Assam: Lamp burning for 484 years enters Asia Book of Records

Jorhat: The sacred lamp at a Vaishnavite monastery in Jorhat district which has been burning continuously for the past 484 years was on Sunday formally recognised by the Asia Book of Records. The lamp, which was first lit in 1528 in Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar, has been kept burning since then by the locals of the area.

The formal certificate of recognition was handed over to Jorhat Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique.

Scholar Sri Sri Madhabdeva, chief disciple of Assamese saint-scholar and socio-religious reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, had set up the historic Namghar (temple) in 1528 and since then the lamp has been burning continuously.

The lamp, at a Vaishnavite monastery in Jorhat, was first lit in 1528 in Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar and has been kept burning since then by the locals.

During the certificate handing-over ceremony, Handique said that the 'Gurucharitra' written by Sattraadhikar (Chief Monk) of Kamalabari Satra in Majuli Island about 300 years ago had mentioned about the lamp being lit by Madhabdeva.

Handique added that the recognition would help in furthering the teachings of the two Vaishnavite saints Srimanta Sankardev and Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhabdeva, besides the sacred lamp across the world.

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