Sanskritization and its Impact on Pre-Colonial Tripura

<div> This paper attempts to make an overall assessment about Sanskritization &amp;amp; its impact on </div> <div> indigenous folk culture in Pre-colonial Tripura. The term ‘Sanskritisation’ has been taken </div> <div> from the language of Sanskrit. Literally, when the word of Sanskrit was used instead of local </div> <div> language and the habits and attitudes of the people were upgraded, then the Sanskritisation </div> <div> took place in an actual manner. It is believed by the scholars that the name of this land as </div> <div> ‘Tripura’ is the sanskritised form of Tipra, a tribe to which the ruling family belonged. </div> <div> As a matter of fact, when the early history of Tripura was written by two brothers named as </div> <div> Sukreswar and Baneswer in Sanskrit language under the heading of ‘Sri Rajratnakaram’. </div> <div> Then, Dharma Manikya was the ruler of Tripura (1432-1462 AD). When the chronicle of the </div> <div> King was written, that time the facts of Tripura were rendered by Tripuri Priest Durlabhendra </div> <div> Chantai &amp;amp; Sanskritization took its root in Pre-colonial Tripura. </div> <div> It was due to the prevalent use of Sanskritisation by which many temples were constructed in </div> <div> Tripura during 15- 16 th centuries. Mention may be made that the Tripura Sundari Temple was </div> <div> constructed by Dhanya Manikya in 1501 A.D. Many other temples were also erected during </div> <div> the middle of the 15 th century to the middle of the 16 th century. Their names are as follows :- </div> <div> Tripuresh siva temple, Hari temle, Vishnu temple on the bank of Dhanyasagar, Jagannath </div> <div> temple of Daityanarayan,Visnu temle of Hirapur etc. </div> <div> The life-style of the tribal people was upgraded by the process of Sanskritisation. Now, they </div> <div> seemed to be called as cultured. Its effects can be observed on the life-style, food habits, </div> <div> marriage, religious belief, language, education, dress, song, music, dance, art &amp;amp; architecture </div> <div> etc.The process of Sanskritisation in Tripura is characterised by imitation, change of ideals, </div> <div> social mobility, social change etc.The term of ‘Sanskritisation’ has been integrated with </div> <div> economic and political domination in Tripura , that is, the role of local dominant caste in the </div> <div> process of cultural transmission. By the process of Sanskritisation, the tribal community of </div> <div> Tripura tried to prove themselves to be a part of Hindu society.Sanskritisation occurred </div> <div> sooner or later in those castes which enjoyed political and economic power in Pre-Colonial </div> <div> Tripura. </div> <div> This paper examines the factors that have made Sanskritisation possible in Tripura are as </div> <div> follows :- occupational mobility, developed communication, spread of literacy, and western </div> <div> technology. So far as the religious aspect is concerned, the Hinduisation of tribals is an </div> <div> example of religious Sanskritisation in Tripura. </div>