Mahanubhava (also known as Jai Krishni Pantha) refers to Krishnaite Hindu denomination in India that was founded by Sarvadnya Shri Chakradhar Swami (or Shri Chakradhara Swami), an ascetic and philosopher who is considered as a reincarnation of Krishna by his devotees[1][2][3] Some sources list the founders as Chakrapani (Chāngadeva Rāuḷ) and Govinda Prabhu (Gunḍama Rāuḷ) with Shree Chakradhara Swami as the first "apostle" and propagator of Mahanubhava Pantha.
According to the Mahanubhava Philosophy, there are 4 permanent realities in the universe which are Paramesvara (god), Jiva (soul), Devata (deities and supernatural beings) and Prapancha (world).
All Devata are subject to Paramesvara (supreme god) and they help him to create material world with Maya as their main contributor.
Mahanubhava philosophy states that only Paramesvara can give Moksha (ultimate salvation from the cycle of birth and death) to every living creature in the material world.
The essential concept to be included in the reverence for 5 incarnations is memorising the several aspects of them, i.e. name, appearance or form, activities, deeds, words spoken by them (Shruti), memories about them (Smriti) and blessings given by them.
Mahanubhava followers also do Smarana (remembrance) of the five incarnations including incidents and objects related to their lives as well as the places connected with them.
Mahanubhava followers visit pilgrimage sites like Ruddhipur (Ridhapur), Jalicha dev, Domegram, Paithan, Mahur, Phaltan and Panchaleshwar.
Notes and references Sources Development of Mahanubhava philosophy may have started in the 12th century during the lifetime of Chakrapani Prabhu.
Chakradhar Swami officially described it in a well-integrated manner in the latter half of the 13th century[6] Mahanubhava literature generally comprises rhetoric and commentaries.
Mahanubhavas authored numerous treatise that describe about the 5 incarnations of god, they compiled various hagiographies and wrote memoirs about the history of the sect.
Mahanubhava Marathi literature covered various literary forms like anecdotes, allegories, ballads, prayers, hymns, verses as well as chants.
Apart from Lilacharitra, Keshavaraja Suri (Keshiraja Vyasa) also known as Kesobas, collected Chakradhara's aphoristic Vachana or actually spoken words, known as Siddhanta Sutrapatha.
Nagadevacharya as the first chief acharya of Sampradaya, encouraged many of his disciples and companions to compose treatise on the teachings of Sarvajna Chakradhara.
A Gujarati acharya called Gurjara Shivabas compiled 3 commentaries on Siddhanta Sutrapatha during the 15th century; their names are Acharasthala, Vicharasthala and Lakshanasthala.
Songobas (Sangapala), nephew of Gurjara Shivabas wrote Anvayasthala describing the history of Mahanubhava tradition till his era with the help of Siddhante Haribas.
Chalhana, one of the most prominent Mahanubhava writers of 15th century wrote the masterpieces like Sattvanuvada, Jnanaprakasha and Shastrasambodhini Tika.
Anantamuni Karanjkar aka Aemuni, who was from Kavishwar Amnaya (lineage) composed most celebrated Vruddhachara (reminiscences) of Sampradaya.
A Muslim acharya named Shahmuni wrote a treatise called Siddhantabodha in the 18th century for elucidating the principles of Mahanubhava philosophy.
Nagraj Vyas, Vidhichandra Sharma and Gaurswami are some of the important Mahanubhava writers of North India during the medieval age.
Mahanubhava poets have written numerous prayers and psalms devoted to the Pancha Krishna Avatara (5 incarnations) in Marathi, Sanskrit and other languages.
[4] Acharya Munivyasa established many temples and shrines of Mahanubhava Sampradaya in Maharashtra during the early 15th century.
He left his former faith, entered in Mahanubhava Sampradaya and became disciple of Tapasvini Mhalaisa from Kumar Amnaya.
It's recorded in texts like Kumar Vansaval by Raghava Kavi and Paithancha Vruddhachara that Bahmani Sultan Ahmed Shah Wali provided financial support to Munivyasa for constructing the shrines.
Mahanubhava Pantha followers worship Lord Krishna and other 4 gods namely Dattatreya, Chakrapani, Govinda Prabhu and Sarvajna Shri Chakradhara.
Krishnaraj aka Krishnamuni, a Punjabi trader of Khatri caste from Kot Sarang, was the first preacher of Mahanubhava Pantha in Northern India.
Mahanubhavas had set up many temples, mathas, pathashalas in Punjab, Upper Doab, Kangra, Kashmir, Northwest Frontiers and as far as Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan.
Still the major cities in North India like Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Jammu, Ambala, Saharanpur, Meerut, Solan etc.
Mahanubhava temples are also located at the important holy sites related to Krishna such as Dvaraka, Mathura, and Kurukshetra.