Majuli’s celibate satradhikar breaks 360-year old tradition to start family life
All the satras however do not practice celibacy, with Mahanta pointing out that it is important for those satras that practice celibacy to preserve and propagate that tradition.
The satradhikar of a 360-year old vaishnavite monastery in the Majuli island in Assam has bid adieu to celibacy and quit to enter into wedlock, thus creating ripples across the state, with some even terming it as a major blow to the tradition and sanctity of the satras.
Haridev Goswami, satradhikar – pontiff – of the Garamur Satra established way back in 1656, walked out of the satra premises on Thursday and set off to his native village, a week after he had made his intentions known by calling a meeting of the managing committee of the satra.
Local reports said even as Goswami left the satra, hundreds of devotees owing allegiance to Garamur Satra gathered there, some to bid him a farewell with tears, and some expressing anguish over the satradhikar allegedly causing damage to the tradition and sanctity of the institution. Quitting brahmacharyya, he will also now return to his original name Ranjan Goswami and get married to Anju Khataniar of Jhanji next Tuesday.
“I have quit as satradhikar. I am now an ordinary devotee of the satra,” Goswami however said, indicating that the sanctity of the satra would have been affected only if he had got married even while he was holding to his position. While traditionally most satras select their satradhikar from among those who join the institution at a very early age – some even at the age of three or four – the 54-year old Goswami had however joined the Garamur satra only when he was around 23.
“It is a fact that the satradhikar’s decision to get into family life has directly hit the centuries-old tradition and sanctity of the satra institution initiated by Srimanta Sankaradeva in the 16th century. The only saving grace is that he has resigned and left the satra to proceed with his personal wish,” said Lila Mahanta, president of Asam Satra Mahasabha, an umbrella body of ove 800 satras in Assam.
All the satras however do not practice celibacy, with Mahanta pointing out that it is important for those satras that practice celibacy to preserve and propagate that tradition. “Not all satras practice celibacy. But those which practice it should be able to maintain and protect that tradition initiated by their founders,” Mahanta said.
Dr Pitambardeva Goswami, satradhikar of Auni-ati Satra, another important satra in Majuli however said it was a personal decision that would not in any way lower the sanctity or image of the Garamur satra. “It would have been different if he had decided to get married even while being in office. He has resigned, and is no longer a satradhikar,” Goswami said.
Satras are Vaishnavite monasteries, which, unlike Buddhist viharas or Hindu maths, go beyond propagating religion and are more centres of traditional performing and fine arts, with 16th century saint-reformer Sankaradeva looking at them as epicenters of socio-economic and cultural activities binding the community. The satriya dance form was recognized as an Indian classical dance form by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.
Source:: Indian Express