Assam: Asom Satra Mahasabha’s SOS to Dispur on West Bengal’s Xatras

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: There are many xatras in West Bengal that are in a pitiful condition. The xatras are associated with the memories of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradev, Madhabdev, and Damodardev, the triad of neo-Vaishnavism in Assam, and they had visited some of the xatras at one time or another.

The Asom Satra Mahasabha has now urged the Assam government to rescue the xatras in West Bengal from the pathetic plight under which they have been languishing.

Jitendra Nath Pradhani, the xatradhikar of Sri Sri Ramraikuthi Satra situated at Satrasal in the Dhubri district at the juncture of the Assam-Bangladesh-West Bengal borders, is the president of the Satra Mahasabha.

Speaking to The Sentinel, Pradhani said, "Madhupur Satra is known to all, but there are also many xatras in West Bengal that are not so famous. Some of the xatras were established by the Mahapurush, and some were founded by their followers. Except for Madhupur Satra, the rest are not in good condition, both in their infrastructure as well as their financial situation. Due to the socio-political scenario of West Bengal, many xatras became defunct, and these were later revived to some extent in the distant past. These xatras also do not derive any financial support from the West Bengal government. Only Madhupur Satra gets a minimum level of support from that government. As the memories of the great Mahapurush are preserved by these xatras, it becomes the responsibility of Assam to lend a helping hand for their revival. Some devotees from Assam visit these xatras and make some offerings, but these are not adequate in maintaining the xatras. So, we appeal to the Assam government to send a team of representatives to these xatras to gather first-hand information and work out a financial package for revival of their former glory."

The lesser-known xatras in West Bengal, according to Pradhani, are Bhanukumari Satra, Haripur Satra, Salbari Satra, Kakotkuta Satra, Bheladanga Satra, Baikunthapur Satra, and Teestapaar Satra in Coochbehar; Mauricebari Satra and Srirampur Satra in Alipurduar; and Amguri Satra, Sankar-Madhabdev Satra, and Sowkuti Satra in Jalpaiguri.

Significantly, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradev, Madhabdev, Damodardev, and Puroshattam Thakur, the grandson of Srimanta Sankaradev, all passed away in Coochbehar and nearby areas in West Bengal.

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