1) Namghars are community prayer halls and meeting places unique to Assam that were created by the saint Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. 2) Namghars serve as centers of social and religious activities for villagers of all castes and gender, and also function as local governing bodies where community issues are discussed. 3) In addition to being places of prayer, Namghars are cultural centers where religious texts are recited and cultural programs like drama and dance are performed.

1. Profession
Compassio
n
Profession
Compassio
n
Namghar -
community
meeting place
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Dr. Ankuran Dutta
Head, Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University
Managing Trustee, Dr. Anamika Ray Memorial Trust

2. Profession
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this presentation is dedicated to
Dr Anamika Ray

3. Profession
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Namghar: Creation of Sankardeva
• In the Assamese language, 'Naam' means prayer and
'Ghar' means house. Hence, it is called Naamghar or Namghar, a
prayer house
• It was a unique creation of Srimanta Sankardeva, the great saint of
Assam
• Sankaradeva was an erudite scholar, a prolific writer, a versatile
saint-poet of unlimited merit, a lyricist of universal acceptance, a
musician of high calibre, a pioneer in the field of Assamese prose,
drama and dramatic performances, a painter and above all the
greatest religious teacher-preacher-leader of the medieval
Vaisnava movement in Assam which is rightly known as the
Sankaradeva Movement. The confluence of so many qualities is
very rare in a single person. He not only outshone his
contemporaries, but also excelled his predecessors.
• He established the first Naamghar at Bordowa in Nagaon district
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4. Profession
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A community communication centre
• Naamghar is a community prayer and meeting hall
• Namghar is an exemplary in functioning as institutions of self-
governance.
• Namghar plays a significant role in shaping the cultural milieu of
adjoining areas. At the same time they exhibit features of self-
governance in various ways, allowing people to participate in the
decision making process.
• Namghar is an institution that governed itself in some clear cut ways.
• Namghar is a model of Social Sustainability
• It has definite ways to gather revenue, keep track of funds, and had
functionaries entrusted with specific tasks to ensure smooth running of
the Namghar.
• A common platform for devotees cutting across social and economic
divide
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5. Profession
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A living institution
• The Nāmghar is a living institution and for over 500
years, its impact on Assamese society and culture has
been tremendous.
• It diffused a high degree of enlightenment among the
masses of the people.
• It should be noted that Vaisnavism in Assam is a
religion as well as an institution, and even today, it
exercises a very great and good influence on the social
and communal life of the Assamese people.
• The doors of the Nāmghar are open to all, no matter
what caste or gender one belongs to.
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6. Profession
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n
Village Parliaments
• The Namghar is a common feature of every Assamese village. In the
villages, in addition to serving as the common prayer hall, it also
serves as the village stage and the meeting place of the village
panchayat.
• It has continued to be the centre of social and religious activities.
• The influence of the Namghar can well be imagined from the fact that
even in villages where the inhabitants are entirely Saktas, it has
become a permanent feature.
• Here, not only sastras and literary masterpieces are recited, but great
problems of life, philosophy and religion are discussed and debated;
and the village people learn here what they did not know before and
receive new ideas and experiences.
• The Namghars served and are serving still now, as a panchayat-hall,
where the villagers gather also to discuss many current problems of
the village and community life and political as well as economic and
social subjects. This institution helps to impart unity to Assamese
village life.
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7. Profession
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n
Great Cultural Centres
• The Namghars led to the creation and development of
drama, music and the stage.
• These three are the most powerful instruments for
popularising culture as they appeal to nearly everyone.
• The Ankiyā Nāts, which are full of music and dance, are
acted even today in the Nāmghars, and the entire village
assembles to see on the stage stories from the great
works like the Bhāgavata, the Rāmāyana and the
Mahābhārata, which dealt with the deepest problems of
human life and religion.
• The Vaisnavas introduced many new festivals and saints'
days in their calendar, and these doubtless, widened the
scope for dramatic performances and recreations for the
mind and spirit of the worry-ridden common man.
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8. Profession
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Layout
• The Nāmghar is a large open hall for the purpose of offering mass
prayer and community communication. Originally constructed with
bamboo, reeds and thatch, the Nāmghar is even now a humble
structure without any outward show or ostentation.
• The Namghar is usually a rectangular building with a gable, gablet or a
hip roof raised on pillars the length of which is aligned in the east-west
direction.
• The traditional thatch roof has been replaced in the late 20th century
by corrugated tin sheets, and the timber or bamboo pillars by concrete
ones. This hall usually has an outer wall, with the main entrance at the
west end. There is a verandah around the outer wall, with windows
and minor entrances on the north and south sides.
• Two parallel rows of pillars usually run along the length, with the
northeast most pillar, called the laikhuta, carrying special significance.
The floor is traditionally mud, replaced in recent times by concrete.
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9. Profession
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The Manikut
• The actual shrine where the sacred scripture is kept is
called manikut.
• It is a smaller structure than the Nāmghar and is
generally attached to the latter adjoining the eastern
end. In addition to the sacred scripture, all the
precious things dedicated to the Deity are kept in the
manikut.
• It is the sanctum -sanctorum of the entire
establishment and as the sacred scripture and all the
valuables of the Satra are kept here, it is called
manikut, literally the house of jewels.
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10. Profession
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n
The Guru Āsana
• The sacred scripture is placed on the Guru Āsana. The Guru
Āsana, literally the Seat of the Guru is a seven-tiered,
triangular, wooden throne adorned by the tortoise-elephant-
lion motif and other decorative woodwork.
• Idol worship is absent in a Namghar and no idol is
worshipped, even that of Krishna, in any form.
• The only object of veneration being the sacred text placed
on the top-most tier of the Guru Āsana. The scripture is the
vāngmay image of the Lord; it represents Bhagavanta, the
Supreme Being or Mahāpurusa who manifests Himself as
Visnu or Krishna; it also represents the Guru, his message as
well as the highest truth propounded by him.
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11. Profession
Compassio
n
Officials at Namghar
• Some of the officials of Naamghar are Medhi,
Bujandar, Bayan, Namgharia, Bilonia, etc. They are
held in high esteem and are respected by the people.
• A Naamghar is not only a place of worship, but is also
a centre of learning, an institution for imparting
education, a community hall where people gather to
discuss their social problems, a training centre of arts
and crafts and above all, a centre of unity of the
society.
• Namghars are also used for cultural activities
associated a social congregation like Bhaona (drama)
and dances.
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12. Profession
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Web references:
• http://www.atributetosankaradeva.org/namghar.htm
• http://www.assam.org/node/2350
• http://www.vkic.org/report/2014/july/role-of-namghar-as-an-institution-
of-self-governance
• http://www.joiaaiaxom.com/assam/about/namghar-the-prayer-house-of-
assam-89.html
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13. Profession
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Please visit:
armt.in
Contact
ankurandutta@gmail.com
www.comcomm.org
Ph- 91-9910115696
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