The sacred complex of Billeswar Devalaya (study)
by Rajesh Kakati | 2019 | 72,486 words
This essay studies the sacred complex of Billeswar Devalaya by exploring the historical, cultural, and religious significance of this ancient shrine in Assam (northeastern India). It emphasizes how this temple, also known as Billbeshwar Devaloy, functions as a focal point of faith and tradition for the surrounding communities. The research further ...
Part 1.3 - Material Culture of Belsor Area
The entire area of Belsor fosters the material culture in compatibility with the Devalaya. Information and experiences are vunerable to time. They vanish into oblivion, exposing humanity to the danger of losing its past and may be jeopardizing its future likewise. These are observed by the recollections of elders, healers, midwives, farmers, fishermen, and hunters, within the cultures of the indigenous folks, there's a huge treasure of knowledge.
But the native folks are dying out by being absorbed into the alleged trendy civilization. With the loss of ancient culture, we have a tendency of losing the irreplaceable information in it. As we tend to dig into the history of the material culture of Assam, we tend to discover that this state has contributed vastly to the history of human civilization. Although our history books are silent on this side, there is evidence to prove that a number of the most necessary technological discoveries are created by the inhabitants of early Assam.
Assam is known for manufacturing special and indigenously developed sorts of paper, ink, painting material and innovative strategies to preserve manuscripts and paintings. The concept of laminating paper or book covers is additionally considered associate indigenously developed technology of this region. Srimanta Sankardev, the father of contemporary Assamese society, developed methods to manufacture writing and art materials for script and paintings. Bamboo is omnipresent in Assam’s culture altogether its ancient art and crafts and additionally for building homes and for creating modes of conveyance like boats, carts and palanquins.
Manufacturing of gold and silver ware, bell metal, brass and utensil has been found among the folks of Assam. Gold was found mixed within the sands of the many rivers of Assam. The Sonowal (gold washers) and also the Thengal (silver washers) examined the sand for “chats� to get gold and silver flakes within the silt. They had developed a conventional technology for assortment of gold and silver flakes from the rivers and, at constant time, science of the metals. Literary and epigraphic records testified the abounding fine arts activity in Assam, including several profane and non secular structures of the Kacharis, Koch and Ahom rulers, who had created the fortified cities. Maidams were designed for the burial mounds of the Ahom kings and their
descendants. Some researchers view the substantial alteration of material cultures by the substances and objects imported by current civilization. It is not absolutely incorrect in general sense. But in case of Billeswar Devalaya, the case is something different. The Devalaya very forcefully is standing against such alteration due to which the significance is realized by the folk people as it is.
Material culture of Billeswar Devalaya is homogeneous in nature, to some extent, with the culture of Belsor area. Natural influence of the Devalaya is witnessed after minute observation which extends to the various aspects of life. With the passage of time though some changes are noticed by me, however the life of the people belonging to all the areas adjoined to the Devalaya are highly impacted by the folkloristic culture of the Devalaya.
The study reveals the following facts:
a) Marriage is a great ceremony for all culturally enriched communities in the world. Likewise the areas which are influenced by the Devalaya foster the same cultural heritage in regard of celebrating marriage. It is to be noted here that marriage system is Hindu religion always occupies an exalted position amongst all the religious communities. Because according to the Hindu culture, since the time of Vedic period, marriage is not only regarded as a social contract but it is a religious sacrament also. So the magnificence of marriage system in Hindu religion is assessed as the highest order of human festival. This cultural heritage prevailing in Belsor areas has a relation with the Devalaya culture. As for example we may say about the use of meat of castrated goat as an integral part of marriage feast recipe in Belsor areas. The tradition of using meat of castrated goat definitely comes from the Devalaya tradition. In Billeswar Devalaya the daily Bhog is prepared with the meat of castrated goat.
b) Diwali is a household celebration by lighting the earthen lamps, decorating two banana plants in front of their gates, with lamps placed on bamboo stripes. Diwali is also celebrated publicly under the aegis of the Devalaya. There is a rigid tradition in the Belsor areas, the house hold celebration starts after the lighting camphor and beating of the Dama in the Billeswar Devalaya.
c) In spite of material progress in Belsor area supported by economic uplift,
people still use traditional materials like Kalpat and Paita during any feast organized in their households. This is influenced by the fact that these materials are also used in daily activities in the Devalaya.