Auniati Satra

Getting there

• By air

  Jorhat Airport, also called Rowriah Airport, is located at Rowriah, a suburb of Jorhat, about 7 km from the city centre. Majuli is about 20 km from Jorhat.

• By train

  Jorhat Town railway station serves Jorhat.

• By road

  Reach Majuli by bus and ferry from Nimati Steamer Ghat. The trip takes over three hours and involves several transfers.

Why devotees come here

Sri Sri Auniati Satra is a monastery on Majuli, the river island in Assam, of the Brahma Sanghati order of Ekasarana Dharma. It is one of four royal satras linked to the Ahom dynasty, and the Ahom kings ranked it highest among Assam's satras. Its daily worship centres on Govinda, a form of Krishna.

The satra belongs to the Brahma Sanghati order of Ekasarana Dharma and stands on Majuli, Assam's river island. Its origin is most commonly placed at 1653 CE. Sutamla founded it and took formal initiation under its first Satradhikar, Sri Sri Niranjana Deva Goswami.

The Ahom kings counted it among the four royal satras, the raj satras, and ranked it highest among the satras of Assam. The layout is circular: a row of houses called Baha runs around the edge, and the Namghar (temple) and the Manikuta stand at the centre. The Govinda idol receives daily worship in the Manikuta.

The main prayer runs from morning till evening every day. Paal Naam is held each year in the Assamese month of Kartika, from the 25th to the 29th day. During Kati Bihu in mid-October, the satra lights Akash Bonti, oil lamps on tall bamboo poles, with devotional singing.

Festivals

• Assamese month of Kartika, 25th to 29th dayPaal Naam

  Celebrated every year at the satra.

• Mid-OctoberKati Bihu

  The satra lights Akash Bonti, oil lamps on tall bamboo poles, with devotional singing.

Tips for your visit

• Kamalabari Satra, another major satra on Majuli founded by Badalapadma Ata, is a centre of art, culture, literature and classical studies.
• For darshan of Govinda, head to the Manikuta, the Satra Temple at the centre of the satra grounds.

Questions people ask