Ceremonial observance of Srimanta Sankardev’s death
SILCHAR, September 4: The ceremonial observance of the death day of Srimanta Sankardev will be held in a serene and sacred manner under the aegis of ‘Namghar’ here on Saturday in the Rajiv Bhavan. On this occasion, Kurusandhya, an epic written by the great saint–sage, would be staged with the participation of the local artistes. It would be enlivened by religious discourses on the life and achievements of Srimanta Sankardev. For a successful presentation of the drama, a sub committee has been formed with Kul Kamal Dutta, Achyutkrishna Bora, and others. This was informed by Pankaj Pratim Bairagi, secretary, Celebration Committee. Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Gokul Mohan Hazarika, is the president of the Committee. An advisory body consisting of DIG, BSF, Umesh Chandra Hazarika, SP, Diganta Bora, ADC, SK Das, among others has been formed.
Srimanta Sankardev, was a 15th–16th century Assamese polymath: a saint–scholar, poet, playwright, social–religious reformer and a figure of importance in the cultural and religious history of Assam. He is widely credited with building on past cultural relics and devising new forms of music (Borgeet), theatrical performance (Ankia Naat, Bhaona), dance (Sattriya), literary language (Brajavali). Besides, he has left an extensive literary oeuvre of trans–created scriptures (Bhagavat of Sankardev), poetry and theological works written in Sanskrit, Assamese and Brajavali. He started, Ekasarana dharma also called neo–Vaishnavite movement, influenced two medieval kingdoms–––Koch and the Ahom. And the assembly of devotees he initiated evolved into Sattras over time which continue to be important socio–religious institutions in Assam and to a lesser extent in North Bengal.
Sankardev inspired the Bhakti movement in Assam just as Guru Nanak, Ramananda, Kabir, Basava and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired it elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent. His influence spread even to some kingdoms as the Mottock Kingdom founded by Bharat Singha, and consolidated by Sarbananda Singha in the latter 18th century endorsed his teachings. His literary and artistic contributions are living traditions in Assam today. The religion he preached is practised by a large population, and Sattras (monasteries) that he and his followers established continue to flourish and sustain his legacy.
Source: The Sentinel 05.09.2013
