|| VI. Music, Dance and Drama ||

The pioneering work of Sankaradeva in respect of music was Bõrgīt (literally ‘great song’, ‘superior song’). The Saint and his foremost disciple Madhavadeva composed a large number of devotional lyrics. These songs in the later years came to be known as Bõrgīt.

Ankiyā Nāt is a form of religious theatre created by Śankaradeva. Ankiyā means ‘of (or pertaining to) one act’ or ‘episode’ and Nāt means 'drama'. Thus, Ankiyā Nāt means a 'one-act drama' composed in a particular form. Sankaradeva created Ankiyā Nāt and wrote many popular plays as a means of spreading and maintaining the tenets of Vaisnavism among his people.

• Contents

  • Borgit - The Great Songs
    • 15 Bõrgīts of Sankaradeva in English Translation
    • Borgit - Translations
  • Ankiya Nat - The Dramas of Sankaradeva
    • Ankiya Nat : The Strategy of Sankaradeva's Plays
    • Ankiya Nat : The Plot Summaries of Sankaradeva’s Plays
  • The Satriya Dance
    • The Sattriyā Dance : Repertory

The highest form of dance in Assam is the Satriyā style of dance which has a classical base about the rules of singing, rhythms and presentation. Satriyā dance style has been in vogue for almost five centuries. It is largely the result of the compositions of Sankaradeva who was also a great musician.