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Faith and tenets :

The Bhagavata-purana, the Bhavagad - gita and the Sahasra-naima section of the Padma-purana are popularly considered to be the authorities from which Sankardeva accepted the main articles of his faith, namely, satsamga (the assembly of bhaktas as a means of bhakti), ekasarana (shelter in one gode, Visnu-Krsna, alone) and nama (kritana, or prayer, as the main form of devotion). While the Bhagavata-purana and the Bhagavadgita, and other visnuite puranas and texts also have been adapted into Assamese or cited as authorities by the Vaisnava writers, the writings of Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva and a few other works approved by them or the order provide the gospel and have a canonical authority. The Bhagavata-purana and the Bhagavadgita alone among Sanskrit works are used in the ceremonial readings. In the explanation of these two books, the Bhagavata-bhavartha-dipika' and the 'Subodihini commentaries of Sridhara-svami have been used from the beginning with such slight moderations as may be found necessary to suit the peculiar tents of the faith.

Sanakaradeva's creed is popularly known as mahapurusiya dharma, the word 'mahapurusiya, being an imitation of Skt. 'mahapaurusika' ( Bhag.-p, 1.14.37. explained as mahapuruso visnus tadiya mahapaurusika vaikuntha nathanucarah by Sridhara; Bhag,-p, 1.1.10 explained as mahapuruso visnus tadiyah by Sridhara, and rendered as mahapurusar sevaka by Madhavadeva, Namaghosa, 650) meaning that the worshipful is the transcendent Visnu, the controller of prakrita and purusa (prakriti purasa durio niyanta madhava. Namaghosa, 405) and known as Brahman , paramatman and bhagavat ( Namgahosa, 176; Bhag. - p. 1.2.11) .

The official name of the bhakti creed of Sankaradeva is ekasarana namadharma and this explains its cardinal principles , which enjoin the worship of one god, that is Visnu , especially in the incarnation of Krsna, and interdicts the votaries from the worship of any other deity, and indicates its main form , which consists of the utterance of the holy names of the god in the singing of songs in his glorification. The words of the Lord in school of Ramanuja in the Bhagavadgita , demanding unswerving devotion to him (sarvadharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, 18.66) are to be remembered. Bhattadeva a Brahman author, cites relevant authorities to say that a votary should not take offerings to the five gods in pancayajna, for that would vitate his ekasarana, but make offerings to Visnu alone,, and that would bring satisfaction to all the gods ( Bhag,-p,4.31.14). the bhakta is not to case either adoring or hateful glances on the idols of other gods; nor should be visit places of their worship (Sankaradeva, Bhag, p-2) No hostility however, is to be exhibited by him towards the adherents of other creeds while engaging himself in the worship of Visnu, who alone is considered as being Suddha-sattava, of pureexixtence (narayanakalah santa bhajani by anasuyavah, Bhag, p. 1.2.26). It is, moreover , a religion of implicit love and faith, bhakti, and love in order to be true to itself and its object must be avyabhacharinai, chaste even as a chaste wife; it must not have behind it the idea of securing a return, not even the highest beautiful (ahaituky avyavahita ya bhaktih purusottama, Bhag, p., 3.29,12 ) . The ideal bhakta is, therefore , no aspirant to the release of his soul (muktito nisprah).