Context:
Sri Sri Auniati Satra is a more than 350-year-old Vaishnavite monastery in Assam’s Majuli district.
Relevance:
GS I: History
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key Facts about Sri Sri Auniati Satra Vaishnavite Monastery
- Vaishnavism
Key Facts about Sri Sri Auniati Satra Vaishnavite Monastery
Establishment and Historical Significance:
- Founded in 1653 in Majuli, Assam.
- Boasts a rich history of over 350 years, making it one of the oldest Satras in the region.
Vaishnavism and Satra:
- A Satra serves as an institutional center for Assamese Vaishnavism, a bhakti movement originating in the 15th century.
Geographical Location:
- Located in Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island, situated in the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India.
Religious Significance:
- Center for Assamese Vaishnavism, focusing on the worship of Lord Krishna.
- The idol of Lord Krishna (Govinda) is believed to have originated from the Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri.
Cultural Heritage Preservation:
- Beyond worship, Vaishnavite monasteries like Auniati Satra play a pivotal role in preserving traditional art forms, literature, and cultural practices.
- Serve as vital hubs for the promotion and sustenance of the region’s cultural heritage.
Educational and Spiritual Activities:
- Traditionally functions as a center for learning and spiritual activities.
- Monks and disciples engage in religious studies, meditation, and community service.
Bhaona and Traditional Arts:
- Bhaona, a traditional art form, is a significant cultural practice at the Satra.
- Involves a blend of acting, music, and musical instruments.
- Aims to convey religious messages to villagers through entertaining performances.
- Typically, the main drama is preceded by the musical performance called the Gayan-Bayan.
Vaishnavism:
Definition:
- Vaishnavism is a prominent bhakti (devotional) movement within Hinduism, focusing on deep devotion and love towards the god Vishnu and his various incarnations.
Key Features:
- Central Focus on Devotion to Vishnu:
- Emphasizes devotion (bhakti) to Vishnu, considered the Supreme Being and sustainer of the universe.
- Vaishnavas cultivate a personal relationship with Vishnu, expressing love, reverence, and devotion.
- Incarnations of Vishnu:
- Vishnu is believed to have incarnated on Earth in various forms, known as avatars, to restore cosmic order and righteousness.
- The ten primary avatars, called Dashavatara, include popular incarnations like Rama and Krishna.
- Goal of Liberation (Moksha):
- Vaishnavism places a strong emphasis on the path of bhakti for liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and union with Vishnu.
- Variety of Sects:
- Vaishnavism encompasses different sects and groups with varying interpretations of the relationship between the individual soul (jiva) and God.
Major Vaishnavite Sects:
- Srivaishnava Sect:
- Emphasizes qualified nondualism (vishishtadvaita) based on the teachings of Ramanuja.
- Madhva Sect:
- Professes dualism, asserting the separate existence of God and the soul, following the philosophy of Madhva.
- Pushtimarg Sect:
- Maintains pure nondualism according to Vallabhacharya’s teachings.
- Gaudiya Sect:
- Founded by Chaitanya, teaches inconceivable duality and nonduality.
-Source: The Hindu
