Bhortal is a type of clappers which was developed by Sankaradeva himself. It was inspired by an instrument in Bhutan, and hence the name of the instrument. The dance designed with Bhortal is known as Bhortal Nritya. Mahananda Sutradhar, a Vaishnava devotee of the Barpeta Sattra of Assam introduced this form of dance and made it popular amongst the Vaishnavas. Bhortal dance is an energetic dance form adapted from the traditional Sattriya Thiya Naam.