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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 2 - Material culture in Billeswar Devalaya

The word construction implies that the tangible formation of pondered thoughts. In regard of a Devalaya, it means the collective formation for serving common purposes of people belonging to the same locality. The Billeswar Devalaya is also a unique religious place of meeting the common purpose since its time of erection. It is the tangible symbol of collective faith. The materials acquired and possessed by the Devalaya in different occasions have provided a great privilege to the people in harnessing a communal harmony. The folkloristic study on the sacred complex of Billeswar Devalaya reveals the fact that the culture of it is maintained in a folkloristic way. This fact may be deciphered only by meticulous observation.

1 Co-existence of ancient and contemporary materials

In the complex of Billeswar Devalaya a co-existence of ancient and contemporary materials is noticed during my field study. As I have understood the co-existence means for serving the devotees as well as the general public. It is nearest to the reality that the ancient materials are to be supported by the induction of contemporary materials. Otherwise the efficacy of the ancient materials naturally ceases to lose. To maintain the efficacy contemporary materials are to be provided and allowed to work with the ancient materials. The induction of contemporary materials connotes also the repair of the ancient ones. This co-existence between the two types of materials indeed supports the continuation of cultural legacy of the Devalaya.

2 Material Culture and Sacred Specialists

Material culture of the Billeswar Devalaya is integrally related with the sacred Specialists. Both are theoretically and pragmatically complimentary to each other. Without the existence of one the either has no practical importance. The existence of both becomes insignificant. The material culture is maintained primarily by the sacred specialists. The characteristics of the material culture of the Devalaya are transmitted or brought into actions by the sacred specialists. The categories of sacred specialists of the Devalaya are made on the basis of the indigenous context though these have theoretical linkage with the concept of L P Vidyarthi. This context based classification is attempted to be made in the sixth chapter.

3 Material Culture: Impact on Common folk.

Almost all the people of Belsor and its allied areas have a common practice to visit Billeswar Devalaya as it is one of the most ancient shrines of Assam expressing their religiousness and vanity. Such visits at any stage of life of the people’s life kindle a spirit of religiousness and sacredness at the same time. It has been the tradition of the people of the localities to visit the site and to attend the festivals whether these are calenderic or seasonal. That impact is apparently realized in everyone’s personality at the time of personal interviews taken by me as an integral part of the methodology adopted in pursuing the study. Of course there is an ideological conflict on the matter of Buffalo sacrifices though no one raises voice against the traditional cum religious practice. People are divided in opinions in regard of this issue.

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