Context:  

A senior congress leader was prevented from visiting Assam’s Batadrava Than during his political campaign. 

About Batadrava Than

Batadrava Than, or Bordowa Than, is one of the most sacred sites for Assamese Vaishnavites. 

• Location: It is located in Nagaon District at the birthplace of revered Vaishnavite reformer-saint Srimanta Sankardeva (1449-1568).
  • His philosophy was Ek Saran Naam Dharma. 
• Significance: People believe it to be the “Dwitiya Vaikuntha”, the second heaven on  earth. 
  • A huge pond “Akashiganga” and another pond “Santijan” too are the places of attraction of the devotees. 

Establishment of Thans

• Origin: These Sattras/Thans were established as centers of religious, social and cultural reforms in the 16th century.
  • The Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement that Sankardeva started is behind the monastic institutions called Thans/Sattras.
• Present relevance: Today, the Sattras promulgate Sankardeva’s unique “worship through art” approach with music (borgeet), dance (sattriya) and theater (bhauna). 
• Features: Each Sattra has a naamghar (worship hall) as its nucleus and is headed by an influential “Sattradhikar”.

News Source: Indian Express