Crafting selves: learning tradition and becoming a monk at a Hindu monastery

Abstract

This study examines how monks (bhakats) at Hindu monasteries (satra) in Assam become legitimate members of their monastic community. Rooted within the Neo-Vaishnavite tradition of the fifteenth century, satras were established to foster an egalitarian society and became vital spiritual and cultural institutions where religious teachings were disseminated through music and dance dramas. Bhakats continue these practices today within a framework where learning, religious practice, livelihood and daily life intertwine. Tradition and resistance coexist within the satra, creating unique dynamics. Drawing on concepts of embodied and situated learning within a ‘community of practice’, this study highlights the educational significance of satra-based learning as an ongoing and relational process. Bhakats preserve traditions, and transform them while negotiating with an ever-changing world. By examining how bhakats craft and perform different identities as adaptive agents, this study contributes to broader discussions on the evolving nature of religious communities and institutions in contemporary societies.