Sankardeva

1.Biography of Sankardeva Sankardeva was a great Vaishnava saint, poet, playwright, and social reformer of Assam. He is credited with creating a new form of Vaishnava devotional literature and music known as Vaishnava Padavali and Borgeet, and spreading the Ekasarana Dharma, a faith that champions personal worship of Krishna. He also popularized the use of the Assamese language in religious works. Sankardeva was born in 1449 in the village of Alimganj in present-day Assam. His father was Madhava Mishra, a Vaishnavite scholar, and his mother was Satyavati Devi. At a young age, Sankardeva was married to Lakshmi, the daughter of a Vaishnavite priest. Sankardeva was a deeply religious man and had a great devotion to Krishna. He composed many religious works in Assamese, including Bhakti Ratnakara, Kirtana Ghosa, and Anubhava Mantra. He also wrote plays, such as the popular Nityananda-caritra, which tells the story of Krishna's deputy, Nityananda. In 1515, Sankardeva met a yogi named Vishvambara, who became his guru. Vishvambara taught Sankardeva the importance of bhakti, or devotional worship. Sankardeva was deeply inspired by Vishvambara's teachings and began to spread the Ekasarana Dharma, or "one-ness with Lord Krishna" throughout Assam. Sankardeva's movement was very successful and soon many people in Assam had converted to the Ekasarana Dharma. Sankardeva established monasteries, or satras, where the new converts could live and worship Krishna. He also founded a new form of Vaishnava devotional music known as Borgeet. Sankardeva's movement continued to grow and spread throughout India. In 1568, he met Ramananda, a Vaishnavite saint from Bengal. The two saints had a long discussion about the 2. His Contribution to Assam Sankardeva, a 15th-century religious and social reformer, is a significant figure in the history of Assam. He is credited with helping to spread the Vaishnavite faith in the region and is also considered to be the founder of the Assamese Hindu community. Sankardeva was born in 1449 in a village called Alipukhuri in present-day Assam. His family was part of the Koch community, a group of people who had migrated to Assam from Bengal in the 12th century. Sankardeva's father, Madhava Sharma, was a Sanskrit scholar and his mother, Satyavati Devi, was a religious woman. Sankardeva received a traditional Hindu education and was married at a young age. However, he was unsatisfied with the state of Hinduism in Assam at that time and began to search for a new religious path. In 1477, he met a Vaishnavite saint named Madhavadeva and became a follower of the Vaishnavite faith. Sankardeva began to spread the Vaishnavite faith throughout Assam. He established monasteries (known as satras) where Vaishnavite priests would live and preach. He also composed many religious texts, including the Bhakti Ratnakara, which is still considered to be a key work of Vaishnavite scripture. In addition to his religious work, Sankardeva was also a social reformer. He helped to improve the position of women in Assamese society and worked to end the caste system. He also advocated for the use of the Assamese language, which was not widely spoken at that time. Sankardeva's work had a significant impact on the religious and social life of Assam. He is considered to be the founder of the Assamese Hindu community and his teachings continue to be influential in the region today. 3. His Teachings Sankardeva was a 15th-century Indian polymath who is credited with creating the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam. He was also a poet, playwright, and scholar. His teachings had a profound impact on Assam and the northeastern region of India. Sankardeva's teachings were based on the Vaishnavite tradition, which worships Vishnu as the supreme god. However, he also incorporated elements from other Indian traditions, such as Buddhism and Shankara's Advaita Vedanta. He also synthesized Assamese culture and traditions into his teaching, which helped to create a unique Neo-Vaishnavite movement. Sankardeva's most important teaching was the concept of bhakti, or devotional love for God. He emphasized that everyone, regardless of caste or social status, could attain salvation through bhakti. This teaching was revolutionary in a society that was heavily stratified by caste. Sankardeva also emphasized the importance of the guru-disciple relationship. He believed that the guru was essential for spiritual development and that the disciple should have complete faith in the guru's teachings. The Neo-Vaishnavite movement that Sankardeva founded continues to be an important part of Assamese culture and society. His teachings have also had a lasting impact on the region's religious and spiritual traditions. 4. His Influence on Assamese Society Sankardeva (1449-1568) was a great religious reformer of Assam. He is also regarded as the father of the Vaishnava faith in Assam. He was a great scholar and poet. His literary works include the Borgeets, Neeti Sataka, and Anubadha Chautisaa. He also composed a number of plays, which were very popular in his time. Sankardeva was born into a Brahmin family in Assam. His father was Madhava Mishra and his mother was Kusumavati. He received his early education at home. He later studied under Shree Shree Madhabdev, the great Vaishnava saint of Assam. Sankardeva propagated the Vaishnava faith in Assam. He established the Ekasarana Dharma, which advocated devotion to Lord Krishna. He also founded the Vaishnava monasteries, known as satras. These satras served as centres of learning and worship. Sankardeva was a great social reformer. He advocated equality of all men, regardless of caste or creed. He also advocated widow remarriage and discouraged child marriage. Sankardeva was a great patron of the arts. He composed a number of plays and songs, which are still popular in Assam. His plays are known for their simple yet powerful messages. Sankardeva was a great man who had a profound impact on Assamese society. He was a great scholar, poet, and social reformer. His literary works and plays are still popular in Assam. His messages of equality and social reform are as relevant today as they were in his time.