HT Correspondent
MORIGAON, Aug 27: The Mahapurusha Sreemat Dev Damudar Sangha has issued a scathing response to the recent wave of abusive criticism directed at the sattradhikar of Sri Sri Dakhinpat Giha Swami Satra, Janardan Deba Goswami, for wearing yellow attire for a brief period. In a strongly worded statement delivered to the media, the Sangha’s central Sanghadhikar, Pranab Kumar Sharma, and Sanghadhikarta, Harshavardhan Kashyap, lashed out at certain organisations and institutions in Assam that had allegedly lambasted the sattradhikar without truly understanding the essence of the satra.
In their statement, both Sanghadhikar Pranab Kumar Sharma and Sanghadhikarta Harshavardhan Kashyap denounced the critics, asserting that their lack of familiarity with the founder’s philosophy and the culture of the satra was evident. The Sangha officials claimed that some factions were attempting to suppress the genuine customs of the satra, which had been practiced since its inception by the priests, who adorned traditional yellow garments in adherence to the philosophical principles of Vedic Vaishnavism.
Highlighting the historical significance of the saint Dev Damodar Dev’s Vedic Vaishnav approach, the Sangha stated that the rituals and practices established by him were embraced by all Vedic Vaishnavies of Assam at the time. The officials rebuked those attempting to politicise the matter by misrepresenting the sattradhikar’s choice of attire as saffron, and called for an end to such misleading narratives.
The Sangha further emphasised that the customs and traditions rooted in Vedic Vaishnav philosophy would continue to prevail in the satra of Mahapurush Dev Damodar Dev and the founder, Bhatta Dev. They vehemently rejected any form of interference by external parties, asserting that they had no authority to speak on behalf of the Sattriya tradition.
In a firm warning, the Sangha officials stated that if necessary, they would resort to legal action against those disseminating false information about the satra’s heritage despite multiple clarifications in the past. The statement also questioned Deka Sattriya Gautam Pathak, urging him to clarify his association with satra, than, or kirtan ghar.
The Sangha demanded that those who had criticised sattradhikar Janardan Dev Goswami for promoting the Dev Damodar philosophy should engage in a thorough study and profound analysis of Assam’s Sattriya culture and traditions. The statement underlined the Sangha’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the legacy of the satra and maintaining the authenticity of its practices.
