Preaching of Mahpurush Srimanta Sankardev did not demand
diversification towards various religious practices that involved rigorous
observation, costly religious act, worship of multiple demigods and idol
worship. His methodology of devotion was based entirely only on one sole God
from which the entire universe came to existence with observation to all his
incarnation on earth to bestow benevolence and spread humanitarianprinciples to abolish sin. Sankardev set this
universal principle of God through his own supernatural exemplification.
According to his established preaching there is none above one God known as
Vishnu ( Sri Hari) from whom originated all beings as well as Maya ( illusion
that pervades us from knowing God so that we remain engrossed in life
activities as plant, animal and human) in order to expand his creation.
The sole purpose of establishing his dharma (based on principles
of God’s universal law) was to influence the people to concentrate on Vishnu only
to help bring integration between diverse communities with harmony and help progress
towards life. He took the giant step to bring development in the present cultural
activities with religious touch to help associate its theme with various
background people. The mission of Sankardev was found through the expression of
drama (Bhauna), prayer and procession with divine chanting to spread theessence of
Bhagavad in simplified manner to capture the interest of the lower class people
to the upper grade ones. Since the Assamese
society had diverse communities that followed different lifestyles and varied
languages so the best way he found to unite them वास by capturing their senses
through colorful expression of Bhauna (drama about Krishna life story). Bhauna was
first introduced by Sankardev in India that still rules in Assam pompously.
Apart from it Sankardev highlighted the glorification of God through humanitarian
service and creative activities.
It was not that Sankardev had forgotten his mission to
reform the society by getting again engrossed in family life but he kept
discovering new ideas to establish his new humanitarian act. After getting
partially rid off his family responsibilities Sankardev was at the height of
lord’s devotion and establishing righteous preaching that elevates one’s life
to the higher context of divine status where one could find in direct
connection with God without any rigorous religious act. He kept himself deeply
engrossed in lord’s service and prayer. Praising God’s benevolence through
chant, preaching and bhauna (mythological drama with implementation of real
actors to help convey message to the layman in the community) he started to
attract people’s mind to his mission. In this process of reformation Sankardev had
performed a higher religious act of surrender to lone God only without any
deflection to other deities.
He in this context established himself as a firm believer in
Bhagavad Gita without any concentration towards idol worship. Sankardev’s main
believe and preaching was to abstain
from other deity worship for according to him if we serve the root of a tree
which he resembles to God then rest of its parts (like branches, leaves, stems,
flowers, seed and fruit) will naturally get nourished. He considered the other
parts of the tree to demigods and according to him one need not necessarily
entertain one’s mind at their services as it does not meets the requirement of
the root from where the entire energy is generated to help grow the tree fruitfully.
The main preaching of Sankardev was to pour water
at the root then the entire tree will be served. Why simply to pour one’s devotion
to innumerous demigods after serving the main God. In the quest to devote his
mind and soul in God’s (Hari) concentration he started to search a suitable
solitude place nearby his house. In this search he found a place named as a Tambuwani which was
few kilometers from his residence at Alipukhuri. This place Tambuwani had
mythological connection about Krishna and Rukmini’s brief shelter when they had
fled from the marriage that was arranged at Kuntipur.
It was here in
Tambuwani where Sankardev gave creation to Kirtan Ghar (a house of God) where
the precious Bhagavad was placed with honor in a 'Manikut' (a decorative case
like a house). Kirtan Ghar is like a temple but the difference is that here
instead of idol the pious book 'Bhagavad' wasworshipped. The Kirtan Ghar had the
capacity to accommodate more than five to hundred people based on the construction and space area. After constructing it Sankardev
started to devote much of his time there and later started to live nearby it in
a small hut. Sankardev had to do so as it was the peak time of his reformation
act in the society to bridge people of various cultural backgrounds.
This was stated to be his first step to build the Kirtan Ghar
where he could program devotional activities in an engrossed manner. Sankardev
at this stage was highly motivated by the main essence of Hari Kirtan (God’s
sole concept as described in religious scriptures) and its piousness for which
he had even rejected the honor of Bhuyan title that would have bestowed upon
him with highest worldly pleasures that a king deserves. He was rather happy to
be at his new place where he had constructed a Kirtan Ghar at a plot allotted by
his deceased father Kuhumbor.
The original place of Kirtan Ghar which Sankardev had
established is stated now as Shantijan which is located in Nagaon district of
Assam. In this mission of reform in cultural activities of Assam to bring
harmony in the religion conflicted land, Sankardev was joined in by many other people
from his relative side. They equally followed the methods as installed by
Sankardev in his new project of reform where the followers had to surrender
only to Bhagavad without any deflection to other concentration.
Sankardev was looked upon as a Guru rather than as a family
member. In this process Sankardev took to the Guru Akhon (seat of religious head)
to preach and guide people about God’s law as depicted in the holy ‘Bhagavad’.
He helped people to realize life in better perspective out of the illusion.
Gradually his popularity spread to all the regions as the emerge of a new
spiritual reformer who was later graced with highest title as Dharma (law) Guru,
Preacher and Maha Purush (Divine Being) Srimanta Sankardev.
After twelve years of pilgrim tour all over India Sankardev’s
grandmother Kherhuti and other folks of his village were overjoyed by his
sight. Later his grandmother started to think deeply about Sankardev’s lonely
life. She was filled with emotion to see her grandson‘s incomplete life without
a partner. It was an early exit of his wife from his life where there was many
years to go for Sankardev. She thought that Sankardev’s life has become like
the edges of a tree without a proper ground. Pondering about all these grandmother
Kherhuti was quite distressed about his future that how he is going to live his
life and who is going to take care of him at his later stage. Thinking day and
night about all these one day she called many of her elderly members for a meet
to discuss about Sankardev’s future and to help settle his life for the second
time with a new lady named as Kalinadi who belonged to Kasthya family.
In advent of his second marriage Sankardev had four children
from Kalinadi who gave birth to three sons named as Rama Nanda, Kamalalusan and
Harisaran. The fourth child was a girl whose name was Rukmini (alias
Vishnupriya). After his successful second marriage and extension of family
members the relatives thought of appointing him with Bhuyan title. To this
suggestion Sankardev in a polite manner declined it by stating there is no
necessity of offering him with Bhuyan title. For in his twelve years span of nationwide
pilgrim venture to acquire varied knowledge in spiritual context had completely
disillusioned him from materialistic path and wanted to emerge in the spiritual
realm by concentrating on God’s pursuit. He reasoned that he does not want to lose
the real essence of life which he had gained with great difficulty. Sankardev
expressing his position had persuaded them not to force him further and stated
that he is sorry for being unable to make their wish come true.
