Sankardev’s Divine Form Of 'Vishnu' To Sangkha

During this phase of establishing new preaching to reform the earlier version of religious  aspects in Assam to develop its culture to bridge various communities Sankardev had spend much of his time in isolation to dedicate himself in reading and writing of scriptures in a hut near to his Tambuwani 'Kirton Ghar' or 'Nam Ghar'. At that time there was a notorious Muslim person named as Snagkha who loved to make fun of the Brahmins. For this class of Hindu group thinks his class to be of untouchable category as they intake beef. He used to wait for an opportunity by hiding himself in a loation from where the Brahmins use to pass whenever they use to come closer he is use to pounce upon them. This act of Sangkha use to make the Brahmins go wary for being made impure. In this way he had made people go for bathe for innumerous time particularly those group who bears the concept of untouchability. Once his eyes fell on Sankardev and he thought of playing the same prank with him when he comes out of his hut where he often spends time. So he waited outside his hut but when he was not coing out for a long time his curiosity went far ahead to know what he was doing inside. He staretd to peep from a hole through the bamboo walled hut and he saw Sankardev in a stting posture infront of his writing table. Next within an instance Sankadev’s image changed to a four handed being who started doing multiple jobs while concentrating over the scripture on the table. It was actually the four limbed form of Vishnu that Sangkha saw and was shocked to find in him in such strange form. Perspiration ran down all over his body while devotion filled his heart for the divine personality and he rushed at his feet to pray who he was then Sankardev gave his divne identification. After this instance with him Sangkha felt remoresed of his act and he pleaded to take him in his religious circuit. For which he is ready to abide by his rule. This was the first case where a Muslim man who is particularly from a different religious background became a transformed person by Sankardev’s grace. This story about Sangkha when fell on to the topmost disciple of Sankardev known as Madhav Dev then he felt sad that he was Sankardev's primary person who is so much attached to him. But his Guru never revealed this identity to him that he wanted to relish. This supernatural divine view of Sankardev which only rare one had the privilege to have it was a quite an unusual case that mere person like Sangkha was blessed.

Sankardev’s Essential Essence in ‘Nava Dharma’

Essence of Sankardev’s ‘Nava Dharma’ that was earlier mentioned was based on four aspects like Nam (chanting), Dev (divinity), Guru (Master) and Bhakt (Devotee). For this reason these four aspects are considered as the four pillars of Bahkti Marg (devotional path). Through this four aspects one can  gain Bakti Marg (devotional path) that eventually will help open one’s door to Gods realm. Specifically ‘Nam’ is to mean chanting of lord’s name or singing his hymns in his praise. ‘Dev’ means divine aspects of Godliness. ‘Guru’ is to mean one who opens door to God’s realm in true manner. ‘Bhakt’ is to mean one who surrenders to lord Vishnu. One who perfects in all these four aspects is certified to be called as a pure Vaisnav. After  being appointed as Vaisnav then one should abide by certain things like Ahimsa (non-violence), benevolence towards all creatures and follow the path of truth. Usually in many religions there is always class differentiation where here there is nothing like that. Here one need not concentrate in any other practices to purify oneself. In this dharma of Guru Sankardev there is no differentiation of class where only one’s true intention is observed before appointing him or her into this religious circuit.

Sankardev's Deviation For Modification

In this sanctified holy observation of ‘Nam Dharma’ there is nothing else except to keep in observation to devote oneself to the lord. Strangely in an unusual case of Sankardev’s life it is found that his past genres were stated to be believer of demigods, especially the goddess of power as well as Shiva (the destroyer of God’s creation). They followed the hardcore rituals that were observed for various demigods by placing image or idol in front.

In this rituals animal sacrifice was an integral part of it. Sankardev was greatly disappointed by this unpleasant act and was completely against this traditional religious bent of worshipping. In observation to all these religious acts Sankardev separated himself from the hardcore rituals that are against harmony. In  an initiative to make a better world Sankardev took to a challenge to establish a new religious act or reformation of religion where one could achieve God without any penance and rigorous practices.

This reformed religion was observed with no inclination for  demigods or  goddesses nor any sacrificial activity. According to him if there was anyone to follow then that is the sole God of the universe Vishnu. Sankardev had not only great devotion but immense fascination for lord Krishna and loved to keep chanting his name to discard evil impact of Kali Yug (Evil stage of the world where one will indulge in all types darker activities). If here is any righteous act that we can follow in this darker timethen that is through sole devotion to lord Vishnu without any deviation to manifold paths.

For in context with real life where in an institute one is benefited under the master’s direction would not find the same privilege from  other  associates. Similarly in God’s kingdom the same principle follows. Observance of this technique helps us not only to seek the truth but also enables to partake in God’s world in the fullest manner.

Sankardev's Main Souce Of Origination To Establish His 'Nam Dharma'

The main  source from which Sankardev derived to create the culture of Vaisnavism was from the source ‘Vaikunth Srimad Bhagavad’. From this scripture he received poignant knowledge about universal fact which is rooted to one source known  as Vishnu. Sankardev realized through the scripture that Vishnu’s power remains to be the sole essence in the expansion of his creation (the universe) through his supernatural power known as Maya or illusion. These universal bodies are in the regulatory of the implemented laws of mankind and nature under Vishnu’s direction.

This scripture was in the hands of a pious Brahman named as Jagdish Misra who was an  ace scholar from which Sankardev derived to establish Vaisnavism in  a very simplest manner that could be absorbed even in the mind of the layman. It was in  a strange dream Jagdish Mishra saw lord Vishnu instructing him to read out valuable essence of his book ‘Vaikunth Srimad Bhagavad’ to Sankardev. For this reason Misra came in search of Sankardev in Kamrup capital  as he was not available at his home town in Alipukhuri but at Gang Mu named place. Misra meet Sankardev at Gang Mu and expressed his desire to read out the precious essence of his scripture to him.

The strange part of Misra was that he took his last breath after reading out the complete version of the scripture. Exactly on the particular time of his completion in reading out the Srimad Bhagavad to Sankardev on the very spot Misra’s soul parted from his body. After his demise Sankardev took the scripture as a valuable asset and started to give dimension o Vishnu Bhakti path that was split into nine categories. For this reason Sankardev’s preaching was named as Bhagavati Nava(Nine) Vaishnav Dharama.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The idea of préci writing was far developed during Sankardev’s time for it was he who first developed the concept of bringing the mammoth size of Bhagavad into a tiny piece of a 'Namghukha'. To give exemplification of this mammoth task he had appointed his topmost intelligent disciple Madhav Deb to do the job. But then Madhav Deb after long days of ponder was unable to give image to his impossible task of entering an  elephant into the hole of a needle that is giving massive Bhagavad Gita to a min booklet shape.

Seeing at Madhav Deb’s pitiful sight of failure after extensive effort the Guru addressed him not to struggle hard to find the idea as he will guide him to cream out the actual essence of the large scripture that will be later stated as the fertilized version  as ‘Namghukha’ by which reading one need not have to beat around the bush about what primarily God wants from his devotees. This small booklet type ‘Namghukha’ was written in the style for laymen understanding without introducing difficult terms of Sanskrit language. One following this 'Nam Dharma' ritually with devotion one can gain insight of about God's realm  and relish his power. It is futile to follow this scripture without devotional essence.