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In these religious services, songs are sung, religious texts are chanted and recited and extracts from the biographies of the saints are read out to the gathering. At these services drums are beaten, cymbals are tinkled, earthen lamps are lighted and sacred food is offered. At the close of the services mah-prasad is distributed to the gathering.
It should be noted that the Satras work both as seats of religious learning and residential-schools. The Bhaktas live here under the guardianship of the Satradhikar, who is responsible both for their temporal welfare and spiritual progress. Further, each pupil monk when he comes to enter the monastic life is immediately placed under the charge of a senior or elderly bhakta. During the probationary period the pupil-monk serves as aldhara or personal attendant to the senior bhakta, who as a guide train him in monastic life, discipline, liturgy and doctrinal practices. The pupil - monks also receive education from other functionaries of the Satra, particularly from Bhagavati and Pathak. They impart instructions both orally and through written tests and services.
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