by Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti
The Thân or Sattrainstitution is a living heritage bequeathed to the posterity by Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449 AD - 1568 AD). Unlike most heritages, which are long dead, the Thân or Sattrainstitution continues to be a vibrant one. Earlier, it was known only as Thân. Later on the name Sattra also came to be used. The religious order Eka Sarana Nâma Dharma of Srimanta Sankaradeva sustained itself for more than five centuries on the strength of the Thân or Sattra. An egalitarian community life was promoted by Thân or Sattra, which is subject matter of socialist philosophy. People of all castes had entry to it, which was a revolutionary step in medieval India. Other such community organisations across the world like Commune of China, Kibbutz of Israel came up much later, in fact centuries later. So the Thân or Sattrainstitution is a global pioneer as a social institution.1Its founder, Srimanta Sankaradeva can be credited with the status of an innovator in this regard.
The
first Thân of Eka Sarana Nâma Dharma was
set up by Srimanta Sankaradeva at
Bardowa in 1468 AD. It started only with the central component, the prayer
house.2This prayer house was initially called Devagriha,
Harimandir etc, but it came to be
known as Kirtangharover time. It is in fact
a community prayer hall. It is open to all people. There is no prohibition on
basis of caste or sex. It is unique in its architectural design and totally
different from other types of prayer houses. Srimanta
Sankaradeva enacted his maiden play as well as the maiden religious activity Chihna-Yâtrâ, which happened to be the first play in all modern
Indian languages,at that place in
1468 AD. In fact the Chihna-Yâtrâwas the genesis of the both Kirtangharand Thân.However the Thânin full form came into being only in 1509 AD with all the components
added around the Kirtanghar.3
Srimanta Sankaradeva devised the model
of Thân or
Sattra in such a manner that the residents of that complex did not have
to depend on the outside world for their requirements. Thân and Sattra
saw regular production activities as Srimanta Sankaradeva encouraged
disciples to eke out their own living. The food
requirements of the residents in Thân and Sattra were
grown in the land owned by the devotees. Thân and Sattra were
developed as ideal model for community living.4 Thân or Sattra is a unique
institution. All activities other than military one take place within it. Religious
function, craft, legal matter, social issues, cultural performance, education, agriculture
- all are carried out by the entire community in the Thân or Sattra.
Thus it can be called a social enterprise. Involvement of the community in this
institution took place in such a manner that can be termed as pathfinder for
the later day socialism. We can even say that Thân and Sattra were democratic institutions as they
were and are run by the devotees in democratic manner. For example, the head of
the Barpeta Thân is elected by the public of the Barpeta town.
The devotees of Thân or Sattra live in
quarters known as Hâtis. These Hâtis
are the residential quarters of the devotees living in the Thân or Sattra
campus. This component of Hâti was included by Srimanta Sankaradeva
in 1509 AD in the Bardowa Thân. He added four lines of Hâtis
around the Kirtanghar. The tradition of
such Hâti is still there. Every such Hâti has several devotees living
under the guidance of a senior devotee, who trains them in the multi-faceted tradition
of the Eka Sarana Nâma Dharma. Moreover every Hâti is modeled in
a self-sustained structure. The devotees living in a Hâti are required
to do agricultural works in the land allotted to them by the head of the Thân
or Sattra.
There was stress on those activities in Thân
and Sattrawhich were eco-friendly and which could be pursued without impairing
the productive capacity for the future generations. The Kirtanghar was constructed with bamboo
poles and thatched roof. Kirtanghar outside Sattra is known as Nâmghar.
No rock or brick was used in the construction of Kirtanghar or the Thânas a whole, unlike other religious institutions of India.
As a result the hills were not damaged by rock extraction, nor earth damaged by
brick making. Another benefit of this was that the people at large could build
up a Thân and Sattrawithout any
royal patronage. It ensured that Srimanta Sankaradeva’smovement remained a people’s movement. People’s
participation has made it a democratic movement. The Mowamariya uprising
against the Ahom regime was based on the support from the followers of Eka Sarana Nâma Dharma.5This public involvement with Thân
and Sattracontinues till today. As said before, the famous Barpeta Thân
elects the head, known as Sattriyâ by public election, where
almost the entire populace of the Barpeta town take part.
Cultural activities flourished to a
great extent in Thân and
Sattra. Painting was a full scale occupation
in the Thân and Sattra. Srimanta Sankaradeva gave birth to
a new form of art known as Sankari art with his paintings. Thân and Sattras
have sponsored this art form and kept it alive over the centuries. Srimanta
Sankaradeva launched his new art form with his scroll paintings used in the
play Chihna Yâtrâ. An illustrated manuscript of Bhagavata was
prepared during that period. This Chitra Bhâgavata is the earliest
available piece of Sankari art form. It is preserved at Balisatra of Nagaon. Chitra Bhâgavata, drawn at Dhuwahata Than in 1536 is the best example
of Sankari art form. The stylized presentation of the objects, side profile of
the characters, their dynamism etc are some important features of this art
form. Preparing Sânci leaves from wood for making manuscripts is a
respected vocation in Assam. Thân and Sattra have promoted this
art sincerely. The dyes used in these paintings are also produced indigenously.6
Bamboo and cane are used profusely for
the handicraft items in the Thân and
Sattra. Ornaments for the characters of Srimanta Sankaradeva’s Ankiyâ
plays (popularly known as Ankiyâ Nât) were also prepared in the Thân and
Sattra itself. This craft continues till date and now practised outside too. Mask was introduced by Srimanta
Sankaradeva in the play Chihna Yâtrâ in 1468 AD. He introduced mask in Ankiya
plays to make the plays interesting to lay people. These are prepared by
artisans of Thân and Sattra. Many wooden structures are constructed by the carpenter devotees. They
are known as Bârhoi. Designs are made on the panels of the doors. The
altar, Guru Asana is a 7-layer wooden structure, kept in Manikut
or Sanctum Sanctorum of the Kirtanghar. It is sculpted by artisans of Thân
or Sattra. The holy Bhagavata or Gunamala is kept thereon.
Weaving is a traditional expertise of Assamese men and women. Srimanta
Sankaradeva used to guide the families of weavers in making designs on clothes.
The saint depicted the life of lord Krishna in a textile art known as Vrindavani
Bastra, sponsored by Naranarayana, the then king of Koch kingdom. The work
took a long time and completed in the later part of 1554 AD.7It was woven at Tantikuchi, where Barpeta Thânwas later set up. Srimanta Sankaradeva
designed this cloth himself.
Some tiny industries in the Thâns and Sattras are
1. Manufacturing of Khol, a type of musical
instrument (drum) innovated by Srimanta Sankaradeva in 15th century
2. Production of herbal medicines
3. Production of organic dyes
4. Cane and bamboo products
5. Wooden furniture and sculptures
6. Making costumes for actors
7. Production of mat for devotees to sit on
8. Production of manuscripts and miniature painting
therein
In spite of being a place of religious activities, life
is never insipid or uni-dimensional in Thân or Sattra. There are
numerous festivals round the year. Cultural activities like Sattriyâ dance, Bargeet, Ankiyâ
plays evolved and flourished in the precinct of the Thân and Sattra.
The saint introduced the Holi
festival in the Brahmaputra valley. It is popularly known as Doul in the In the Thâns or Sattras.
In the Barpeta Thân, a Meji is
burnt during this Doul festival after
Gosâin or idol of lord Krishna is taken in round.
The Thân or Sattra was the place of
birth of Ankiyâ play as the first Ankiyâ play Chihna Yâtrâ was
enacted in the Bardowa Thân in
1468 AD. They have sustained that tradition till now. All the heads of Thân
or Sattra have to compose a new play when taking charge of the Thân
or Sattra. The Ankiyâ plays by Srimanta Sankaradeva
are enacted regularly in all Thân and Sattra. Plays authored by Srimanta Sankaradeva
enlighten people about ethical way of life, and philosophical truths. Devotees of
Sattra are now spreading the legacy. Dr Bhabananda Barbayan and other
artists of Uttar Kamalabari Sattra in Majuli take regular classes on Sattriyâ
Nritya in France and other European countries.
The institution of Thân and Sattra has
survived over five centuries. Almost every village in the Brahmaputra valley is
affiliated to some Thân or Sattra. Even the people, who do not subscribe
to the religious ideology of Srimanta Sankaradeva patronize the Thân or Sattra
for their socio-cultural role. Enactment of Ankiya
plays continue till today with full flourish. The custodians of the Thân or
Sattra have proliferated it, considering it their sacred duty. When a Sattrâdhikârhas more than one son, there tends to be new Sattra. There
are more than 800 Thân and Sattra now in different places. At one
time this number was even higher, 1280.8
The institution of Thân or Sattra has
covered in its ambit people of all hues irrespective of caste or nationality. Sattras
of the Majuli island attract people from across the world. Every Thân or
Sattra is embedded with the universal values that confer the status of
World Heritage on any old legacy. It
represents a masterpiece of human creative genius, who happened to be Srimanta
Sankaradeva. It exhibits an
important interchange of human values, its structure are unique in architecture
design. It bears a unique cultural tradition, popularly known as Sattriyâculture, which is living and vibrant. The
Thân or Sattra is
an outstanding example of human settlement characterized by a sustainable
living pattern. It contains artistic and literary works of outstanding
universal significance. Thus this institution fulfils several criteria
set by UNESCO for declaration as a world heritage status.9 It is truly a common
heritage of the entire mankind.
References
and Notes :
1. Analysis of the Thân or Sattra institution from
the perspective of Economics and Political Science, Dr Sanjib Kr Borkakoti,
https://www.drsanjib.net/2019/10/25/analysis-of-the-than-or-sattra-institution-from-the-perspective-of-economics-and-political-science/,
accessed on 5th November, 2019 at 4.53 pm.
2. Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva, Dr Sanjib Kr
Borkakoti, First edition, Guwahati 2005, p. 16
3. Ibid, pp. 17-19, 27; Purnanga Katha Gurucharit,
Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2007 AD, pp 75-77
4. Analysis of the Thân or Sattra institution from
the perspective of Economics and Political Science, Dr Sanjib Kr Borkakoti,
https://www.drsanjib.net/2019/10/25/analysis-of-the-than-or-sattra-institution-from-the-perspective-of-economics-and-political-science/,
accessed on 5th November, 2019 at 5.43 pm.
5. Srimanta Sankaradeva : a multi-faceted genius,
Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2015 AD, p 92
6. Sankari Sanskriti aru Darshan, Dr Sanjib Kumar
Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2017 AD, pp 90-100
7. Purnanga Katha Gurucharit, Dr Sanjib Kumar
Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2007 AD, p 588
8. Auniati sattrar buranji, Tirthanath Sarma,
Auniati Sattra, 1976, p.151.
9. The criteria for selection to be included on the
World Heritage List, https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/ accessed on 8th
January, 2020 at 8.54 am.
Bibliography :
1. Srimanta Sankaradeva : a multi-faceted genius,
Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2015 AD
2. Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva, Dr Sanjib
Kumar Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2005 AD
3. Purnanga Katha Gurucharit, Dr Sanjib Kumar
Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2007 AD
4. Sankari Sanskriti aru Darshan, Dr Sanjib Kumar
Borkakoti, 1st edition, Guwahati, 2017 AD
5. Analysis of the Thân or Sattra institution from
the perspective of Economics and Political Science, Dr Sanjib Kr Borkakoti,
https://www.drsanjib.net/2019/10/25/analysis-of-the-than-or-sattra-institution-from-the-perspective-of-economics-and-political-science/
6. Auniati sattrar buranji, Tirthanath Sarma,
Auniati Sattra, Majuli, 1976 AD
7. The criteria for selection to be included on the World Heritage List, https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/ accessed on 8th January, 2020 at 8.54 am.
[Edited version of the paper presented in the International Conference on Heritage organised by the Centre for Heritage Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka on December 26-27, 2019]
This article was earlier published in https://www.sankaradeva.com/
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