GUWAHATI, Sept 6 � Srimanta Sankardeva brought about a tremendous change in the then society of Assam preaching monistic ideals. He had brought about big change in the State's socio-cultural and economic areas with his reformist approach.
The contributions of Sankardeva should be assessed against the backdrop of the socio-cultural and political situation of his time, that is 15 th century AD, taking into consideration the subsequent developments taking place in the State.
This was the observation made by former Asom Sattra Mahasabha president Bhadra Krishna Goswami. He was speaking at a religious discourse organized by the Varkari Shikshan Samstha at Devachi Alandi Tal, Rajgurunagar, Pune recently.
Goswami, the Sattradhikar of the Jakai Sattra, Charing in Sivasagar district, who was speaking at the Pune function as a guest of honour, said that Srimanta Sankardeva worked for the spiritual uplift of mankind.
Sankardeva needs to be recognized as a great religious and social reformer of his time, Goswami said. He also presented a comparison between Srimanta Sankardeva�s ideals propounded over 200 years before the teachings of Jynaneswar Maharaj, the founder of the Varkari Vaishnava Parampara. This Parampara is based on the teachings of the Srimad Geeta and Srimad Bhagawat and its ideal is dualistic, contrary to the monist ideals of the Neo-Vaishnavism taught by Srimanta Sankardeva, Goswami said.
The function was presided over by president of the Varkari Shikshan Samstha HBP Viuhalbuva. Goswami said that he noticed similarity between the religious prayers offered by the followers of the Varkari Parampara and the Neo-Vaishnavism of Assam.
