Published Paper Details:

ABSTRACT In the 15th century AD the social fabric of India was torn by all round degradation and cultural distortion and corruption permeated all section of the society, right from the ruling class to the priestly class. Various malpractices were committed in the name of religion, which vitiated the social structure. There were people who loosely adhered to Vaishnavism or Saivism and there were others who practiced Saktism bordering on extreme Tantricism. The followers of these cults indulged in evil practices like animal and human sacrifices, magical rites, spells and the like. The poor and downtrodden people became victims of these ghastly practices. It was at this juncture, that the great spiritual leader, social reformer, playwright and composer- Srimanta Sankaraadeva appeared on the social scene of Assam. He was a multi-faceted genius who gave a direction to the chaotic Assamese society by initiating a fresh approach to the existing Vaishnava religion that gave rise to a set of new values and aided in social synthesis. Vaishnavism has been constantly playing a significant role in the process of assimilating diverse elements- indigenous and non-indigenous into the Assamese culture. The movement evolved new institutions of Satra and Namghar which began to serve not only as the instrument spreading the faith, but also helped to sustain and to stabilize Vaishnavism by making it a part and parcel of Assamese social and cultural life. With its dynamic philosophy of inclusiveness Sankardeva�s Neo-Vaishnavism has given birth to a new Cultural Nationalism focused on a national identity shaped by cultural traditions and language, not on the concept of common ancestry or race. The Cultural Nationalism was brought forward to the indigenous people with the help of Satras and Namghar which has a major role to play in the preservation and development of the indigenous culture of the region.