Vaishnavite Period
Vaishnavite Period - Overview
Vaishnavite Period is part of the free study material on axomexam.in for Assam and central government recruitment examinations. The topics on this page are arranged in a logical study order so that you can build the concept first and then test yourself with the linked question sets.
What is covered here
- Sankardev & Madhavdev Works
- Charit Puthis & Early Prose
How to prepare Vaishnavite Period
- Read the topic notes once, then attempt the related questions to test your recall.
- Mark the facts you keep forgetting and revise them in short, repeated sessions.
- Practise in both languages so you can recognise the same fact in Assamese and English.
- Review the explanations even for questions you answered correctly to strengthen retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vaishnavite period of Assamese literature?
The Vaishnavite period, also called the Neo-Vaishnavite period or the golden age of Assamese literature, covers roughly the fifteenth to the seventeenth century CE. It was shaped by Srimanta Sankardev, Madhavdev and the Ekasarana Namadharma, and it produced the Kirtan Ghosha, the Naam Ghosha, the Ankiya Naat, the Borgeet and the first Assamese prose.
Who were the principal figures of the Vaishnavite period?
The principal figures are Srimanta Sankardev (1449–1568), the founder of the Ekasarana Namadharma, and his chief disciple Madhavdev (1489–1596). Other important leaders include Bhattadeva, the father of Assamese prose, along with Gopaldev and Damodardev.
What literary forms emerged during the Vaishnavite period?
The period produced the Kirtan Ghosha and other devotional verse, the Ankiya Naat one-act plays performed as Bhaona, the Borgeet songs, the Bhatimas, and the first Assamese prose in the form of the Charit Puthis and Bhattadeva's Katha Bhagavata and Katha Gita.
How did the Vaishnavite movement change Assamese society?
The movement promoted devotion to a single God through the chanting of his name, and it welcomed people across caste lines. It created the Sattra and the Namghar as centres of worship, education and culture, encouraged the Assamese language, and gave rise to the Sattriya dance and the Bhaona tradition.
What topics are covered in this Vaishnavite Period section?
This section covers two topics: Sankardev & Madhavdev Works, which deals with the authors, their compositions and their genres, and Charit Puthis & Early Prose, which deals with the earliest Assamese prose. Together they cover the most frequently asked questions on the period.