NEO-VAISHNAVISM IN ASSAM AND SATRA INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Neo-Vaishnavism developed by Sankardeva (1449-1568), the great social and religious reformer of 15th-16th century Assam. It was basically a religious movement, preaching the monotheistic faith in lord Krishna. The Satras are a kind of medieval Vaishnava religious institution created with the explicit purpose of spreading Neo-Vaishnavism. This institution, however, did not grow to their matured structural form during the life time of the saint who died in the year 1568 after a long span of life of about one hundred and twenty years. It is recorded that Sankardeva started to proselytize in congregational gatherings of his devotees under the shade of trees in line with the Satra as described in the Bhagavata Purana, building prayer halls (namghar) and performing bhaonas, religious songs and playing musical instruments, and reciting the Bhagavata. Sankaradeva did this first at his native village at Bardowa within the present district of Nagaon and then at DhuwahatBelaguri within the Majuli island in the first half of the 16th century.