Assamese Culture 8.

Satradhikar or a religious leader leads a Satra. It is divided into four structural parts: four baatchorasS Or
The
a
a kirtan
ghar to be used as a prayer hall or naam-prasanga, a Manikut or inner part and haati.
entrances, Bardowa or
section where the disciples of the Satras live. Sankardeva established the first Satra at
haatiisa 1468 AD. which was started as Naamghar Satra is used for community prayers and Naamghar
Batadravain with
stage dramatic performances and other cultural activities. According to the data available
is used to Satras
Mahasabha, at present there are atotal 862 Satras in Assam and West Bengal. Still the
Asom Sattra cultural centres of the society as well as democratic institution to solve various
have been
serving asintegrated The Satras
issues. The main problem faced by the Satras is encroachment upon its land by miscreants.
social which are demarked by rules followed by it.
Assam are dividedinto four: sets (Sanghati)
of follows:
These Sanghatis are as
Kuruwabahi
RrahmaSanghati: Aauniati, Dakshinpaat, Garhmur,
Porabharal, Lowadang
, Kaal Sanghati: Bhawanipur, Kaaljaar,
1 Purush Sanghati: Chamaguri,
Solguri, Narowa, Digholi
Madhupur, Sundaridiya
4 Nika Sanghati: Barpeta, Kamalabari, King
Historically this Satra was established by the Ahom
Aguniati Satra: This Satra is situated at Majuli. famous for
in 1575-1576 Saka. The Deity established at the Satra is Govinda Thakur. It is
lavaddhwaj Singha
its Paalnaam Mahotsav.
festival
This Satra was established at Majuli by Banamalidev. It is popular for its Raas
Dakshinpaat Satra: of visitors visit the Satra
Assamese month Aghonevery year. Thousands
organized in the ful-moon day of the
during Raas.
Sanghati, this Satra re
of Majuli. Belonged to the Brahma
Garhmur: It is situated at the Kamalabari Mouza rule, this
thousand puras of land from the Ahom King Siva Singha. During the British Later a
ceived a donation of 30 against the British.
the foreigners and lost nearly all the fortunes due to its firm stance Adhikaar who intro
Satra opposed Pitambar Deva Goswami was its famous
returned to the Satra. Lakshmikantadeva,
land of 1000bighas was untouchables in the Satra. Founded by
including entry of the so-called
duced many reforms,
here some canons are preserved.
Brahmaputra. The Satra
was established by Bangshigopal Dev on the bank of the River
kuruwabahi Satra: It
enjoyed the patronage of the Ahoms. in
favourite disciple of Sankardeva, Madhavdeva established it
most
Darpeta Satra or Kirtan Ghar: The lower Assam. During the days of
Madhavdeva, it was the
influential Satras in
Dapela. It is one of the most established Mathura Das Burha Ata
and cultural activities in the area. Madhavdeva pomp
"pieentre of both religious
Doulotsav is the most prominent festival celebrated by her with
or
1S Adhikaar in his absence. Holi
kirtanghar of this Satra.
id gaiety. Women cannot enter the situated at the
Batadrava where he established the first Satra. It is
was born in in the Satra.
Batadrava Satra: Sankardeva believed that footmark of the great saint-reformer is stillpreserved reverence.
nNagaon district. It is
Vaishnavite saints are observed here with
Holi and the birth and the death anniversary of both the patronage
Satra in Barpeta. This Satra too enjoyed royal
Satra: Madhavdeva established this a centre of Vaishnav
Sundaridiya
rel:: reign of the later Ahoms. King Siva Singha donated land to this Satra. It was
Teligious and cultural activities. called
established by Srimanta Sankardeva. It is
it was ended
Satra: Situated at Kochbihar, West Bengal,
Madhupur than" of the Vaishnavite saint. Sankardeva's life
the ten disciples Adhikaar.
"dohmukutar
here. This
or the living houses of
established by the Great Koch King
Naranarayana. Govinda Ata was its first
Satra was