TULSIDAS
- Full Name: Ram Bola Dubey
- Famous Work: Ramcharitmanas
- Language: Written in Awadhi dialect (spoken in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Ayodhya areas)
- Place of Composition: Banks of River Ganga, Varanasi
- Era: 16th century
- Contemporary of: Mughal Emperor Akbar
- Connection with Court: Believed to have corresponded with Abdurrahim Khan-e-Khanan, son of Bairam Khan
- Contribution:
- Popularised the story of Lord Ram in local dialect
- Made spiritual literature accessible to common people
- Conflict:
- Sanskrit scholars opposed him for bypassing classical language
- Expressed this conflict in his other work Kavitawali
SRIMANTA SANKARDEV
Background
- Born: 1449, Bordowa (now in Nagaon district), Assam
- Early Name: Sankaravara
- Spiritual Awakening: Deeply inspired by the Bhakti movement, Kabir, and Shankaracharya
- Era: 15th–16th century
Philosophy and Movement
- Founder of: Neo-Vaishnavism in Assam
- Core Belief: Devotion (Bhakti) to Lord Krishna
- Reformist Nature:
- Anti-caste
- Advocated women’s participation in religion and culture
Religious & Cultural Contributions
- Ekasarana Dharma:
- “Shelter-in-One” monotheistic Bhakti tradition
- Rejected Vedic ritualism and caste hierarchy
- Focused on Naam, Deva, Guru, Bhakat
- Scriptures: Bhagavat of Sankardev, Kirtan Ghoxa, Naam Ghoxa
- Narayana (Krishna) is worshipped as Supreme Being
- Acknowledges both nirguna and saguna forms of God
Art and Literature
- Borgeet: Devotional songs
- Ankia Naat & Bhaona: Religious dramas
- Sattriya: Classical dance form
- Brajavali: A literary dialect developed by him
Institutions and Architecture
- Sattras: Monastic institutions serving as religious & cultural hubs
- Namghar: Community prayer hall
Denominations (Sanghatis)
After his death, the sect split into four sanghatis:
- Brahma Sanghati – Allowed some Brahminical elements
- Purush Sanghati – Led by his grandsons; emphasized Naam
- Nika Sanghati – Emphasized purity, anti-idol worship, and strict codes
- Kala Sanghati – Focused on Guru, spread among tribal and backward communities
Legacy
- Influenced Ahom and Koch rulers
- Played a role in shaping Assamese identity
- His Bhakti influence in Assam parallels Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, Basava in other regions
