গঙ্গাধৰ

Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva (1449-1568) saint-scholar, playwright,social-religious reformer, is a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India. Sankaradeva was born into the Shiromani (chief) Baro-Bhuyans family, near Bordowa in Nagaon in a village called Ali-pukhuri. He began attending the tol or chatrasaal(school) of the renowned scholar Mahendra Kandali at the age of twelve and soon wrote his first verses: karatalakamala kamaladalanayana | His literary works, we can divide in Six part as (1) Transliteration- Bhagavat (Book VI, VIII, I, II, VII, X, XI, XII; IX not available), Ramayana (uttarakanda). (2) Poetic works (kavya)- Harischandra-upakhyana, Rukmini-harana, Ajamilopakhyana, Bali-chalana Kurukshetra-yatra, Amrta-manthana. (3) Drama (Naat)- Patni-prasada, Kalia-damana, Keli-gopala, Rukmini-harana, Parijata-harana, Ram-vijay.(4) Songs - Borgeet, Bhatima (5) NamPrasang- Kirtana-ghosha, Gunamala.(6) Bhakti Theory- Bhakati-pradipa, Bhakti Ratnakara. Sattriya dance, that Sankaradeva first conceived and developed and which was later preserved for centuries by the sattras, is now among the classical dance forms of India.Thus, in 1568, after leading a most eventful life dedicated to enlighten humanity; the Mahapurusha passed away - within six months of his stay at Bheladonga -at the remarkable age of 120 years.