Shri Shri ‘Batadrawa Satra’
Visit
to the birthplace of Shrimanta Sankardeva
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| "The Kirtan Ghar" |
Stepping in the ‘Batadrawa Satra’ which is located at Batadrawa
in Nagaon District of Assam makes me feel like walking into another world, and
the noisy streets of the city suddenly seem to be very far away. Surrounded by
huge and old green trees looking down at visitors, walls are adorned with
colorful paintings depicting gods and demons. Entering the “Naamghar” or
“Kirtanghar” (main prayer hall) where “naam prasanga” was going on, I found an
immediately uplifting and soothing feeling. Many sat and prayed on rugs on the
floor, while others bowed and placed offerings before the “Monikut” (raised platform)
containing the “ Bhagwata Sastra” (Holy Book) without any idols in it. I sat in
a corner cross-legged and felt the positivity of the atmosphere. The entire
area was calm, and the ambiance was pure. The splendor of this place
is further accentuated by the exuberant foliage of majestic trees and
meandering garden.
Inside the premises the major attraction are
“Akashiganga Lake”, a museum or an art gallery preserving age-old manuscripts,
instruments and weapons. An open-air theatre where Traditional dances,
musical recitals, dramas and such other cultural activities are held.
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| Museum or an art gallery |
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| Museum or an art gallery |
“Akashiganga” is a
beautiful lake in the campus of the Batadrawa thaan. The lake got its
name from a nearby waterfall. Akashiganga also finds mention as a
"pithasthan" (a holy place associated with Shakti cult) in the Kalika
Puran. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the lake by the Akashiganga waterfall. The
site also offers a view of the Brahmaputra River from a distance.
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| "Akashiganga" Lake View |
Batadrawa
(also Bordowa) is the birthplace of Sankardeva, the greatest Vaishnava saint
who is considered as the father of Assamese culture. A center of Vaishnava art
and culture, this shrine is held in high veneration. Srimanta Sankardeva was a
great scholar and literary genius. His eminent literary creation is the
“Kirton-Ghosa”, an early Assamese poetical work. In “Gunamala” he had
cryptically described the manifold qualities of Lord Krishna in a day to
impress the Koch King Naranarayana. For most of his works, Srimanta Sankardeva
used the Assamese language of the period so the lay person could read and
understand them. But for dramatic effect in his songs and dramas he used
Brajavali, an artificial mixture of Braj language and Assamese. His magnum opus
is his Kirtana-ghosha containing narrative verses in praise of Lord
Krishna and meant for community singing.
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| Dol-mandir |
The
Dol utsav, a Hindu festival that is celebrated in the day of Holi, On that
occasion thousands of devotees visits “Doll -Mandir” at Batadrava. During this
festival the devotees visit the shrine and offer colors (Holi) to the feet of
Idol. The head of the family observes fast and prays to Lord Krishna and
Agnidev. After all the traditional rituals are over, he smears Krishna’s idol
with gulal and offers “bhog” to both Krishna and Agnidev. People purchase sweets
and distribute each other on this festival. Dol-Purnima, the festival of colour
is celebrated with great festivity and joy. On this day, people come out
wearing pure white clothes. Certainly there are perennial rituals attached to
Holi, the first is smearing of colored powder on each other, and throwing
colored and scented water at each time
Finally,
a worth visit to the ‘Batadrawa Satra’ great Assamese Religious place and a
must visit for every assamese, God and the Gods are not a psychological
product of the Hindu religious mind. They are far older than the universe and
are the fountainheads of its galactic energies, shining stars and sunlit
planets. They are loving overseers and custodians of the cosmos, earth and
mankind.
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