Vaishnavism and culture in Assam and Manipur

ABSTRACT

After the ingression of Vaishnavism in the two states of Assam and Manipur, several changes were observed in the social and cultural arena. Vaishnavism was not just a religion but became an integral part of the lives of the people of the two states. This paper examines how Vaishnavism influenced people and culture in the two states. How dance, drama and music play an active role in proselytising the Vaishnavite faith, and how they manifested differently in both the states. Consequently, Sattriya (pronounced as Xattriya) and Manipuri dances, belonging to the two states respectively, evolved as Indian Classical dance forms in the later years as products of Vaishnavism, retaining their value in ritual and performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Manipuri dance
• performing art
• ritual
• Sattriya dance
• Vaishnavism

Acknowledgements

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Sruti Bandopadhay, Professor, Department of Rabindra Sangeet Dance and Drama, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan along with Jatin Goswami, Sattriya exponent, Dr. Mallika Kandali, Sattriya exponent and Adhyapak Gobinda Saikia, Sattriya exponent for their valuable suggestions and constant guidance to prepare my manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Bhauma means born of Mother Earth by Vishnu in his boar incarnation. That is why he is known as Bhauma Naraka. He is the hero of various stories told in epics and Puranas. In his early life, he was pious. He made Pragjyotishpur (Kamarupa, today Assam) his capital to rule the country, but later, he grew irreligious under the influence of Sonitpur king Banasura.

2. It is a Tantric text of the 16^th−17^th century from Assam. This Tantra contains religious, philosophical and historical information.

3. Bhaskarvarman belonged to the Varman line of kings. He succeeded his elder brother due to his premature death. He was the most remarkable ruler of his family, whose reign of more than 50 years forms a brilliant chapter in the history of Assam. He died celibate, leaving no successor to ascend the throne.

4. Primarily associated with Tantric Saktism, it was written in Kamarupa in the 10^th- 11^th century. This Purana exhibits a catholic outlook by indicating Vishnu-Vasudev in several places.

5. This is one of the earliest epigraphic sources in Assam, dating back to the 5th century AD. This inscription belonged to King Surendravarman and was discovered in Nilachal hills.

6. This rock inscription belonged to King Bhutivarman and dates back to the 6^th century AD near Doboka, Nagaon district, Assam.

7. Doobi and Nidhanpur copper plates originally issued by Bhutivarman and later re-issued by king Bhaskarvarman.These plates tell about the dynasty of Naraka and their descendants who ruled in ancient Assam.

8. Issued in the 25^th regnal year of king Ratnapala.

9. Issued by king Indrapala from Durjjaya in the 21^st regnal year.