Suramphaa
Encyclopedia
Suremphaa or Rajeswar Singha, the fourth son of Rudra Singha, became the king
of the Ahom kingdom
after the death of his brother King Pramatta Singha. Rudra Singha's third son, Mohanmala Gohain, was considered ineligible for kingship as his face was pitted with smallpox
marks. According to the norm established after Sulikphaa Lora Roja, an Ahom prince had to be free from any physical disability, defects or deformities to become a king.
The new king was installed with the usual ceremonies. His first act was to exile his brother Mohanmala Gohain as the Raja of Namrup. During his installation as king there was conflict of opinion about the location of the capital between the Deodhais (Ahom priests) and the Hindu astrologers, the former recommended Taimung
and the latter Rangpur
. The king took the advice of the Hindu astrologers and built his palace at Rangpur, but afterwards he built another palace at Taimung. Both the buildings were of considerable size and were made of bricks.
Rajeswar Singha was a devout Hindu
. He erected many temples and gifted much land to the Brahmins. Soon after his accession he paid a long visit to Gauhati to worship at the Kamakhya
and other temples. He took sharan (meaning initiation in Assamese
) from Nati Gosain, the relative of Parbatiya Gosain, the head priest of Kamakhya Temple
. He gave Nati Gosain a temple at Pandunath. In 1759, Rajeshwar Singha gifted 64 Bighas of land to the Basudeb temple near Nalbari, where Doul Jatra and Janmasthami is celebrated annually, which was built by Siba Singha
.
Rajeswar Singha also promoted cause of the Saiva cult by constructing the Manikarnesvaar Temple (1755), making financial provision for the Sukreswar Temple
(1759), and by constructing the Siddhesvara Temple at Sualkuchi
(1764). Rajeswar Singha got the Navagraha
temple built upon the Citrasala hill in Guwahati
. Two doors of Kedera Shiva temple of Hajo were also constructed at the instance of king Rajeswar Singha.
He was a great patron of learned men and encouraged them with gifts.
Rajeswar Singha died in 1769 after being seriously ill for twenty days.
, renamed Kirti Chandra Borbarua after the Manipur expedition (see below). Kirti Chandra was an overbearing person, disliked by the other nobles; there were attempts to assassinate him. He came to know that the Chakaripheti Buranji
in Numali Borgohain
's possession attributed a low and non-Ahom origin to him. To extinguish a future challenge to his position, he had all the Buranjis collected under the Swargadeo's orders and scrutinized for this reference. Many Buranji's were destroyed during this exercise. But, the people in general enjoyed peace and prosperity. There was internal order and immunity from external aggression. But, this prosperity had also brought in lack of discipline, senior officers refused to go on active service and the overbearing Borbarua made the matter worse. The people were divided in sectarian lines influenced by priests and preachers.
During his reign, in 1758 there was conflict with the Dafla because of raids by them on the plains people near Ghiladhari. As a punishment forts were erected in the frontiers and the Daflas were prohibited from entering the plains. But later an agreement was made with the Daflas which allowed them to collect paddy and a payment of cowries from the people living in along the foot of the hills on condition of their refraining from any acts of aggression.
In July 1765, it was found necessary to take similar punitive measures against the Mikirs. The Ahom army entered the hills via Chapanala, and the Kopili and Jamuna river taking the Mikirs by surprise. The defeated Mikirs then came with tributes and begged forgiveness.
In November 1765, Rajeswar Singha sent an envoy to summon to his presence the Kachari King Sandhikari, but the latter refused to receive the messenger. On hearing this the king dispatched the army led by the Borbarua
to Raha. This had the desired effect and the Kachari king came and made his submission. During this visit the Kachari king was accompanied by Raja Jai Singh of Manipur, who had taken shelter with him, owing to the invasion of Manipur
by the Burmese
.
of Manipur
made a personal appeal to Rajeswar Singha in his court to help him drive out the Burmese from his kingdom. Rajeswar Singha consulted his ministers and sent an army consisting of mul and dewal paiks in 1765 commanded by Haranath Senapati Phukan to Manipur directly over the hills south of Charaideo
to reinstate Jai Singh. But the jungle was extremely dense so that the work of clearing a road was laborious and time consuming. The troops suffered great hardship, lack of food and many died from raiding Naga tribesmen and snake bites. The king ordered return of the army. This unsuccessful expedition came to be known as the Lotakota ron (War of the Creepers).
In November, 1768 an army of ten thousand soldiers led by Kirtichandra Borbarua
was dispatched this time via Raha and the Kachari kingdom
accompanied by Jai Singh. The Ahom army camped near Mirap river, where it remained until Jai Singh
raised a force to drive out the usurper Kelemba
, who have been placed on the throne as the King of Manipur
by the Burmese. Jai Singh
on becoming the king in 1773 sent valuable gift to Rajeswar Singha and also gave his daughter Kuranganayani in marriage. A number of Manipuri families who accompanied the princess were settled near the confluence of Desoi river at Magalu Khat about four miles west of the Jorhat
. Rajeswar Singha established the Magalus or Manipuris (Magalu was the old Assamese
name for Manipuris) here after marrying the princess of Manipur at Manaimaji village in 1768. Kuranganayani became the chief queen of Rajeswar Singha.
Kuranganayani became a queen to the next Ahom king Lakshmi Singha and subsequently was forced into the seraglio of Ragh Neog, a rebel leader in the first phase of the Moamoria rebellion
. She was instrumental in the conspiracy and the execution of Ragh Neog's assassination in 1770 which triggered the end of the first phase of the rebellion.
which was built around 1752. Rajeshwar Singha added three underground stories known as Talatal Ghar
made of brick and an indigenous type of cement to the four storied Kareng Ghar (or palace) at Rangpur
. The Talatalghar had two secret underground tunnels connected to the Dikhow river and the Garhgaon Palace for use as an escape route in case of any enemy attack. The Borbheti Than which about 7 km from Jorhat
town was built during his reign. His most notable contribution among temples of Assam
is the building of the unique Navagraha temple in Guwahati
.
Ahom Dynasty
The Ahom Dynasty ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam for nearly 600 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai mountains...
of the Ahom kingdom
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
after the death of his brother King Pramatta Singha. Rudra Singha's third son, Mohanmala Gohain, was considered ineligible for kingship as his face was pitted with smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
marks. According to the norm established after Sulikphaa Lora Roja, an Ahom prince had to be free from any physical disability, defects or deformities to become a king.
The new king was installed with the usual ceremonies. His first act was to exile his brother Mohanmala Gohain as the Raja of Namrup. During his installation as king there was conflict of opinion about the location of the capital between the Deodhais (Ahom priests) and the Hindu astrologers, the former recommended Taimung
Taimung
Taimung, a capital of the Ahom kingdom established during the reign Suremphaa or Rajeswar Singha . -References:*Gait, Edward. "The Climacteric of Ahom Rule." A History of Assam. Guwahati: EBH , 2008. Print....
and the latter Rangpur
Rangpur (Ahom capital)
Rangpur, one of the capitals of the Ahom kingdom, was established by the Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1707 . It is currently a part of the Sibsagar town. Many historical monuments of the Ahom era;the Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar are located here....
. The king took the advice of the Hindu astrologers and built his palace at Rangpur, but afterwards he built another palace at Taimung. Both the buildings were of considerable size and were made of bricks.
Rajeswar Singha was a devout Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
. He erected many temples and gifted much land to the Brahmins. Soon after his accession he paid a long visit to Gauhati to worship at the Kamakhya
Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth temple situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess as the Dasa Mahavidya, including Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,...
and other temples. He took sharan (meaning initiation in Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
) from Nati Gosain, the relative of Parbatiya Gosain, the head priest of Kamakhya Temple
Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth temple situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess as the Dasa Mahavidya, including Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,...
. He gave Nati Gosain a temple at Pandunath. In 1759, Rajeshwar Singha gifted 64 Bighas of land to the Basudeb temple near Nalbari, where Doul Jatra and Janmasthami is celebrated annually, which was built by Siba Singha
Siba Singha
Sutanphaa was a King in Assam in the early 18th Century.-The Reign:As per wish of Swargadeo Rudra Singha from his deathbed, he was succeeded by his eldest son Siba Singha ....
.
Rajeswar Singha also promoted cause of the Saiva cult by constructing the Manikarnesvaar Temple (1755), making financial provision for the Sukreswar Temple
Sukreswar Temple
The Sukreswar Temple is an important Shiva temple in the state of Assam in India and was constructed in 1744 by Ahom King Pramatta Singha . King Rajeswar Singha who also promoted cause of the Saiva cult made financial provisions for the Sukreswar Temple in 1759...
(1759), and by constructing the Siddhesvara Temple at Sualkuchi
Sualkuchi
Sualkuchi is a census town in Kamrup district in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra, about 35 km from Guwahati, Sualkuchi is a block of Kamrup District...
(1764). Rajeswar Singha got the Navagraha
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
temple built upon the Citrasala hill in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
. Two doors of Kedera Shiva temple of Hajo were also constructed at the instance of king Rajeswar Singha.
He was a great patron of learned men and encouraged them with gifts.
Rajeswar Singha died in 1769 after being seriously ill for twenty days.
The reign
The king, though a capable administrator, preferred pleasures to the affairs of the state. The administration was looked after by Bakatial Gendhela BorbaruaBorbarua
Borbarua was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha...
, renamed Kirti Chandra Borbarua after the Manipur expedition (see below). Kirti Chandra was an overbearing person, disliked by the other nobles; there were attempts to assassinate him. He came to know that the Chakaripheti Buranji
Buranji
Buranjis are a class of historical chronicles written in the Ahom and Assamese languages. The first such Buranji was written on the instructions of the first Ahom king Sukaphaa who established the Ahom kingdom in 1228...
in Numali Borgohain
Borgohain
Borgohain was the second of the two original counsellors in the Ahom kingdom. He was selected by the Ahom king from members of the Ahom nobility , who was not eligible for the position of Ahom kingship. The other original counsellor is the Burhagohain. Both the positions existed from the time of...
's possession attributed a low and non-Ahom origin to him. To extinguish a future challenge to his position, he had all the Buranjis collected under the Swargadeo's orders and scrutinized for this reference. Many Buranji's were destroyed during this exercise. But, the people in general enjoyed peace and prosperity. There was internal order and immunity from external aggression. But, this prosperity had also brought in lack of discipline, senior officers refused to go on active service and the overbearing Borbarua made the matter worse. The people were divided in sectarian lines influenced by priests and preachers.
During his reign, in 1758 there was conflict with the Dafla because of raids by them on the plains people near Ghiladhari. As a punishment forts were erected in the frontiers and the Daflas were prohibited from entering the plains. But later an agreement was made with the Daflas which allowed them to collect paddy and a payment of cowries from the people living in along the foot of the hills on condition of their refraining from any acts of aggression.
In July 1765, it was found necessary to take similar punitive measures against the Mikirs. The Ahom army entered the hills via Chapanala, and the Kopili and Jamuna river taking the Mikirs by surprise. The defeated Mikirs then came with tributes and begged forgiveness.
In November 1765, Rajeswar Singha sent an envoy to summon to his presence the Kachari King Sandhikari, but the latter refused to receive the messenger. On hearing this the king dispatched the army led by the Borbarua
Borbarua
Borbarua was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha...
to Raha. This had the desired effect and the Kachari king came and made his submission. During this visit the Kachari king was accompanied by Raja Jai Singh of Manipur, who had taken shelter with him, owing to the invasion of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
by the Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
.
Expedition to Manipur
Later, Jai SinghChing-Thang Khomba
Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba was a Manipuri monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the Ras Lila dance, he is a legendary figure in Manipur, and much of his actions as King had been mythologized...
of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
made a personal appeal to Rajeswar Singha in his court to help him drive out the Burmese from his kingdom. Rajeswar Singha consulted his ministers and sent an army consisting of mul and dewal paiks in 1765 commanded by Haranath Senapati Phukan to Manipur directly over the hills south of Charaideo
Charaideo
Charaideo was the first capital of the Ahom kingdom established by the first Ahom king Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha in 1228. It is about 30 km from Sibsagar town off the Sibsagar-Simaluguri road.Though the capital of the Ahom kingdom moved many times, Charaideo remained the symbolic center...
to reinstate Jai Singh. But the jungle was extremely dense so that the work of clearing a road was laborious and time consuming. The troops suffered great hardship, lack of food and many died from raiding Naga tribesmen and snake bites. The king ordered return of the army. This unsuccessful expedition came to be known as the Lotakota ron (War of the Creepers).
In November, 1768 an army of ten thousand soldiers led by Kirtichandra Borbarua
Borbarua
Borbarua was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha...
was dispatched this time via Raha and the Kachari kingdom
Kachari Kingdom
The Kachari Kingdom was a powerful kingdom in medieval Assam. The rulers belonged to the Dimasa people, part of the greater Bodo-Kachari ethnic group...
accompanied by Jai Singh. The Ahom army camped near Mirap river, where it remained until Jai Singh
Ching-Thang Khomba
Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba was a Manipuri monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the Ras Lila dance, he is a legendary figure in Manipur, and much of his actions as King had been mythologized...
raised a force to drive out the usurper Kelemba
Chitsai
Chitsai was an usurper King of Manipur . He ascended the throne after killing King Pamheiba and served as regent for King Bhagya Chandra...
, who have been placed on the throne as the King of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
by the Burmese. Jai Singh
Ching-Thang Khomba
Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba was a Manipuri monarch of the 18th century CE. The inventor of the Ras Lila dance, he is a legendary figure in Manipur, and much of his actions as King had been mythologized...
on becoming the king in 1773 sent valuable gift to Rajeswar Singha and also gave his daughter Kuranganayani in marriage. A number of Manipuri families who accompanied the princess were settled near the confluence of Desoi river at Magalu Khat about four miles west of the Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
. Rajeswar Singha established the Magalus or Manipuris (Magalu was the old Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
name for Manipuris) here after marrying the princess of Manipur at Manaimaji village in 1768. Kuranganayani became the chief queen of Rajeswar Singha.
Kuranganayani became a queen to the next Ahom king Lakshmi Singha and subsequently was forced into the seraglio of Ragh Neog, a rebel leader in the first phase of the Moamoria rebellion
Moamoria rebellion
The Moamoria rebellion was the 18th century conflict between the Morans, adherents of the Moamara Sattra, and the Ahom kings. This led to widespread popular discontent against the Ahom king and the nobles and to two periods in which the Ahom king lost control of the capital...
. She was instrumental in the conspiracy and the execution of Ragh Neog's assassination in 1770 which triggered the end of the first phase of the rebellion.
Other works
Like his father, Rajeswar Singha constructed many temples and renovated the palaces. Notable among his contribution is the present existing structure of the seven storied palace of GarhgaonGarhgaon
Garhgaon was the capital of the Ahom kingdom for many years. It was built by the Ahom king Suklenmung in 1540. It lies 13 km east of present-day Sibsagar town. The palace structures were made of wood and stones...
which was built around 1752. Rajeshwar Singha added three underground stories known as Talatal Ghar
Talatal Ghar
Talatal Ghar or the Kareng Ghar is located in Rangpur, one of the erstwhile capitals of the Ahom kingdom. This capital was first established by the Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1707...
made of brick and an indigenous type of cement to the four storied Kareng Ghar (or palace) at Rangpur
Rangpur (Ahom capital)
Rangpur, one of the capitals of the Ahom kingdom, was established by the Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1707 . It is currently a part of the Sibsagar town. Many historical monuments of the Ahom era;the Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar are located here....
. The Talatalghar had two secret underground tunnels connected to the Dikhow river and the Garhgaon Palace for use as an escape route in case of any enemy attack. The Borbheti Than which about 7 km from Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
town was built during his reign. His most notable contribution among temples of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
is the building of the unique Navagraha temple in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
.