Mayamara Vaishnavism : A Case Study of Naharati Than

This Paper is about the Mayamara Vaishnavism (One important Branch of Neo-Vaishnavite Movement of Assam) And its One important Than Naharati. After the death of Madhabdeva neo-vaishnavite movement in Assam devided into four sects or Samhati. They are The Brahma Samhati by the Damodardev, Purusa Samhati by Purusottoma Thakur, Kala Samhati by Gopala deva and Nika samhati by Mathura das and padma ata. And Anirudhadeva (a disciple of The Gopala deva who established kala samhati) for the first time Established a Branch of Kala Samhati Satra in upper Assam and which was later on came to be known as the Mayamara Satra or Moamaria Satra and his neo-vaishnavite Ideology as the Mayamara Vaishnavism. Though Aniruddhadeva started his proselytising activities from Vishnu Balikunchi in 1601 A.D. But finding the place not congenial owing to the Dafala raids, he decided to shift his satra to some safe place and selected a spot on the bank of the Marnai river six miles south of the present Bihpuria of Lakhimpur district. Having fine artistic sense and architectural knowledge, he raised high embankments around the area and planted on it rows of Nahar (Masua ferrea) trees, for which the satra established there came to be known as Naharati satra (now than).