Blessed on the Brahmaputra

From the unreal lead me to the real. From darkness lead me to light. From death lead me to eternal life.'' Love and its divine force ma...

8220;From the unreal lead me to the real. From darkness lead me to light. From death lead me to eternal life.8221; Love and its divine force manifest themselves in many ways. The unconditional surrender gives solace as the soul8217;s longing is selfless. When I authored a book on Srimanta Sankaradeva, the living legend of Assam, there was an intense longing to interact with the divine soul, and, when the 8220;spirit8221; knows your longing it draws you near it. The inner purity connects with the spiritual energy. A friend of mine when he gifted me a few books on the great Saint, Srimanta Sankaradeva, I never thought it would change my life.

Things started happening in Assam8217;s Dhubri district circuit house. I was alone lost in the surroundings of the scenic Brahmaputra, the ever widening chest of the river spoke of its strength and mighty flow, domineering and everlasting like the work of Srimanta Sankaradeva. At four in the morning the heavenly figure of Srimanta Sankaradeva manifested its form and commanded me to go backto Patbausi. My trip to Guwahati got cancelled, and I returned to the abode of Srimanta Sankaradeva, Patbaushi Sattra in Barpetta district. The Sattra is a complex designed by the saint.

The saint had stayed here for over 14 years. The message that awaited me was that I was invited as a guest speaker to speak on Srimanta Sankaradeva. The Patbaushi Sattra in conjunction with the Assam Sahitya Sabha was going to celebrate 550 years of Srimanta Sankaradeva. I was thrilled the spirit had chosen my gift of speech as a mode to communicate. I was then led to 8220;Ganakakuchi Sattra8221;. This was the place where it is said that Srimanta Sankaradeva transferred his powers to Madhavadeva, the saint who succeeded him to his pontifical office. Madhavadeva, a Shiv-bhakt, turned to Vaishnavism after he met Sankaradeva. He remained celibate till his death, and thus left a cult of followers who remained celibate till the very end. Ganakakuchi was the complex where Madhavadeva had stayed for a number of years and the presentpriest, an elderly man, looked after this sattra.

Women were not allowed to enter the 8220;Namghar8221; here and this dejected me, and furthermore the priest did not want to talk. I wandered away from my circle of friends and was taking a round of the Krishna Dhol, when I suddenly felt an astral snake touch my hand and say, look at the Dhol, Krishna is smiling. I turned and looked towards the Dhol, the figure of Krishna sculptured on the Dhol was smiling. I was overjoyed, my depression lifted, and in quick steps I circled the Dhol. I then pleaded with my friends to ask the priest to give an interview. After great persuasion, he agreed. I somehow knew this place.

8220;Did you ever encounter the spirit of Sankaradeva,8221; I asked. He replied: 8220;Yes, one night I was sleeping in the Namghar, Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva came, picked me up and placed me outside the Namghar. They said, don8217;t sleep here.8217; It is after that night that I built my hut outside, and I live here.8221; This happened about 20 years ago. What dress didhe wear, I asked. Was it white? He replied: 8220;Yes, both were dressed in white flowing dresses.8221;

This was the same style of dress I had seen on the spirit in Dhubri. I knew he was telling the truth, we were on the same wavelength. I then hesitatingly questioned, 8220;Does a snake protect this sattra?8221; He looked surprised, and replied: 8220;Yes, you are very lucky if you see it, it sometimes comes here in the night and goes to the Namghar and sleeps on the Krittana book written by Sankaradeva which is worshipped every day.8221;

Another elder confirmed the priest8217;s statement. This was the blessing of the saint, for in days to come I felt the protection of the saint. I felt the eyes of the snake following me wherever I went.