অসমীয়া ব্যাকৰণ আৰু ভাষাভ Gait in his History of Assam mentions also more bloody wactices tho authenticity of which is, however, a matter of doubt. This was app rently the religion of the masses between the ninth and welfth centuries AD, The Tantric form of Hinduism probably coalesed with the deaded form of Buddhism of later years, known as the Vajrayana doctrine. In any case there is no doubt that Buddhism itself borrowed certain forms from the popular religion of the land when it first arose in the Ganes valley. | “It was impossible that such a horrible and grotesque caricature of religion, which seems to have been evolved from the rafting of a deaded Hinduism on the tribal practices of the aborigines, would be allowed to continue indefinitely. and Nar Narayan's reign is remarkable for the Vaisnava reformation inaugurated by Sankar Dev, a Kayastha of Vatadrav in Nowgong." It may be observed that before Sankar Deva thrs other Vaisnava poets,Hem Sarasvati, Harihar Vipra and Madhava kandali.raised a feeble voice against this form of Tantric freigion, while Durgavar and Manar supported it by composing two different Padma-puranas inculcating the worship of Padmavati or Manas, the guardian goddess of the snakes. But the power and genius of Sankar Deva eventually came out triumphant. | Sri Sankar Deva preached a purified form of Vaisnavism based on the Bhagavata Purna and propounded the doctrine of salva Bhai (faith) and Nam-kirtan (prayer) in the place of sacrifice. His religion was Nam-Dhama as Buddhism was Dhama. It should be remembered that the Hindu religious books were then in Sanskrit. The common people had no access to them. So, Lord Sankar Deva adopted the language then in common use in Kamarupa for the propagation of his faith. His followers also composed books in imitation of him. In this way a literary activity was inaugurated. | There are grounds for supposing that Buddhism had one eat sway in Assam, Aso the monastic and congregational systems, the thre precious objects aranas), the image-processions, the pada-fa, the song and reics, the offering of lamps, oil and flowers, etc. point to some similarity between Buddhism and Assam Vaisnavism, We have got at least one master-teacher, Dak, who in his teachings incorporated a few of the principles of Buddhist ethics and piety. In Buddhist India tho village people built hospices by the roadside for the shelter of traveler where they might st, sleep, eat and drink. They also planted trees and provided wells of tanks by the side of politary roads for travelers. These see his History of Assam :: . 56-১. a History of Anana by Sir E. A. Gai, pp. 56-57. The g ns of this would probably be found in the ancient practice Monjo-daro. see he Indus avilization by D, E, Maclay : P 16. of
