Sattra Mahasabha urges Assam government to protect erosion-affected xatra in Barpeta

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Erosion by the Brahmaputra threatens the existence of the Baithaputa Xatra established by Vaishnavite saint Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhabdeva at Baghbor in the Barpeta district. A team of the Asom Sattra Mahasabha visited the Baithaputa Xatra recently and after observing the vulnerable condition of this decades-old xatra, has made a fervent appeal to the Assam Government to immediately take measures to protect the xatra from erosion, else the Baithaputa Xatra, replete with the memories of Sri Sri Madhabdeva, will be submerged by the Brahmaputra.

Talking to The Sentinel, Asom Sattra Mahasabha general secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta said, “Majority of the people who inhabit the Baghbor area are Muslims. There are 33 Hindu families with around 150 members. These people are keeping the Xattriya culture alive. With the help of public donations they are looking after the maintenance of the xatra.

“For the past few years, erosion has been posing a serious threat to the Baithaputa Xatra. In fact, in one part of the xatra, the river is hardly 20-25 metres away. The government must give attention to the Baithaputa Xatra or the day is not far when this xatra will be submerged by the river. Permanent and scientific anti-erosion measures must be implemented soon to protect the xatra.”

Interestingly, there is an earthen lamp in the Baithaputa Xatra which has been burning since 1910. According to the Asom Sattra Mahasabha, Vaishnavite saint Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhabdeva, while on his return journey to Assam during the 16th century, had stopped at a river ghat at Solongatari village near Baghbar in the Barpeta district. He had tied his boat and laid down his oar. He lit an earthen lamp. Seeing the earthen lamp, the villagers gathered. The Vaishnavite saint had then told the villagers to continue the tradition of lighting lamps. Later, the Baithaputa Xatra was established near the place where Sri Sri Madhabdeva had tied his boat.

The Asom Sattra Mahasabha has welcomed the move of the Assam Government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to establish a Srimanta Sankardev Chair at the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies of the University. The Mahasabha said that the government should take steps in a phased manner to establish a chair in the name of Srimanta Sankardev in other universities as well.

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