Holy Pilgrimage of Sankardev to Puri
By : Paban Kumar Kalita
Mahapurush Sankardev, the great Vaishnava saint and multifaceted genius of Assam is also very well known among the scholars of Orissa. In Oresa barnana section of his “Kirtan Ghosha”, Sankardev has described about the mythological origin of the image of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra in Jagannatha temple, the rituals and festivals in the temple and also about the outcome of singing the glory of Lord Jagannatha and taking Mahaprasada in details. The Jagannatha culture has spread great influence on the religion, culture and literature as well as folklore of Assam. Even illiterate women specially in rural area sing songs composed on Lord Jagannatha. Sankardev who was born in the year 1449 in a village called Bordua had visited Puri twice though Dinanath Bez Baruah in his book "Bar Charita" has mentioned that Sankardev had visited Puri three times. The Detailed account of his pilgrimage has been recorded in the “Guru Charita Katha”, Biographical account of Assamese Vaisnava Saint compiled by his disciples. Dr Ram Chandra Mishra, noted Oriya scholar and writer while mentioning Sankar Dev as one of the great devotees of Lord Jagannath writes -Lord Jagannath was his light and inspiration for life. Sankardev not only accepted Jagannatha as his deity for worship, he also carried over the cultural heritage of Orissa to Assam. He was a true devotee of Lord Jagannatha and a lover of Orissa and Assam when Bhakti Cult flourished in different parts of the country. During his visit to Puri, Sanakardev was cordially received by Pandas of Jagannatha temple. Prof. H. K. Satpathy, ex-Vice Chancellor, Sri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwa Vidyalaya, Puri observes “it is admitted fact that Sankardev had come to Orissa and particularly to Puri, the sacred abode of Lord Jagannath and that had made a tremendous effect on the cultural, spiritual and religious atmosphere of the then state of Orissa for which a lot of followers and admirers were created.”
The evidence of his remark is found in a poetic biography of Sankardeva written by Kavi Govinda Nayak of Puri in Oriya mixed Vrajaboli language. Poet Govinda Nayak was one of the Court scholars of Gajapati King Divya Singha Dev. This biography was written in palm leaves in the 37th reigning year of king, which was published with Assamese transliteration in the year 2005. The detailed description of Sankardev's
life and his visit to Puri is found in the book. It was mentioned in this book that Sankardev had cordial relations with Atibadi Jagannatha Das, Sishu Ananata Das and Achyuta of Pancha Shakha. The Gajapati King Pratap Rudra Dev also showed him respect offering turban and valuable gifts. Some of the miracles releated with Sankardev during his visit are also described in the book. Biographers of Sankardev have written that it was Jagannath Mishra of Puri, following the order of lord Jagannatha came to Bordoa to hand over a copy of Bhagawata with the commentary of Sridhara Swami to Sankardev. Eminent Assamese scholar Dr Satyendra
Nath Sarma writes "It is not unlikely that Sankardev might have received spiritual initiation from some Vaishnava Saints at Puri where he spent more than a year".
Dr Jyotshna Rout in her Assamese book
“Oriya Aru Asomiya Sanskriti Aru Samannayar Keitiman Dish” writes, “Mahapurush Sankardev realised the glory of Bada Oriya Matha and Bhagawat Ghar set up by Atibadi Jagannath Das as Sankardev stayed a long period at Puri and was involved in propagating Vaisnava religion. Keeping the memory of Sankardev’s holy pilgrimage to Puri the Sankardev Sanskriti Samaj Puri has constructed a beautiful Namghar with fully accommodated guest house at Puri. The Assam Panda family also tries to keep alive the close relations between the two states. Recently an Assam Jatri Nivas is also constructed near the west gate of the Jagannatha Temple.
Paban Kumar Kalita is a press correspondent of the
Assam Tribune and lives at Hazarikapara, Sipajhar :
Darrang (Assam).
Mahapurush Sankardev, the great Vaishnava saint and multifaceted genius of Assam is also very well known among the scholars of Orissa. In Oresa barnana section of his “Kirtan Ghosha”, Sankardev has described about the mythological origin of the image of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra in Jagannatha temple, the rituals and festivals in the temple and also about the outcome of singing the glory of Lord Jagannatha and taking Mahaprasada in details. The Jagannatha culture has spread great influence on the religion, culture and literature as well as folklore of Assam. Even illiterate women specially in rural area sing songs composed on Lord Jagannatha. Sankardev who was born in the year 1449 in a village called Bordua had visited Puri twice though Dinanath Bez Baruah in his book "Bar Charita" has mentioned that Sankardev had visited Puri three times. The Detailed account of his pilgrimage has been recorded in the “Guru Charita Katha”, Biographical account of Assamese Vaisnava Saint compiled by his disciples. Dr Ram Chandra Mishra, noted Oriya scholar and writer while mentioning Sankar Dev as one of the great devotees of Lord Jagannath writes -Lord Jagannath was his light and inspiration for life. Sankardev not only accepted Jagannatha as his deity for worship, he also carried over the cultural heritage of Orissa to Assam. He was a true devotee of Lord Jagannatha and a lover of Orissa and Assam when Bhakti Cult flourished in different parts of the country. During his visit to Puri, Sanakardev was cordially received by Pandas of Jagannatha temple. Prof. H. K. Satpathy, ex-Vice Chancellor, Sri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwa Vidyalaya, Puri observes “it is admitted fact that Sankardev had come to Orissa and particularly to Puri, the sacred abode of Lord Jagannath and that had made a tremendous effect on the cultural, spiritual and religious atmosphere of the then state of Orissa for which a lot of followers and admirers were created.”
The evidence of his remark is found in a poetic biography of Sankardeva written by Kavi Govinda Nayak of Puri in Oriya mixed Vrajaboli language. Poet Govinda Nayak was one of the Court scholars of Gajapati King Divya Singha Dev. This biography was written in palm leaves in the 37th reigning year of king, which was published with Assamese transliteration in the year 2005. The detailed description of Sankardev's
life and his visit to Puri is found in the book. It was mentioned in this book that Sankardev had cordial relations with Atibadi Jagannatha Das, Sishu Ananata Das and Achyuta of Pancha Shakha. The Gajapati King Pratap Rudra Dev also showed him respect offering turban and valuable gifts. Some of the miracles releated with Sankardev during his visit are also described in the book. Biographers of Sankardev have written that it was Jagannath Mishra of Puri, following the order of lord Jagannatha came to Bordoa to hand over a copy of Bhagawata with the commentary of Sridhara Swami to Sankardev. Eminent Assamese scholar Dr Satyendra
Nath Sarma writes "It is not unlikely that Sankardev might have received spiritual initiation from some Vaishnava Saints at Puri where he spent more than a year".
Dr Jyotshna Rout in her Assamese book
“Oriya Aru Asomiya Sanskriti Aru Samannayar Keitiman Dish” writes, “Mahapurush Sankardev realised the glory of Bada Oriya Matha and Bhagawat Ghar set up by Atibadi Jagannath Das as Sankardev stayed a long period at Puri and was involved in propagating Vaisnava religion. Keeping the memory of Sankardev’s holy pilgrimage to Puri the Sankardev Sanskriti Samaj Puri has constructed a beautiful Namghar with fully accommodated guest house at Puri. The Assam Panda family also tries to keep alive the close relations between the two states. Recently an Assam Jatri Nivas is also constructed near the west gate of the Jagannatha Temple.
Paban Kumar Kalita is a press correspondent of the
Assam Tribune and lives at Hazarikapara, Sipajhar :
Darrang (Assam).
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