Mohini Mohun Chatterji: Difference between revisions
Pablo Sender (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Pablo Sender (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Mohini M. Chatterji.jpg|right|150px]] | [[File:Mohini M. Chatterji.jpg|right|150px]] | ||
'''Mohini Mohun Chatterji''' was a Bengali attorney and scholar. He became a [[Chelas|chela]] of | '''Mohini Mohun Chatterji''' (1858 - 1936) was a Bengali attorney and scholar who belonged to a prominent family that for several generations had mediated between [[Hinduism|Hindu]] religious traditions and [[Christianity]].<ref>Diane Sasson, ''Yearning for the New Age'' (Bloomington, IN:Indiana University Press, 2012), 78.</ref> He joined the [[Theosophical Society]] in 1882 and became Assistant Secretary of the Bengal branch. Later that year he became a [[Chelas|chela]] in [[probation]] of the [[Mahâtma]] [[Koot Hoomi]]. He eventually failed as a chela, and resigned from the Theosophical Society in 1887, after only five years of membership. | ||
== Early life and education == | == Early life and education == | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
Mohini became a member of the Bengal Theosophical Society on [[April 16]], 1882. According to [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']], "When [[Henry Steel Olcott|HSO]] opened the first Theosophical Sunday School in Calcutta on [[March 10]], 1883, with 17 boys, Mohini was appointed their teacher".<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.</ref> | Mohini became a member of the Bengal Theosophical Society on [[April 16]], 1882. According to [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']], "When [[Henry Steel Olcott|HSO]] opened the first Theosophical Sunday School in Calcutta on [[March 10]], 1883, with 17 boys, Mohini was appointed their teacher".<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.</ref> | ||
Being a [[chela]] of [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]], he gave evidence to the [[Society for Psychical Research]] concerning the reality of psychic [[phenomena]] at Adyar,<ref>”Chatterji, Mohini Mohun,” ''The Theosophical Year Book, 1938'' (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 172.</ref> in what came to be known as the [[Hodgson Report|Hodgson investigation]]. | |||
Mohini worked as private secretary to H. S. Olcott and accompanied him and [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] on their European tour in 1884: | |||
<blockquote>The purpose of his trip to Europe was seemingly to give the members there some assistance in understanding the Eastern doctrines which had been brought into prominence by [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|APS]] in his book [[Esoteric Buddhism (book)|''Esoteric Buddhism'']]."<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>The purpose of his trip to Europe was seemingly to give the members there some assistance in understanding the Eastern doctrines which had been brought into prominence by [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|APS]] in his book [[Esoteric Buddhism (book)|''Esoteric Buddhism'']]."<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.</ref></blockquote> | ||
From a letter from Mme. Blavatsky to Mr. Sinnett, it would appear that he was going to be used in a similar manner as [[Babaji]] was: | |||
<blockquote>Mohini was sent, and at first won the hearts and poured new life into the L.L. He was spoiled by male and female adulation, by incessant flattery and his own weakness | <blockquote>On February 17th Olcott will probably sail for England on various business, and Mahatma K. H. sends his chela, under the guise of Mohini Mohun Chatterjee, to explain to the London Theosophists of the Secret Section — every or nearly every mooted point and to defend you and your assumptions. You better show Mohini all the Master's letters of a non-private character — saith the Lord, my Boss — so that by knowing all the subjects upon which he wrote to you he might defend your position the more effectually — which you yourself cannot do, not being a regular chela. Do not make the mistake, my dear boss, of taking the Mohini you knew for the Mohini who will come. There is more than one Maya in this world of which neither you nor your friends and critic Maitland is cognisant. The ambassador will be invested with an inner as well as with an outer clothing. Dixit.<ref>A. Trevor Barker, ''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'' Letter No. XXVIII, (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1973), ??.</ref></blockquote> | ||
Mohini was present in London in 1884 when the young German artist [[Hermann Schmiechen]] painted the [[Portraits of the Masters]]. He was described by [[Laura Holloway-Langford|Laura C. Holloway]] as being “nearer the [[Masters of Wisdom|Master]] than all others in the room, not even excepting H.P.B.”<ref> Laura C. Holloway, “The Mahatmas and Their Instruments Part II,” ''The Word'' (New York), July 1912, pp. 200-206, available at The Blavatsky Archives [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway2.htm#The Portraits of the Mahatmas]</ref> However, the adulation he received from some of the European members went to his head and he showed poor judgment on several matters. As Mme. Blavatsky wrote to Mr. Sinnett in March 1886: | |||
<blockquote>Mohini was sent, and at first won the hearts and poured new life into the [[London Lodge|L.L.]] He was spoiled by male and female adulation, by incessant flattery and his own weakness.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 140 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 459.</ref></blockquote> | |||
Mohini resigned from the [[Theosophical Society]] in 1887 and went back to his former home in Calcutta, where he resumed his practice of law. | Mohini resigned from the [[Theosophical Society]] in 1887 and went back to his former home in Calcutta, where he resumed his practice of law. | ||
== | == Writings == | ||
Mohini | Mohini wrote poetry and prose in both English and his native Bengali. | ||
He and [[Laura Holloway-Langford|Mrs. Holloway]] wrote [[Man: Fragments of Forgotten History (book)|''Man: Fragments of Forgotten History'']], published in 1887 under the pseudonym [[Two Chelâs|"Two Chelâs"]].<ref>The complete text is available at [http://www.theosophical.ca/books/ManFragmentsOfAForgottenHistory_MChatterjiLCHolloway.pdf]</ref> | |||
He translated the [[The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom (book)|''The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom'']] of [[Sankaracharya]]. He worked with [[G. R. S. Mead]] in translating the [[Upanishads (book)|Upanishads]] in 1896, using the pseudonym J. C. Chattopadhyaya.<ref>”Chatterji, Mohini Mohun,” ''The Theosophical Year Book, 1938'' (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 172.</ref> | |||
Irish poets [[George William Russell|Æ]] and [[William Butler Yeats|W. B. Yeats]] were acquainted with Mohini, and he was said to have influenced the oriental turn to their writings.'' | Irish poets [[George William Russell|Æ]] and [[William Butler Yeats|W. B. Yeats]] were acquainted with Mohini, and he was said to have influenced the oriental turn to their writings.'' | ||
Revision as of 20:09, 19 April 2013
Mohini Mohun Chatterji (1858 - 1936) was a Bengali attorney and scholar who belonged to a prominent family that for several generations had mediated between Hindu religious traditions and Christianity.[1] He joined the Theosophical Society in 1882 and became Assistant Secretary of the Bengal branch. Later that year he became a chela in probation of the Mahâtma Koot Hoomi. He eventually failed as a chela, and resigned from the Theosophical Society in 1887, after only five years of membership.
Early life and education
Mr. Chatterji, usually known as Mohini, was born in 1858 into a Brahmin family, descended from Hindu reformer Ram Roy.[2] He attended university in Calcutta, and was awarded Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts degrees. His wife was the niece of Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.[3]
Theosophical Society involvement
Mohini became a member of the Bengal Theosophical Society on April 16, 1882. According to Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, "When HSO opened the first Theosophical Sunday School in Calcutta on March 10, 1883, with 17 boys, Mohini was appointed their teacher".[4]
Being a chela of Master K.H., he gave evidence to the Society for Psychical Research concerning the reality of psychic phenomena at Adyar,[5] in what came to be known as the Hodgson investigation.
Mohini worked as private secretary to H. S. Olcott and accompanied him and Mme. Blavatsky on their European tour in 1884:
The purpose of his trip to Europe was seemingly to give the members there some assistance in understanding the Eastern doctrines which had been brought into prominence by APS in his book Esoteric Buddhism."[6]
From a letter from Mme. Blavatsky to Mr. Sinnett, it would appear that he was going to be used in a similar manner as Babaji was:
On February 17th Olcott will probably sail for England on various business, and Mahatma K. H. sends his chela, under the guise of Mohini Mohun Chatterjee, to explain to the London Theosophists of the Secret Section — every or nearly every mooted point and to defend you and your assumptions. You better show Mohini all the Master's letters of a non-private character — saith the Lord, my Boss — so that by knowing all the subjects upon which he wrote to you he might defend your position the more effectually — which you yourself cannot do, not being a regular chela. Do not make the mistake, my dear boss, of taking the Mohini you knew for the Mohini who will come. There is more than one Maya in this world of which neither you nor your friends and critic Maitland is cognisant. The ambassador will be invested with an inner as well as with an outer clothing. Dixit.[7]
Mohini was present in London in 1884 when the young German artist Hermann Schmiechen painted the Portraits of the Masters. He was described by Laura C. Holloway as being “nearer the Master than all others in the room, not even excepting H.P.B.”[8] However, the adulation he received from some of the European members went to his head and he showed poor judgment on several matters. As Mme. Blavatsky wrote to Mr. Sinnett in March 1886:
Mohini was sent, and at first won the hearts and poured new life into the L.L. He was spoiled by male and female adulation, by incessant flattery and his own weakness.[9]
Mohini resigned from the Theosophical Society in 1887 and went back to his former home in Calcutta, where he resumed his practice of law.
Writings
Mohini wrote poetry and prose in both English and his native Bengali.
He and Mrs. Holloway wrote Man: Fragments of Forgotten History, published in 1887 under the pseudonym "Two Chelâs".[10]
He translated the The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom of Sankaracharya. He worked with G. R. S. Mead in translating the Upanishads in 1896, using the pseudonym J. C. Chattopadhyaya.[11]
Irish poets Æ and W. B. Yeats were acquainted with Mohini, and he was said to have influenced the oriental turn to their writings.
Additional writings:
- Viveka-Cūḍāmaṇi. Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1968. Translator.
Later years
Mohini died in February, 1936.
Online resources
Articles
- Mohini Mohun Chatterji at Theosopedia.
- Mohini Mohan Chatterji's Influence on W.B. Yeats by Dr. Suman Singh
Additional resources
See also references in:
- The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett
- A Short History of the Theosophical Society
- Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett
Notes
- ↑ Diane Sasson, Yearning for the New Age (Bloomington, IN:Indiana University Press, 2012), 78.
- ↑ George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.
- ↑ ”Chatterji, Mohini Mohun,” The Theosophical Year Book, 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 172.
- ↑ George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.
- ↑ ”Chatterji, Mohini Mohun,” The Theosophical Year Book, 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 172.
- ↑ George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 223.
- ↑ A. Trevor Barker, The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett Letter No. XXVIII, (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1973), ??.
- ↑ Laura C. Holloway, “The Mahatmas and Their Instruments Part II,” The Word (New York), July 1912, pp. 200-206, available at The Blavatsky Archives Portraits of the Mahatmas
- ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 140 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 459.
- ↑ The complete text is available at [1]
- ↑ ”Chatterji, Mohini Mohun,” The Theosophical Year Book, 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 172.