Bhagavat of Sankardeva
Encyclopedia
The Bhagavat of Sankardeva is the Assamese
adaptation of the Bhagavata Purana
made by Srimanta Sankardeva
in 15th-16th century in the regions that form present-day Assam
and Cooch Behar
. Though the major portions of the work was transcreated by Sankardeva, few other writers from that period contributed to the remaining sections.
This book is revered and forms the central religious text for the followers of Sankardeva (Mahapuruxiya Dharma
). The text is not a literal translation from the original Sanskrit
into the vernacular
but it is an adaptation to the local milieu in language and content.
From among these sections, Book X, locally called the daxama, is particularly popular among the Mahapuruxiya dharma
works, next only to kirtan ghoxa (Barman 1999, p 122). Sankardev's translations of Book IX are believed to be lost.
The other transcreators are:
was rendered into Assamese
words and idioms of the time by Sankardeva, but it was not a verbatim translation. He intentionally left out some sections and summarized or elaborated others, to fit the situation in Assam. He replaced the name of the tribes and flowers by those found in Assam, for instance, thus specifically targeting the local populace. More significantly, whereas the original looks down upon the shudra and kaivarta castes (Bhagatava 12/3/25), Sankardeva extols them, envisaging a radically different social order not based on the traditional varna system. Some of the more abstruse philosophical parts were summarized and rendered so that the common people in Assam could understand them .
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
adaptation of the Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
made by Srimanta Sankardeva
Srimanta Sankardeva
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva , was the greatest Assamese saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer and a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India...
in 15th-16th century in the regions that form present-day Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar is the district headquarters and the largest city of Cooch Behar District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and located at . Cooch Behar is the only planned town in North Bengal region with remnants of royal heritage...
. Though the major portions of the work was transcreated by Sankardeva, few other writers from that period contributed to the remaining sections.
This book is revered and forms the central religious text for the followers of Sankardeva (Mahapuruxiya Dharma
Mahapuruxiya dharma
Ekasarana Dharma is a monotheistic religion founded and propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. Most of the adherents of this religion today live in the Indian state of Assam...
). The text is not a literal translation from the original Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
into the vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
but it is an adaptation to the local milieu in language and content.
Sankardeva's transcreation
Srimanta Sankardeva transcreated the different sections of the original Bhagavata Purana at different times of his life. They are :- In the Bara Bhuyan territory
- Book VI (Ajamilopakhayana part)
- Book VIII (Amrta-manthana part)
- In the Koch kingdom
- Book I
- Book II
- Book VII (Bali chalana part)
- Book X (Adi part)
- Book XI
- Book XII
From among these sections, Book X, locally called the daxama, is particularly popular among the Mahapuruxiya dharma
Mahapuruxiya dharma
Ekasarana Dharma is a monotheistic religion founded and propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. Most of the adherents of this religion today live in the Indian state of Assam...
works, next only to kirtan ghoxa (Barman 1999, p 122). Sankardev's translations of Book IX are believed to be lost.
The other transcreators are:
- Book IV Ananta Kandali, Aniruddha Kavi, Gopal Charan Dvija
- Book V Aniruddha Kavi
- Book VII Kesava Das
- Book IX Kesava Das
- Book X Ananta Kandali (Seh part)
Differences from the original
The original, which was written in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
was rendered into Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
words and idioms of the time by Sankardeva, but it was not a verbatim translation. He intentionally left out some sections and summarized or elaborated others, to fit the situation in Assam. He replaced the name of the tribes and flowers by those found in Assam, for instance, thus specifically targeting the local populace. More significantly, whereas the original looks down upon the shudra and kaivarta castes (Bhagatava 12/3/25), Sankardeva extols them, envisaging a radically different social order not based on the traditional varna system. Some of the more abstruse philosophical parts were summarized and rendered so that the common people in Assam could understand them .