Assam History: Ancient, Medieval, Colonial Eras

Assam History

• Assam's history is divided into four eras
• Ancient era: 4th to 12th century
• Medieval era: 12th CE (1206) - 1826
• Colonial era: 1826-1947
• Post-Colonial era: After 1947
• The Ancient era commenced in the 4th century with Kamrupa's mention in Samudragupta's Allahabad pillar inscriptions, marking the establishment of the Kamrupa kingdom
• Medieval era started with Bengal sultanate attacks, the first in 1206 by Bakhtiyar Khalji
• The Kanai Boroxiboa inscription mentions Bengal's sultan attacks in 1206
• The Colonial era began in 1826 after the Treaty of Yandaboo, with the establishment of British control

Parts of Assam History

• Pre-Ancient Assam History, also known as Mythological Period

• Ancient History: 350-1206 AD

• Medieval History: 1206-1826 AD

• Modern History: 1826-1947 AD

• Assam was also called 'City of Eastern Astrology'

• 'Prag' means East direction and 'Jyotish' refers to stars or Astrology

• Assam's name was mentioned as Pragjyotishpur in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata

• Kalika Puran and Yogini Tantra mention Assam as Kamrupa

• The tantric text 'Yogini Tantra' dedicates itself to the worship of goddesses, Kali and Kamakhya

• According to the Yogini Tantra, Kamrupa is divided into four parts

• Ratnapith: Karatoya River to Sankosh River

• Kampith: Sankosh River to Rupohi River

• Swarnapith: Rupohi River to Bharali River

• Saumarpith: Bharali River to Dikrang River

• Ahom gave the name Assam

Danava Dynasty

• Pragjyotishpur’s first dynasty
• Mahiranga Danava was the founder
• Mairang Parvat was the Dynasty's capital
• Mahiranga Danava was succeeded by Hatakasura, Sambasura, Ratnasura, and Ghatakasura
• Narakasura killed Ghatakasura and founded a new dynasty

Asur or Bhauma Dynasty

• Narakasura established this dynasty after killing Ghatakasura.

• Pragjyotishpur was the capital

• According to Mythology like Brahma Purana and Vishnupurana, Narakasura son of Vishnu

• Married Maya, the daughter of the king of Vidarbha.

• Bana Asur, king of Sonitpur influenced Narakasura to grow irreligious and presumptuous.

• Narakasura built a temple for Kamakhya on Nilachala Hills after asking her to be his wife.

• Sri Krishna killed Narakasura

• According to ancient stories, Narakasura, son of Vishnu and Dharitri, was raised by Janaka from North Bihar.

Bhagadatta

• Bhagadatta was Naraka’s son
• In Mahabharata, Bhagadatta was frequently mentioned as an eastern potentate
• Bhagadatta gave daughter Bhanumati in marriage to Duryadhana, the eldest Kaurava
• Bhagadatta fought on side of Kauravas in Kurushetra battle
• Four sections of Drona Parvan in the Mahabharata are devoted to Bhagadatta's heroic deeds
• Bhagadatta dug Dighali Phukuri in Guwahati for Bhanumati's Sayambar.
• Supratika was the name of his elephant
• Arjuna killed Bhagadatta in Kurukshetra war
• Varjradatta succeeded the king

Bana King/Banasura

• Banasura was contemporary of Narakasura.
• Bali was the father of Banasura, king of Sonitpur
• Usha, Banasura's daughter, was very beautiful, attracting Aniruddha's attention
• The Secret marriage of Usha and Aniruddha is known as Gandharva ceremony.
• Bana's grandson Bhaluka made Bhalukpung his capital.

Bhismak

• Bhismak was a king who ruled in Vidarbha
• Kundina at the bank of the river kundil, Sadiya, was his capital
• He had five sons and a daughter named Rukmini.
• Krishna proceeded to Dwarka with Rukmini defeating everyone after learning of her beauty.
• Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva wrote the play Rukmini Haran based on this incident.

Varman Dynasty

• Key Rulers: Pushya Varman, Samudra Varman, Bala Varman, Kalyan Varman, Ganapathi Varman.
• Key Rulers: Mahendra Varman, Narayan Varman, Mahabhuti Varman, Chandramukha Varman, Sthitha Varman, Susthita Varman, Supratisthata Varman, Bhaskar Varman.
• Sanskrit and Prakrit were the official languages of the Varman dynasty.

Pushya Varman

• The Varman dynasty marked the beginning of ancient Assam during the fourth century
• Pushya Varman, founder of the Varman dynasty, had the title 'Maharajadhiraj'
• He was contemporary of Gupta dynasty's Samudragupta
• Gupta King Samudragupta defeated Bala Varman during the Ashwamedha Sacrifice
• Kashmir's Gonanda dynasty king Meghavahana married Balavarman's daughter, Amritprabha.

Bhaskar Varman

• He was the last ruler of the Varman dynasty.
• Kumar Raja was another name for him
• He was contemporary of Harshabardhan.
• He allied with Hasha by sending Hangsavega as an ambassador to Harshabardhan's court
• Bhaskar varman and Harshavardhan jointly invaded kingdom of Shasanka, Gaur's king, Karnasuvarna is capital
• Nidhanpur copper plate was unearthed by Bhaskarvarman following the Karnasuvarna War
• Dubi copper plate connects to Bhaskar Varman.
• At Kanauj, Bhaskar Varman attended Harshavardhana's great religious council
• During Bhaskar Varman's reign, Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited Assam
• Kamrupa descriptions were written in Si-Yu-Ki
• Bhaskaravarman only accepted a Cap from Hiuen Tsang
• Before entering Kamrup, Hiuen Chang crossed the Koratwa River

Kamrupa from Hiuen Tsang's prospectives

• The King was a Brahmin.
• Believed in Sramanas of learning
• Kamrupa circumference 1700 miles (10000 li)
• People are simple and honest.
• Jack Fruit and Coconut cultivation
• Soft and temperate climate
• Earnest in Studies
• Small stature with dark yellow complexion
• Abundant Deva temples

Salasthambha Dynasty

• Avanti Burman founded this dynasty and assumed the title of Salasthmbha

• Important Rulers: Harshadeva, Balavarman II, Hajjara Varman, Vanamala Varmandev, Jaymala Varman, Balavarman -III, Tyag Singha

• Nepal’s king Jaydeva’s Pashupati inscription suggests Rajyamati, Harshadeva's daughter, married Jayadeva

• Harjjara Varman was another important ruler

• Tezpur Rock inscription and Hayunthul copper plate belonged to the period of Harjjara Varman.

• Hazara pukhuri of Tezpur named after Harrjaravarman.

• Capital shifted temporarily to Harupeswar or Hatapeswar (present day Tezpur).

• Tyag Singha was the dynasty's last ruler.

Pala Dynasty

• Brahma Pala founded this dynasty.
• Ratnapala was a famous king and the son of Bramhapala
• Ratnapala established Sri Durjoya as his capital.
• Brahma Pala, Ratnapala, Purander Pala, Indra Pala, Gopala, Harshapala, Dharmapala, Jayapala were key rulers
• Dharmapala stood out as the most powerful king of this dynasty.
• First Constructed during Pala’s Reign-Haigriv Madhav Mandir, was located in Hajo
• The Pala dynasty declined after the invasion of Kamrup Kingdom by Rampala, Gaur's king

Medieval History of Assam

• With Bakhtiar Khilji’s Kamrup invasion, Bengal Nawab in 1206 AD, Assam entered it's Medieval era as mentioned on the Kanai boroxiboa rock inscription

• The Ahom dynasty emerged in Eastern Assam by 1228, and ruled until 1826(British arrival)

• Morans, Mataks, Borahis, Nagas, Manipuries, Jayantias, Miris, Kacharis, Chutiyas, Kochs are key communities

• Clash of the Ahoms with the Kachari, Chutiya, Jayantia kingdoms

The First Mohammedan invasion (1206-1226)

• Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1206
• Prithu was Kamrupa king under this Khalji regime

The Second Mohammedan invasion

• Ghiyasuddin Iwaz Khilji: Governor General of Bengal under Iltutmish

• Nasiruddin, son of Iltutmish, set out to conquer Bengal during Kamrup invasion

• Nasiruddin attacked Kamrupa in 1228 and killed Prithu, Sandhya made successor and king

• Nasiruddin had passed, Sandhya halted tax payment

• Strong relations with Chutiya Kingdom and Sandhya

• Ikhtiyaruddin Yuzback or Tughril Khan invade Assam in 1257.

• Sandhya shifted capital from kamrupa to west Kamatapur,Koch Bihar and took the title Kamateswar or Kameswar.

• King Sandhya held most prominent successor of Durlabhnarayan Lower Assam part of Bengal in Kamata Kingdom

• Chandibar(Srimanta Sankardeva Ancestor) is the Durlabhnarayana territory

Arimatta

• Following assassination of Durlabhnarayana successor, an Bhuyan took throne of Kamata named Arimatta
• Kamatapur's ruled in northern 14th century
• Mriganka ruled last of Arimatta descendent and killed during childhood
• Bhuyans followed for Mriganka followed rule