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.

Sankardev’s Versatile Expression To Bring Harmony And Integrity

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 humanitarian  principles 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 the essence 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.

Sankardev’s New Creation To Give Base To His Reform

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.

Sankardev’s Return Followed With Second marriage

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.