The Dramas of Sankaradeva: A Performing Art Par Excellence (As called Ankiya Nat or Bhaona in Assamese)

The Vaishna saint, social reformer and a great playwright of Assam Sankaradeva was born in 1449 and became the polymath of 15th and 16th century. Sankaradeva was not only a saint, social reformer and playwright, but also was the inventor of various type of musical instruments and music composer. Similarly he was also recognized as the topmost executive and most original creator of Drama in Assamese culture. Sankaradeva used his literary works for evolution his Neo Vaishnava philosophy. He composed many literary works during his evolution. Among those, his great work Kritan Ghosha and Gunamala are may be mentionable. Sankaradeva wrote many dramas are like Cihna Yatra, Patni-prasad, Kalia-daman,Keli-gopal,Rukmini-haran,Parijat-haran,Sriram-Vijaya.Sankardeva’s dramas or as one act play called Ankiya Nat in Assamese literature. First dramatic spectacle presented by Sankardeva was known as Cihna Yatra. It has been presented on stage by Sankardeva himself in 1468. Sankardeva has a great impact on Assamese drama or Ankiya Nat. The main feature of Sankardeva‟s plays its style of presentation. These dramas are reflected by the presentation of paintings of seven Vaikunthas. Sankardeva uses a way of explanation through his drama’s actions which presented the deeper sense of Vaikuntha. Sankardeva presented his drama as a form of Bhauna in Assamese society. And this paper is revealed how Sankardeva‟s dramas played a vital role in reconstruction of Assamese literature. Sankardeva make great effort to propagating importance of Bhauna in Assamese society. And also revealed the Sankardeva‟s worked which created a great effort towards the uplifting mood of performing arts in and outside of Assam. Thus the paper is an attempting to reflect Sankardeva‟s Bhauna in the present time as performing arts.