SATTRIYA

 

                               SATTRIYA

Sattriya (Assamese: সত্ৰীয়া), or Sattriya Nritya, is a major Indian classical dance. It is a dance-drama performance art with origins in the Krishna-centered Vaishnavism monasteries of Assam, and attributed to the 15th century Bhakti movement scholar and saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev.

Satrriya is also known as Sattriya Nritya was formed in the Satra monasteries as a contribution to the Bhakti movement of neo-Vaishnavite led by Srimanta Sankardev during the 15th century in Assam. Therefore Sattriya has its origin from Krishna focused Vaishnavism in Assam as introduced by the famous scholar, reformer and Vaishnaya saint Srimanta Sankardev. Sattriya classical dance is more than five hundred years older.

The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha Sankaradeva as a powerful medium for propagation of the Vaishnava faith. The dance form evolved and expanded as a distinctive style of dance later on. This neo-Vaishnava treasure of Assamese dance and drama has been, for centuries, nurtured and preserved with great commitment by the Sattras i.e. Vaishnava maths or monasteries. Because of its religious character and association with the Sattras, this dance style has been aptly named Sattriya.