Pre-Sankardev Era in Assamese Literature

Pre-Sankardev Era in Assamese Literature

• The period before the advent of the Assamese Vaishnava saint and scholar, Srimanta Sankardeva, is known as the pre-Sankardev era.

• Hem Saraswati was a notable poet during the pre-Sankardev era.

• Hem Saraswati is known for his exceptional contributions to Assamese poetry.

• One key characteristic of the pre-Sankardev era of Assamese literature is its strong influence from Sanskrit literature and religious texts.

• Poets of the 14th century were inspired by themes of love, war, and religious devotion, drawing heavily from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

• Pre-Sankardev poets like Hem Saraswati and Madhav Kandali used Sanskrit literature and religious texts as their primary sources of inspiration.

• Hem Saraswati wrote two notable poems: Har-Goury Sangbad and Dhola-Sen

• The Har-Goury Sangbad contains 11 chapters and 247 verses.

• Hem Saraswati resided in the Kamrup region, a significant area in Assamese history and culture.

• The Jayadrath Vadha portion of the Mahabharata was translated into Assamese by Hem Saraswati.

• Haribar Bipra was another prominent poet of the pre-Sankardev era, known for his three significant poems:

  • Usha-Harana (Abduction of Usha)
  • Nilamata (A chronicle of the history of the Kamarupa region)
  • Bhairava (A poem on the Hindu deity Bhairava)

• King Bhramaranga offered patronage to Madhav Kandali for his literary work.

• Madhav Kandali famously translated the Sanskrit epic Ramayana into Assamese, creating the Kiratarjuna version, now a significant text in Assamese literature.

• Haribar Bipra is considered the last known poet of the pre-Sankardev era.

Explore the rich contributions of poets during the pre-Sankardev era of Assamese literature, particularly focusing on Hem Saraswati. Learn about the influences of Sanskrit literature and the key themes in the works of poets like Hem Saraswati and Madhav Kandali. This quiz will test your knowledge on their notable poems and the literary context of 14th-century Assam.