Dakshinpat Xatra
Encyclopedia
Dakshinpat Xatra is a well-known Xatra
(socio-religious institution) on Majuli
island in the Brahmaputra River, in the Indian state of Assam
established by Vamshigopal disciple Satradhikar Sri Vanamalidev in 1584. He was honoured and treated with much respect by the reigning Ahom
monarch Jayadhvaj Singh who made liberal gifts to the Xatra. An ornate gateway engraved with religious motifs, animals and flowers forms the entrance while inside similar sculptures and paintings with divine overtones adorn the walls of the Namghar
and heighten the aesthetic appeal of the sacred precincts where the idol of Mahaprabhu Jadavarai is worshipped.
Dakshinpat Xatra is a treasure house of dances contributed by Shri Sankardeva
such as the Borgeet, Matiakhara, Jumora, Chali, Noyua, Nande Vringee, Sutradhar, Ozapali, Apsara, Satria Krishna and Dasavater among others while it is also a storehouse of antiques of cultural importance and an advanced centre for the performing arts.
Due to constant flooding and erosion in Majuli, a new Xatra had been built in Chatai, Jorhat
, but two decades after its completion, the Dakshinpat Xatra has not yet moved to the new location.
The Satradhikars have taken great pains and precautions to preserve the relics and manuscripts of the saint Srimanta Sankardeva
written on strips of bark from the “Sanchi tree” (Aquilaria malaccensis
) in his own hand in the humid and semi-tropical climate of Assam.
, several thousand devotees visit the holy Xatra every year with the occasion now observed as one of the National Festivals of Assam. Xatras are socio-religious institutions in the Assam region that belong to the Mahapuruxiya Dharma
. The Xatras are not merely religious institutions but play cultural and historical roles in society. A dance form initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva and later developed within the Xatra is thus called Sattriya and forms one of the eight classical Indian dance styles.
Sattra
Satras are socio-religious institutions in the Assam region of India that belong to the Mahapuruxiya Dharma. Monks, called bhakats, live in satras under a satradhikar. In some orders of the religion, the bhakats are celibate . The satras are not merely religious institutions but play cultural...
(socio-religious institution) on Majuli
Majuli
200px|thumb|Way To Majuli From [[Jorhat]] City Majuli or Majoli is a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, in the Indian state of Assam...
island in the Brahmaputra River, in the Indian state of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
established by Vamshigopal disciple Satradhikar Sri Vanamalidev in 1584. He was honoured and treated with much respect by the reigning Ahom
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
monarch Jayadhvaj Singh who made liberal gifts to the Xatra. An ornate gateway engraved with religious motifs, animals and flowers forms the entrance while inside similar sculptures and paintings with divine overtones adorn the walls of the Namghar
Namghar
Namghar is a social rendezvous used for various spiritual activities such as common prayer, Bhaona used by Assamese peopleVaishnavite Hindus in Assam.The Vaishnavites are devotees of Lord Krishna who assemble in namghars regularly to offer prayers...
and heighten the aesthetic appeal of the sacred precincts where the idol of Mahaprabhu Jadavarai is worshipped.
Dakshinpat Xatra is a treasure house of dances contributed by Shri Sankardeva
Srimanta Sankardeva
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva , was the greatest Assamese saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer and a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India...
such as the Borgeet, Matiakhara, Jumora, Chali, Noyua, Nande Vringee, Sutradhar, Ozapali, Apsara, Satria Krishna and Dasavater among others while it is also a storehouse of antiques of cultural importance and an advanced centre for the performing arts.
Due to constant flooding and erosion in Majuli, a new Xatra had been built in Chatai, Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
, but two decades after its completion, the Dakshinpat Xatra has not yet moved to the new location.
Satradhikar and Bhakats
Monks known as bhakats live in Xatras under the supervision of a Satradhikar and Dakshinpat Xatra currently has about 90 to 100 celibate (udasin) bhakats. Xatra Satradhikars are elected from other Xatras where marriage is permitted. The chosen young man is brought into the Xatra as a teenager and trained in the Vaishnava religion, philosophy and life. During the period of training the young devotee is called "Deka-Adhikar", or young pontiff.The Satradhikars have taken great pains and precautions to preserve the relics and manuscripts of the saint Srimanta Sankardeva
Srimanta Sankardeva
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva , was the greatest Assamese saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer and a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India...
written on strips of bark from the “Sanchi tree” (Aquilaria malaccensis
Aquilaria malaccensis
Aquilaria malaccensis is a species of plant in the Thymelaeaceae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Economics:...
) in his own hand in the humid and semi-tropical climate of Assam.
Raasleela
During RaasleelaRasa lila
The Rasa lila or Rasa dance is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and her sakhis...
, several thousand devotees visit the holy Xatra every year with the occasion now observed as one of the National Festivals of Assam. Xatras are socio-religious institutions in the Assam region that belong to the Mahapuruxiya Dharma
Mahapuruxiya dharma
Ekasarana Dharma is a monotheistic religion founded and propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. Most of the adherents of this religion today live in the Indian state of Assam...
. The Xatras are not merely religious institutions but play cultural and historical roles in society. A dance form initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva and later developed within the Xatra is thus called Sattriya and forms one of the eight classical Indian dance styles.