-daughter of Keshub Chunder Sen, writes about her Brahmo roots and the experiences of being born and reared in the UK. A product of two such strong cultures gives her an extar insight into Brahmoism.

The newly refurbished mausoleum of Raja Rammohun Roy was unvelied by the Indian High Commissioner Mr. Sib Sankar Mukherjee on 28th January 2008.

Carla Contractor gives a detailed account on the renovation work of the mausoleum of Raja Rammohun Roy in Arnos Vale cemetry, Bristol.