Namghosha the Oriental Gem: English Rendering of Mahapurusha Madhavadeva's NAMGHOSHA

Madhavadeva (1489-1596 AD) was an associate as well as disciple of Srimanta Sankaradeva. He was an erudite scholar. Born at Narayanpur in Assam, Madhavadeva dedicated his whole life to serving his preceptor. He helped Srimanta Sankaradeva to propagate the newly launched Vaishnavite order Eka Sarana Nama Dharma. This order preached devotion to a single God, Lord Krishna. Srimanta Sankaradeva asked Madhavadeva to author a book elucidating the theories of Eka Sarana Nama Dharma, which would also serve as a book of prayer hymns for the devotees. So Madhavadeva authored Namaghosha. His Namaghosha and Bhakti-ratnawali occupy important place in the Eka Sarana Nama Dharma literature along with the Kirtana-ghosha and the Assamese rendering of the tenth canto of Bhagavata by Srimanta Sankaradeva. Devotees sing verses from Namaghosha in their daily prayers. Vinoba Bhave was so impressed that he authored a book Namaghosha Sar (Essence of Namghosha). In the present book, Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti has offered prose transcreation of this beautiful scripture Namaghosha.