Shovaneswari Devi Goswami, wife of Harembeswar Deva Goswami of
Sri Sri Disiri Ganya Satra, wrote a number of verse scripts in
verse at the end of 19th century and hence was
popular as lady women script writer among the general public.
One of the religious manuscripts written by her is still
preserved in the Disiri Ganya Satra of Silanijan . Writing
Script was not an easy task for a women belonging to the
traditional and conservative society of that ear. However, she
was inspired by her husband and father �in-law Krishna Mishra
Deva Goswami. Renowned historian Hiteswar Barbaruah wrote
about Krishna Mishra in � Ahomor Din�. According to him,
Krishna Mishra was unparallel man in astrology and composed 28
Smritiratnas . From his days only Brahman a created threats to
�Devagya� as their main occupation Graha Puja, sacrifices and
Dana etc were transferred to the hand of Brahmana. Apart from
astrology, Krishna Mishra had vast knowledge of Vyakarana,
Smriti, Nyaya, Upanishada and Puranas.
To know the life and philosophy of Shovaneswari Devi Goswami,
the background of the household and family was necessary,
hence the life of Krishna Mishra in short is depicted here.
Shovaneswari Devi was born on Thursday fourteen days of the
Assamese month Kati, 1857 at Amolapatty, Golaghat. She was the
youngest daughter of Annada Devi and Yangeshwar Sharma Baruah
of Lauhitya Baruah clan. She had lost her father at early
childhood. But at that tender age she got some education from
her father. Later she was taught the household works like
weaving preparation of sacred thread, spinning etc. She got
married to Harembeswar Deva Goswami, the youngest son of
Krisha Mishra Deva Goswami of Disiri Ganya Satra at the age of
12 in 1869. At that time child marriage was prevailed in the
society an Shovaneswari Devi was also tied in the binding of
marriage before attaining puberty. But after marriage she read
astrology, Vyakarana and Ratnamala amidst of her household
works. Gradually she excelled in those literatures and began
to prepare �Janmakundali� In 1877, she gave birth to a boy
named Gopika after that she gave birth to another son Tarini
and two daughters. Historian Babaruah mentioned Gopika in
�Ahomor Din� as the lotus flower of the scion of famous
Barister Krishna Mishra of Golaghat. Tarini , the sacred son
of Shovaneswari established Disiri Ganga satra at Silanijan in
1903 and atarted a tea garden in the name of the mother there.
Shovaneswari had composed a number of astrological books. But
due to lack of preservation these were perished in due course
of time. The book which was preserved in the Satra containing
the rituals of Satyanarayan Puja , Bishnupurana etc. She wrote
another book named �Pretaratna� based on the death rituals. In
1897, her elder daughter Chandramala Devi got married to
Radhanath Goswami of Mahara Satre, who was the Proprietor of
the Radhabari T.E. of Dergoan. She went for pilgrimage in
1910 to Ganga, Gaya, Kashi, Prayag etc. She composed poem on
the folk literature too. She left for heavenly abode on 4th
days of Assamese month Shravan 1917.
The Shastras and manuscripts written by the ancestors of
Chandika Ballabh Goswami were preserved by the family with
utmost care. The above impression was the part of
scriptures. Written by Shovanaswari Devi, the gradmother of
Chandika Ballabh Goswami.
There are number of women among us working selflessly and
devoted their lives for the uplift of the society. But their
contributions are hardly known to the society. Sadau Asom
Lekhika Samaroh Samiti is taking initiatives to find out the
contribution of women who are like hidden treasures of the
society and thereby unveiling their historical significance
also.
