Gopaldev

Gopaldev (Assamese: গোপালদেৱ; 1540–1611 AD) was a prominent poet, dramatist and chief preacher of the Vaishnava sect in eastern Assam. He was belonged from Bhabanipur, Assam so people called him as Bhabanipuria Gopal Ata.

Gopaldev was born in 1540 AD at Nazira in Sivasagar district of Assam to father Kameswar and mother Bajrangi. Their family later shifted to Bhabanipur in Kamrup. He did his early education there under a Brahmin scholar. Gopaldev had a son Kamaleswardev and daughter Padmapriya. Padmapriya was said to be the first female Assamese poet belonging to the 16th century.

As a Vaishnavite guru of Ekasarana Dharma, Gopaldev founded the Kaljhar sattra, about 7 km from Pathsala in Barpeta district and used it as his working place.

Gopaldev was the founder of Kal Samhati satras. Kal Samhati gives importance to total surrender and devotion to guru and accepts him as its one and only God while in other sattras, different idols of lord Vishnu can be found. But in Kal Samhati sattras, there is no idol worshipping. The bhakats (disciples) follow strict religious code in all aspects of their daily life. Use of flower garlands, offering of betel nut and paan and decoration of the offerings are prohibited in Kal Samhati satras. Moreover, fruits are offered to God without cutting the tail and the head portion in contrast to the other sattras and namghars. The offering to God is called saj.

Gopaldev composed some plays like Janmajatra (জন্মযাত্ৰা), Nandutsav (নন্দোত্‍সৱ) and Uddhabjan or Gopi-Uddhab Sambad (গোপী উদ্ধৱ সংবাদ) and Sitar Patal Proves (সীতাৰ পাতাল প্ৰৱেশ) written in old Assamese language.

The birth anniversary of Gopaldev is celebrated in Namghars and Sattras of Assam as Titihi of Gopaldev (গোপালদেৱৰ তিথি). The Government of Assam declares this day as holiday in every year on this occasion.