Understanding the Society and Culture of Mayamara Satras of Assam in 18th Century: A Historical Analysis

Abstract

One of the most significant distinguished and unrestrained characters of the neo Vaishnavite movement of Assam was its satra institution. It is a medieval socio religious institution a product of Neo-Vaishnavite led by Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavdeva in the 15^th-16^th century. The satra is a unique institution not of Assam alone or that of India, it is a unique institution of the whole world in the sense of it being a multidimensional religio-cultural organization and its distinctive characteristics. In the history of Assam Vaishnavism, the Mayamara satra has occupied an important place for its missionary activities and for raising the first popular rebellion against the Ahom government in 1769. The Mayamara satra was founded by Aniruddhadeva, the nephew of Sankardeva and a disciple of Gopaldeva(1476-1541), founder of Kala Samhati order of Assam Vaishnavism. Aniruddhadeva started proselytizing activities from the year of 1601 by establishing a satra at Vishnu Balikunchi, present North Lakhimpur district. The democratic outlook of the satra and spirit of humanism appealed the tribesman and they immediately accepted him as their guru. The satra gained great popularity and hence enviable prominence that one time almost half of the population of the state became it disciples. In the present work an attempt has been made to study the impact of the Mayamara Vaishnavism on society in 18^th century Assam through the study of the Mayamara satra. It is significant to note that the Mayamara satras which acted as a tool of social formation among the various tribes and castes of Assam was mainly concentrated the Upper Assam that cradle of the Ahom state.