कीर्तनम्

India's Bhakti movement witnessed a socio-cultural renaissance brought in by a galaxy of great Sages. Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva [1449-1568] was its fountainhead in what we now know as Northeast India. He was a sage, preacher, poet, composer, playwright, artist, philosopher and reformer whose work has impacted the socio-economic, religious, educational, cultural and spiritual sphere of Assam; in fact it has impacted the history of India per se. Kirttan Ghosa or Kirttan Puthi or simply Kirttan is the ultimate expression of His literary genius.

In this masterpiece, Gurujana [as Srimanta Sanakaradeva is reverently addressed) brings home the teachings of the Bhagavata with its Vedantic overtone. He emphasizes the ennobling qualities of bhakti and naamdharma; the nine forms of bhakti – shravan, keertan, archan, bandan, smaran, padasewan, dasya, sakhitwa and deharpan – especially relevant because of the complex lifestyle in Kaliyuga.