01Mahamati Prannath
Prannath was born Mehraj Thakur at Jamnagar in 1618, and became the disciple of Devchandra, who taught devotion to Shri Krishna in the form of the eternal Brahma-dham. He travelled widely, to Arabia, Delhi and the Deccan, speaking to Hindus and Muslims alike, and his teaching was gathered into the Kuljam Swaroop, also called the Tartam Sagar, in Gujarati, Hindustani, Sindhi and other tongues. In the 1680s he came to Bundelkhand. Chhatrasal became his disciple, and Prannath blessed his rule and his fight against Mughal power. He spent his last years at Panna and took samadhi here in 1694.
02The temple and Sharad Purnima
The temple compound holds the Gummatji, the domed shrine over Prannath’s seat, and the Bangalaji and other halls, built in a blend of Bundela and Mughal forms with domes, arches and lotus finials; the Pranamis date its completion to 1692. Worship is of the Kuljam Swaroop and of Shri Krishna as the beloved of the soul, with no idol in the inner sanctum. The great festival is Sharad Purnima, when Pranamis from Gujarat, Nepal, Bundelkhand and the diaspora gather for the night of the raas, and the town is full for a week.
The life of this place
- 1618Mehraj Thakur, later Mahamati Prannath, is born at Jamnagar.
- 1692 (tradition)The temple at Panna is completed.
- 1694Prannath takes samadhi at Panna.
In the centre of Panna town; Sharad Purnima (October) is the busiest and most beautiful time.
