Sattras: The Pillars of Assamese Identity
Sattras: the pillars of Assamese identity
By: Himanka Deka & Priyanka Ghising
 
Sattras are the hallmark of our State highlighting the mellow shadows of spiritual and eternal touch of ancient treasures. Spread around the length and breadth of Assam, sattras are in themselves an epitome of holiness and cheerfulness. 
It was firstly founded and established by the great Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, the follower of Vaishnavite sect of the Hindu religion. They are a center of art, culture, literature, and classical studies. They also can be called the Assamese Vaishnavite monasteries where the tradition of Vaishnavite religion and culture are preserved. Sattras have been established in different parts of the State by the various Vaishnavite followers.
 
  1. DAKHINPAT SATTRA: Dakhinpat sattra is located at Majuli Island in Jorhat district of Assam, situated in the northern side of Jorhat subdivision. This sattra was founded by Sri Sri Banamalidev, an exponent of Raasleela, during the reign of Ahom king Jayadhwaj Singha. It has a unique feature of Vaishnavism in the State. It is also known as the main sattra patronized by the Ahom kings. It follows the Nava Vaishnava path established by Damodar Deva. And the ruling deity is the “Jadava Rai” or “Krishna”. Even a regular feature of this sattra follows a Bhagavat path in sanskrit. Daily Pujas or archanas are performed such as:-

    ·         Vedapath

    ·         Vedic and Tantric Mantra

    ·         Observance of annual rites & rituals and rituals of death

    ·         Observance of penance

    ·         Reading of Bhagawata

    ·         Analysis of relations of Marriage etc.
    Rasa Mahotsava is the chief religious festival of Dakhinpat Satra. It is celebrated as a national festival of Assam with great enthusiasm and zeal. During this festive occasion, thousands of devotees visit this monastery to enjoy the replenishing performance. Raas is performed in the full moon-night particularly in the autumn season. Raas leela is celebrated in account of the fact and belief that once the Lord disappeared to teach the lessons to all the gopis. At the time of “separation” or ‘Virah,’ Gopis sang ‘Gopika Gitam’ and pleaded the Lord to come back. But after many requests, he did not turn up. So till date, Raas leela holds great importance and mostly enjoyed by the people with great fervor and zest..
  2. BARPETA SATTRA: Barpeta Satra was founded by Sri Sri Madhav Deva, the chief disciple of Sri Sankardeva, 500 years back. As he left the sattra, responsibility was taken over by Sri Mathura Das Burha Ata (1490-1596 AD).
    The administration of the sattra is systematized by the Burha Ata leading to the development of the institution and the region of Barpeta. A democratic system introduced by him is in effect still today. A large number of followers visit this sattra and accept the Vaishnava faith irrespective of their caste and creed. The sattra has several buildings and the front gate is called ‘Batsora’. The main ‘kirtanghar’, where the prayers or ‘Naam kirtan’ are performed is an architectural splendor. Tthere is a kutcha house cooncretised with big pillars in 1952 with decorative wall paintings. In ‘jagmohan ghar’ bhakats or devotees discuss their problems. For more than 500 years, ‘Bhajghar’- a lamp continuously burns called the “Akhay Banti”. Library house, kitchen, guest house, offices are also located.
    Barpeta sattra is known for the Doul festival. This festival is also called Holi or fakuwa, mostly celebrated in the month of Phagun and chot. Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva started this festival after his great work Chihnajatra and he wrote some Holi geets too.
    The significance of Doul festival is that various kinds of Holi geet tunes are sung in groups which seem are quite melodious. Moreover, Holi geets of Barpetians are remarkably popular enthralling the hearts of every Assamese. The composition of the songs are based on the several mythological stories as well as in praise of Lord Krishna. Many visitors attend this Utsav and enjoy its colour. This festival is celebrated at least for three to four days. 
    The three days doul is called “Burha doul” and four to five days is called “Deka doul”. According to the tradition four days doul is held in the month of ‘Phagun Purnima and three days doul is held in the month of ‘chot purnima’.
    The other significance of this sattra are:-
    • Maghor Damohi: Bihu is the national festival of Assam. It is also known as “Damohi” or “Damohi” for the people of Barpeta. Damohi means bhog, which means to taste the sweetness of pitha, ladu, sandoh etc. During this festival, farmers granaries are full and the women folks are busy making various delicacies. 
    • Bohagor Damhi:  It is said that the word “Bihu” is derived from the ‘Tai’ language “Boi-Hu”. ‘Boi’ means “worship” and ‘Hu’ means “cow”. And the full meaning is to worship the sacred cow. Gradually in the course of time “Boi-Hu” became “Bihu”. Moreover Bohag bihu which is also known as Rongali bihu, is the festival to welcome the Assamese New Year and is celebrated joyously for seven days. Weavers get busy weaving bihuwan that is gamoocha, a sign of honour and respect meant for the elderly people. In Barpeta, this festival is celebrated with sattriya tradition.
  3. MADHUPUR SATTRA: Madhupur sattra is a religious center located in Coochbeehar district of West Bengal. It was the final resting place of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.It was built during the period of the Cooch king Naranarayan in the 16th century. Madhupur sattra celebrates festivals like raas, bhada kirtan, Doul utsav and Sankardev Janmotsav. Thousands of people gather from West Bengal and Assam to offer their prayers.
  4. KAMALABARI SATTRA: Majuli is the largest river island of the continent of Asia. Famous for its rich culture and religious heritage, it is also renowned for its flourishing Vaishnave sattra tradition. 
    In 1595, Badala Ata established a sattra in the orange garden of one of his disciples, Purusottama Baruah, in Majuli. So, the sattra was name as Kamalabari Satra. ”Kamala” means orange and “bari” means garden in Assamese. This sattra is a center of art, culture, literature & classical studies. The Kamalabari Satra has been producing great figures in Assam cultural sector. It is the home to legendary musicians and performing artists like late Maniram Dutta, Murtiyae Bayan and Raseswar Saikia Basbayan, who contributed greatly towards the conferment of classical status upon sattriya dance. Uttar Kamalabari sattra is a branch of Kamalabari sattra. Due to the damages done by floods, one branch of the sattra is established in the mainland Assam. But the branch of original Kamalabari sattra still continues from the Majuli island. 
  5. AUNIATI SATTRA: Ahom kingdom Sultanla established the Auniati satra in the year 1653 AD. He was given the name Jayaddhaja Singha after he adopted the Hindu religion (Vaishnava). Auniati sattra is located at Majuli island in Jorhat district. The slightly elevated land of Majuli, where this sattra was established was full of auni paan. Ati means elevated place. From these two words the name o auniati sattra came into being.The ruling deity of the sattra is Sri Sri Govinda. This idol was originally brought from Jagannath Kshetra, and installed there with all vedic rituals. The main prayer in the sattra begins and continues from morning to evening everyday and has been continued without interruption for more than 350 years. The sattriya dances are regularly performed as a mark of love and devotion to lord Govinda by the Vaishnavs in the general prayer hall of the sattra. Bhagawata shravana kirtana and saidhhya are performed here regularly. Besides these, there are three additional devotional worships each day as daily devotional songs.
    SIGNIFICANCE
    Various forms of prayers, dances and religious theatrical shows are performed based on the great Indian epics of Puranas, Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc.
    1. The foremost dance performances of Sri Sri Auniati Satra are Natua, Apsara, Ozapali, Sali. The songs includes gayan geet, ozapali geet, raas geet,etc.
    2. One of the significant festivals of these sattra is the pal naam commencing from the 25th day of Assamese kartika.
    3. Other major activities include the spiritual guidance called sharan, bhajan and malamantradan under the direct supervision of sattradhikar or his delegates. There are three gosains including the sattradhikar. Under the sattradhikar, there are the deka sattradhikar and govindapuria.
    4. These are 12 branches of this famous sattra in various parts of Assam. The main branche of Auniati sattra is at North Guwahati, established in 1915 by Sri Sri Kamal Dev Goswami. This branch has over 60 bighas of land from Aswaklanta Devalaya. The 14th sattradhikar Bhagawat Bhaskar Sri Sri Hem Ch. Deva Goswami rebuilt the old sattra in 1959 to its present condition. The present satradhikar Sri Sri Dr. Pitambar Dev Goswami built the Kaliapani branch of the Satra in the year 2003.

      Sattras since their inception have been always the centers of socio–cultural and religious activities of Assam. The multi-faceted cultural traditions of Vaishnavism are preserved in their original forms in the sattras. Sattras provide public library services also. No one can imagine the existence of the Assamese society without the sattras. They are the sources of history, culture, literature of Assam.