Sankardev

Sankardev Biography

Sankardev was an Assamese polymath who lived in 15^th or 16^th century. His literary and artistic contributions are living traditions in Assam today. He is an important figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam. He is known as a saint, scholar, poet, playwright and social-religious reformer. He devised new forms of music, dance, literature as well as theatrical performance (Ankia Naat, Bhaona). His poetry and theological works written in Sanskrit, Assamese and Brajavali are valuable assets. The Assamese adaptation of the Bhagavata Purana - Bhagavat of Sankardev is his most valuable work. He started Neo-Vaishnavite movement that influenced two medieval kingdoms - Koch and the Ahom kingdoms. Sankardev also inspired the Bhakti movement in Assam and started Mahapuruxiya dharma. He is credited to unifying two kingdoms of Assam - Koch and the Ahom.

He was born into the Shiromani family at Alipukhuri near Bordowa in present-day Nagaon district in 1449. Sankardev belonged to the Kayastha Hindu caste. He lost his parents at a younger age. His grandmother Khersuti was instrumental in raising him during his orphanhood and beyond. After his early education, at the age of 12 he wrote first verses karatala-kamala. He practiced yoga also. He wrote his first work, Harishchandra upakhyan while studying at tol (school). After school, he took his responsibilities as the Shiromani Bhuyan and came to be known as the Dekagiri among his subjects and admirers. He married Suryavati and had a daughter. But she died very soon. He became spiritual inclined and he left for a twelve-year long pilgrimage. On his return from his pilgrimage, he refused to take back the Shiromaniship. He conducted his daughter’s marriage and handed over his responsibilities to son in law.

On his grandmother's insistence, he married Kalindi at the age of 54. Later he moved back to Bordowa and constructed a temple. His contribution to Assamese is immensely huge. His was the first ramayana to be written in a modern Indian language. He infused bhakti into everything he wrote. His magnum opus is his Kirtana-ghosha, praising Krishna and is found in nearly every household in Assam.

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Updated: January 28, 2014