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• Oct 5, 2022 | Poonam Nath

Today marks the Vaishnava guru Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva's birth anniversary also known as Shankar Janmotsav.

Digital Desk: Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva, the Assamese Vaishnava religion's founder, was born on this day in history. It is customary to commemorate Shankara's birthday on Vijaya Dashami in the month of Ahin.

Different regions of Assam will commemorate the Guru's 574th birthday. The Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva, a Vaishnava master, his birth anniversary is also anointed as Shankar Janmotsav. On Vijaya Dashami of Durga Puja, Srimanta Sankardeva is thought to have been born.

Sankardev's birth anniversary is commemorated in diverse locations of Assam every year during the month of Ahin-Kati. The Assamese Vaishnavas community treats it as a festival and celebrates it with tremendous grandeur. The festival may last three or four days in some locations.

Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva was born in Bardowa, now known as Nagaon district, in 1371 AD and died in 1449 AD.

Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva was born in Bardowa, Nagaon district, in 1371 AD 1449 AD. Sankar was born to Satyasandhya and Kusumbar Shiromani Bhuyan, they both died while Sankardev was a baby. He was raised by his grandmother Khersuti and began his education at the age of twelve, but completed it in a few years due to his exceptional talent. He married Suryavati and practiced grihashrama after finishing his education. Suryavati passed away, having left the only daughter. As a result, Sankaradeva led an ascetic life.

Prasang, Satriya dance performance, Dharma Lochana Sabha, Dihanaam, Bargit, Gayan-Bayan, Nam-Prasang and Bhaona performance, and lantern lighting were all part of the evening programme.

He later met Madhavadeva in Belguri, Dhuahat, which we refer to as the "Monikanchan Connection." This union signalled the start of a revolutionary rise in Assam's religion and literature. As a result, perhaps we can't think of Madhava without thinking of Sankaradeva, and vice versa.

Harichandra Upakhyan, Rukmini Haran Kavya, Kirtan, Gunmala, translations of the Bhagavad Gita's first, second, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth Skandhas (parts), Azamil Upakhyan, Balislan, Nimi Navasindha Sambad, Anadi Patan, Bhakti Pradeep, Gunmala, and Uttarakanda Ramayana are among his works. 

There are also six plays and six Bargits (Patniprasad, Parijat Haran, Ram Vijay, Rukmini Haran, Keli Gopal, and Kaliya Daman).

"Kirtan is the best example of the establishment of Mahapurusha poetry in Vaishnava literature." Shravan and kirtan are the two most important types of devotion in the Shankari religion. The 'Gunmala' is another short piece written in the Kushumala rhythm.