Early life in adversity

Madhavdev was born in May 1489 at Baligrama in Lakhimpur District of Assam to Govindagiri Bhuyan and Manorama.^[1] Govindagiri was a descendant of Hari Bhuyan one of the Bhuyan's who accompanied Candivara (Sankardev's forefather) in the 14th century as part of an exchange between Dharmanarayana of Gauda and Durlabhnarayan of Kamarupa-Kamata. Govindagiri became a Majinder at Banduka, (in Rangpur District, in present-day Bangladesh) and established his family (wife and a son) there. On the death of his wife, he migrated to Bardowa Nagaon District, present-day Assam, and married Manorama of the Baro-Bhuyan clan. But due to warfare between the Bara Bhuyans and the Kacharis he became homeless and Harasinga Bora, an officer of the Sutiya kingdom, gave him shelter at Letekupukhuri where Madhavdev was born. Harisinga Bora arranged for Madhavdev's early education at Narayanpur.

A famine induced the family to move again, and the family was given shelter by a boatman named Ghagari Maji at Habung, a place near Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur district. Here Madhabdev's sister Urvasi was born. After about 10 years at Habung, the family rowed down the Brahmaputra river to Rauta-Tembuwani (present-day Bordowa), where Urvasi was married off to Gayapani, a Bhuyan. Soon after, Madhabdev accompanied his father back to Banduka (leaving behind his mother with his sister and brother-in-law), where he continued his education under a teacher named Rajendra Adhyapak. Here, Madhabdev became well versed in the Tantras, Tarka-shastra, Purana and other literature associated with Saktism. Soon after, his father Govindagiri died.

Leaving his half-brother (named either Damodara or Rupchandra), Madhavdev returned to his brother-in-law Gayapani with the news and stayed on involving himself with trade in betel-leaf and areca nut. When his half-brother, who was a Majinder at Banduka, fell ill Madhabdev returned there to shoulder his responsibilities. At Banduka he received news of his mother's failing health and he hastened back to Dhuwahat, where Gayapani had moved to along with his wife and mother-in-law after the Kacharis had uprooted the Bara Bhuyans.

Meeting with Sankardev

Madhavdev had grown into a staunch sakta in his learning and practice, and on receiving news of his mother's illness while in Banduka, he resolved to sacrifice two goats to propitiate the goddess. In the meantime his brother-in-law Gayapani had converted to Ekasarana and refused to procure the goats for the sacrifice. A debate ensued and Gayapani, now named Ramadasa, took Madhabdev to meet Sankardev to discuss the conflicts. The debate continued for four and a half hour, when Sankardev uttered a sloka from the Bhagavata Purana.^[2] Madhabdev was convinced and he accepted Sankardev as his guru. At the age of thirty-two, he joined his scholarship, literary and musical genius to the cause of Ekasarana dharma. Sankardev accepted him as his prana bandhava (friend of the soul). Madhabdev's conversion occurred in the year 1532. After his conversion, Madhabdev broke his betrothal^[3] and resolved never to marry.

Madhavdev turned out to be Sankardev's principal disciple, he moved with him like a shadow through thick and thin was intimately known to the Guru than any of his disciples. Sankardev before his near death, in an intimate talk with him in February–March 1568, appointed him as the next spiritual successor.^[4] It is narrated in Sakardeva's biographies that when Sankardev's son Ramananda approached him seeking spiritual instruction on his death bed, he directed him to Madhavdev on whom all his spiritual strength and energy devolved.^[5]

Pontiff

Madhavdev took charge of proselytizing activities and cultural traditions. In the first year of his pontifical tenure, a section of Vaisnava headed by Damodardev disacknowledge his leadership. Causing a schism, when called upon to explain he gave an unpleasant reply. Upon this Madhavdev severed all the connections with Damodardev.^[6]

Madhavdev during his tenureship got the opportunity to propagate the teachings of Sakara far and wide.

The Saint passed in 1596 at Madhupur Satra, Koch Bihar.