Context:
Rahul Gandhi prevented from visiting Batadrava Than
Batadrava Than:
- Also called – Bordowa Than
- Location – Assam
- Important centre of Vaishnavism
- Features – Has a prayer house Kirtan Ghar initially built by Sankaradeva
- Festival – Doul Mohotsava celebrated during Holi.
- Birthplace of Srimanta Sankaradeva
Srimanta Sankaradeva:
- Revered Vaishnavite reformer
- Place – Assam
- Timeperiod – 15th CE
- Contemporary of – Ahom and Koch kingdoms
- Philosophy – Ek Saran Naam Dharma (worship of a single deity, Vishnu)
- Founder of – Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement in Assam
- Teachings based on – Bhagavata-purana.
- Ideals – Espoused a society based on equality and fraternity
- Campaigned against orthodox Brahmanical rituals and sacrifices.
- Focused on prayer and chanting (naam)
- Against idol worship
- His dharma was based on 4 components of deva (god), naam (prayers), bhaktas (devotees), and guru (teacher).
- Contributions –
- Cultural institutions like Namghars and Satras
- Literature works – Hariscandra-upakhyana, Rukmini Harana Kavya, Kirtana-ghosa and Bhakti Pradipa
- Borgeet – Devotional songs composed in Brajavali
- Ankia Naat and Bhaona – Theatrical performance
- Sattriya style of dance
- Vrindavani Vastra – Painting depicting Krishna’s life
- Biography – Katha Guru Carita (biography of Sankaradeva and other Vaishnava saints)
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) The best means of salvation was devotion
(b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative
(c) Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss
(d) Salvation was to be obtained through meditation
Answer: (a)
