According to some scholars the name of the state Assam is derived from the Sanskrit word “Asoma” meaning peerless or unparalleled. While some others believe that it has come from the term “Ahom” who ruled Assam nearly for 600 hundred years.
It is the Tai people that are known as the Ahoms. The kings if this community were termed as the “Swargadeos.” Even there is an interesting fact behind naming the kings as the Swargadeo. It was believed that the Ahoms were the “Indravanshi” and because of this heavenly relation they were being termed as the Swargadeos, which means the gods of the heaven.
Scripture written in Tai language
The Ahoms were rich in their language and literature. Almost all the kings and rich people of the Ahom kingdom were educated and knowledgeable. Not only this, they were the most powerful, courageous people enriched with absolute fighting spirit. The kings were like the Gods and were provided every facility with honor. Their kingdom was so rich that at that time only they were well-facilitated to give a fair fight to their enemies. Certain arms and explosives used by them were-“hiloi” (bombs), “bortup” (tank bombs), “dhal-taruwal” (swords and shield), “kaar-Dhonu” (bow and arrows), “Jaathi-Borosa” etc. They used to be separated into groups hiding in different places in the wars. It was not their system to attack the enemies as a whole. They made it in the way that when one group of people were being attacked then the other group will come for their help and fights with enemies. They too had detectives who kept on passing news of wars to the Swargadeos.
The six centuries of glorious rule of the Ahoms in Assam holds up several courageous stories and achievements of the kings. From time to time several kings reined Assam and paved a smoother way for their successors. These kings not only ruled but united the whole Assam into one. This long duration of 600 hundred years of the Ahom rule showed the assimilation of the various tribes. Manipur, Jaintia, Khyrim, Cachar, Tripura, Bhutan and Koch Behar are certain stated with which the Ahom rulers maintained good relation and good-will. In an approach to bring about social and cultural synthesis the Ahom monarchs encouraged social intercourse including intermarriage and inter-dining between the people of the neighboring states. It was believed that when the Ahoms first came to Assam from Tipam, they were not accompanying any woman with them. It is the Swargadeo Sukapha and his eight executives that came to this place. Sukapha then married four princess of the king of Moran. Most of the Ahom rulers followed this system and expanded their family. Thus, it is being found and proved that the tribes of Assam were tried to be and successfully tied together since the ancient Assam itself.
The period of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha’s rule is considered to be the golden age of the Ahom rule. The country at that time was quite peaceful and all were happy. Fruits, flower, food and wealth; everything at that time was available in plenty. There was no reason for the subjects to be worried. This period of Rajeswar Singha’s rule showed the friendly relation between Assam and Manipur. According to a widespread story in his reign the king of Manipur Jay Singha was in taking shelter in Assam. Then only Rajeswar Singha received a letter from Manipur where he was warned that Jay Singha was not the real king of Manipur and is actually his enemy. After knowing it the king questioned Jay Singha regarding this and said that there will be a test of his real identity the next day. That night Jay Singha saw Lord Krishna and Radha in his dreams. They advised him to keep patience and that he will be the final winner. Accordingly, he proved his identity next day when he was kept alone with an elephant. The elephant did not harm him. Instead, hold him through its trunk and put him on its back. This made everybody aware of his real identity and he was helped by Swargadeo Rajeswar in being the king of Manipur again.
List of Ahom kings of Assam is like this:
First Set
Name of King A.D. Saka Month and Days period of reign
Khora Raja 1552 - 1474 Kartik 29 58 8 26
Pratap Singha 1611 - 1533 Sravan 25 37 3 26
Bhaga Raja 1648 - 1570 Aghon 23 3 1 5
Naria Raja 1652 - 1573 Puh 28 1 10 25
Jayadhwaj Singha 1653 - 1575 Aghon 23 9 6 5
Chakradhwaj Singha 1663 - 1585 Jeth 28 6 10 17
Second Set
Khora Raja 1552 - 1473 Phagun 7 52 6 8
Pratap Singha 1603 - 1524 Phagun 7 38 5 3
Bhaga Raja 1641 - 1563 Sravan 10 3 1 12
Naria Raja 1644 - 1566 Bhada 22 4 1 14
Jayadhwaj Singha 1648 - 1570 Kartik 6 15 0 19
Chakradhwaj Singha1663 -1585 kartik 26 5 9 19
Speaking about the Ahoms would be incomplete if we do not remember the powerful and the inborn courageous fighter Lachit Borphukon. The unbeatable Mughals who were defeating all kingdoms and were celebrating their victory over the entire India were sent home back by this fighter. Assam at that time was ruled by Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha. Lachit Borphukon was the nephew of the senapoti (head of the army) of the Ahom Empire who was known as Mumaitamuli Borboruah. Later on, Lachit Borphukon was made the head of the new army to fight against the Mughals when they attacked Guawahati. This battle took place at Saraighat near Guwahati in 1671. The Mughal army was led by Raja Ram Singh of Amber. Lachit Borphukon commanded his army to do or die. He even said that if anyone found not performing his duty then will not be left unpunished. The Ahom armies build a Gor (wall) in the North side of Amingaon and defeated the Mughals in a naval battle. For being irresponsible in duty Lachit Borphukon even cut his own uncle Mumaitamuli Borphukon into two pieces by saying- “Dekhotkoi mumai dangor nohoi” (My uncle is not bigger than my country). This instance portrays the unbeatable and unbounded patriotism of Lachit Borphukon for his country.
Siva Dol
It is the Sivsagar district of Assam that is carrying the splendid memories of the Ahom kingdom. Once known as the Rangpur, this place has certain everlasting monuments and cultural heritage of the Ahoms. It has the Siva Dol, Bishnu Dol, Devi Dol made by the second queen Ambika Adevy of Swargadeo Sivasingha. Moving towards the south of the Sivsagar town is the Rang Ghar. This two storied mansion designed like a tortoise backed duck’s egg was made by Swargadeo Susenpha alias Pramatta Singha. Swargadeo Surenpha alias Rajeshwar Singha made the Tolatol Ghar and the Kareng Ghar.
Kareng Ghar
The kareng Ghar is of 7 stories with two underground ways one of which leads to Gorgaon and the other to Dikhou River. Temples found in Jaysagar are Rangnath Dol, Phakua Dol, HaraGouri Dol and GouriBallav Dol. The stone bridge of Namdang, namely, “Namdang Xilor Haaku” was made by Swargadeo Rudra Singha that is found 8 miles away in the South-West of Sivsagar.
Saraideo is the place holding all powerful and courageous rulers under its ground. Persons that are sent ahead dig a grave at Saraideo. The grave with a huge mound of earth on it is called “maidam” (tomb). These maidams of the Ahom Swargadeos are being found covering a huge area of Saraideo. After the physical death the spirit is supposed to live and is worshipped by the descendants for inspiration and blessing. Hence, maidam is a sacred mausoleum. When an Ahom king dies he is being digged by putting in gold plated wooden box. Along with him ten other people are also being buried who were his servants when he was alive. When the king dies the news of his death is not made public until a new king takes his place. This new king orders to make the announcement and other required procedures to be followed. The tombs were generally a kind of house made under the earth. A bed holding the coffin is being kept there. Everything that was being used by the king in his life was being kept in that underground house. After keeping 10 to 12 servants with the dead king, the house is being closed with ground and a tomb is built on this place.
A tomb in Saraideo
The Ahom bhaskarjya characterizes certain specific things. Stone, brick and wood were being used by the Ahoms. The god-godessess and other stories cut in stone depict the artistic expertise and beauty of the artists’ skills. Some of those statues and drawings in the stone portray the kings of that time too. The scene of Swargadeo Rudra Singha’s horse riding is a good example that is being found in the Jay Dol. Another wall in its South is having a lady statue cut in it which is being thought as Jaymoti. The stone art of Gourisagar Dol and Jay Dol are of higher standard and more appealing. The wood made things of the Ahoms too were quite amazing and attractive. Different types of things made from wood were “Khaat-Paleng” (bed), “saal-pira”, “Nora-Pira”, “Tamuli-Pira” (all these are different kinds of stools), “Singhakhon”, “Mukha” (masks), “Murti” (statues), “Harai” (trays), “Pera” (box), “haphura” (pots) etc.
Internal dissensions and civil war slowly made the Ahom power decline in the second half of the 18th century. A worth naming incident among those was the Moamoria rebellion during the 1770s and 1780s. Lastly, in 1818, the Burmese attacked Assam and they forced the Ahom king to leave the country. The Burmese too afterwards in 1826 got drive out by the British. This way the Ahom kingdom reached its end but the glorious history and contribution it left for the Assamese people is incredible. They, in real sense enriched the Assamese culture and made people learn several things for living a standard livelihood.
With references from:
“Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha”, “Lachit Borphukon”, “Deodhai Axom Buronji”- by Dr.Surjya Kumar Bhuyan.
“Tai Hanskritir Ruprekha”
“Tai Mangolio Ahom Swargadeo xokolor Jauti-Jugia Hampadhomuh”
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