Śrīmanta Śaṅkaradeva
15th–16th century · Assam · Ekaśaraṇa Dharma
Śrīmanta Śaṅkaradeva was a saint, poet, playwright and reformer of Assam. He founded the Ekaśaraṇa Dharma, “religion of surrender to the One”, centred on devotion to Kṛṣṇa through hearing and singing his names (śravaṇa and kīrtana), open to all regardless of caste.
He created the nāmghar, the village prayer hall, and his tradition built the satras, monasteries that remain centres of Assamese culture. His works include the Kīrtan Ghoṣā, Borgīt songs and Aṅkīyā Nāṭ plays, from whose performance the Sattriya dance grew. His chief disciple Mādhavadeva carried his work forward.
Assam · Ekaśaraṇa Dharma · Nāmghar and satra · Kīrtan Ghoṣā · Sattriya dance