Assam government would set up Naamghars (Vaishnavite Monasteries) at all places where the 15th-century saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva Sankardeva had spent at least one night during his journey from Batradava (Assam) to Cooch Behar (West Bengal).
The government is also planning to introduce a special bus service under ASTC covering those places for the benefit of pilgrims.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made this announcement while attending the open session of the 91st annual session of Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha at Naharkatia in Dibrugarh district on February 27.
Sarma said that the state government would provide Rs 6 crore per annum to Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva University to meet the expenses for the salary of its employees. The CM also announced to provide a fund of Rs 1 crore for setting up a Naamghar at the place where the open session is being held at Naharkatia.
The chief minister said that the thought of Sankardeva brings into mind the days of medieval India. The great saint was a multi-faceted spiritual guru of the 15th and 16th century and was a great soul who infused nationalistic fervour among the Assamese people. He transformed the cultural and social landscape of Assam and with insightful thoughts of Vedanta philosophy unified the Assamese society.
He is aptly the father of the Assamese society and his contributions have been evaluated from different points of view across all ages as a religious guru, social reformer, philosopher and cultural connoisseur.
“Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva was a great Indian and the greatest Assamese. In the 15th century, Sankardeva set the foundation of a united Assamese society while serving the holy land of India,” Sarma said.
“Spearheading a decisive front in the life of the Assamese community, Sankardeva infused a new lease of life to Sanatana Dharma through Ek Saran Naam Dharma. The Spiritual reformer strengthened the Sanatana civilization using the resources of the Veda and Upanishads and gave unique dimensions to the spiritual and cultural life of the Assamese people.”
Sarma further said that Sankardeva through his cultural and spiritual philosophy reflected universal humanism. He said that the Assamese society in the medieval period was not united and Sankardeva gave a new boost to unity through spiritualism and culture.
