Published Paper Details:

Assamese drama started with Sankardeva's 'Ankiya Naat' in the 15th century. In order to reform the society of his time, Sankardeva propagated Neo-Vaisnavism bhakti cult and to pass the essence of his bhakti cult to the common people Sankardeva composed many Kavyas. Sankardeva presented his Kavyas in a kind of drama built on classical concept fusing music, dance and dialogue together which later styled as Ankiya Naat. A study of the Ankiya Naats of Mahapurush Sankardeva and Madhavdeva reveals that there is much influence of Sanskrit plays on the Nakiya Naats composed by the Mahapurusha. There are much similarities between Ankiya Naat and Sanskrit Plays. We can see this similarity in the prologues of Sanskrit dramas and the Ankiya Naat. This influence of Sanskrit plays is also felt in the Ankiya Naat while performing Nandi and singing by the Sutradhara (after the prologue) and also on his adoration songs, as well as in the 'Muktimangalan' performed at the end of the Naat. In this paper a sincere attempt has been made to discuss the significant features and the influence of Sanskrit Plays in Ankiya Naat of Sankardeva