Suremphaa(reign 1751–1769), orRajeswar Singha,the fourth son ofRudra Singha,became thekingof theAhom kingdomafter the death of his brother KingPramatta Singha.Rudra Singha's third son,Mohanmala Gohain,was considered ineligible for kingship as his face was pitted withsmallpoxmarks. 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.
| Surempha | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChaophaSwargadeo ofAhom Kingdom | |||||
| Reign | 1751-1769 | ||||
| Predecessor | Pramatta Singha | ||||
| Successor | Lakshmi Singha | ||||
| Born | 1701 Ahom kingdom | ||||
| Died | 1769 Dergaon,Ahom kingdom | ||||
| Consort | Kuranganayani(Parvatia Konwari) Total 24 spouses | ||||
| Issue | Kandura Gohain Charu Singha Ratneswar Pat Konwar | ||||
| |||||
| House | Tungkhungia | ||||
| Father | Sukhrungphaa | ||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||
The new king was installed with the usual ceremonies. His first act was to exile his brotherMohanmala Maladev Gohainas the Raja of Namrup. During his installation as king, there was a conflict of opinion about the location of the capital between the Deodhais (Ahom priests) and the Hindu astrologers, the former recommendedTaimungand the latterRangpur.The king took the advice of the Hinduastrologersand 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 devoutHindu.He erected many temples and gifted much land to the Brahmins. Soon after his accession, he paid a long visit toGauhatito worship at theKamakhyaand other temples. He tooksharan(meaning initiation inAssamese) from Nati Gosain, the relative of Parbatiya Gosain, the head priest ofKamakhya Temple.He gave Nati Gosain a temple atPandunath.In 1759, Rajeshwar Singha gifted 64 Bighas of land to the Basudeb temple near Nalbari, where Doul Jatra andJanmastamiis celebrated annually, which was built bySiba Singha.
Rajeswar Singha also promoted the cause of the Saiva cult by constructing the Manikarnesvaar Temple (1755), making financial provision for theSukreswar Temple(1759), and by constructing the Siddhesvara Temple atSualkuchi(1764). Rajeswar Singha got theNavagrahatemple built upon the Citrasala hill inGuwahati.Two doors of Kedera Shiva temple ofHajowere 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.
Reign
editThe king, though a capable administrator, preferred pleasures to the affairs of the state. The administration was looked after by Bakatial GendhelaBorbarua,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 learned that theChakariphetiBuranjiin NumaliBorgohain'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.[1]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 a 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 a conflict with theDaflabecause 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 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 theMikirs.The Ahom army entered the hills via Chapanala, and the Kopili and Jamuna rivers took 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 theBorbaruato 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 ofManipurby theBurmese.
Expedition to Manipur
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Later,Jai SinghofManipurmade 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 ofmulanddewalpaiks in 1765 commanded by Duara Haranath Bitarual Phukan as the Senapati Phukan (Commander) to Manipur directly over the hills south ofCharaideoto reinstate Jai Singh. But the jungle was extremely dense so 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 the return of the army. This unsuccessful expedition came to be known as theLotakota ron(War of the Creepers).[2]
In November 1768 an army of ten thousand soldiers led by BakatialKeertichandra Borbaruawas dispatched this time via Raha and theKachari kingdomaccompanied by Jai Singh. The Ahom army camped near Mirap river, where it remained untilJai Singhraised a force to drive out the usurperKelemba,who have been placed on the throne as the King ofManipurby the Burmese.Jai Singhon becoming the king in 1773 sent valuable gift to Rajeswar Singha and also gave his daughterKuranganayaniin 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 theJorhat.Rajeswar Singha established the Magalus or Manipuris (Magalu was the oldAssamesename for Manipuris; Khat meaning Estate in Assamese) here after marrying the princess of Manipur at Manaimaji village in 1768. Princess ofManipurKuranganayanibecame the chief queen of Rajeswar Singha.
Kuranganayanibecame 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 theMoamoria 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.
Administrative works
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Like his fatherRudra Singha,Rajeswar Singha constructed many temples and renovated the palaces. Notable among his contribution is the present existing structure of the seven-storied palace ofGarhgaonwhich was built around 1752. Rajeshwar Singha added three underground stories known asTalatal Gharmade of brick and an indigenous type of cement to the four-storied Kareng Ghar (or palace) atRangpur.The Talatal ghar had two secret tunnels connected to the Dikhow river and theKareng Gharfor use as an escape route in case of any enemy attack. The Borbheti Than which about 7 km fromJorhattown was built during his reign. His most notable contribution among temples ofAssamis the building of the unique Navagraha temple inGuwahati.
Other works of King Rajeswar Singh are–Basistha Temple,Manikarneswar Devalaya,Chitrachal Mandir,Naba Graha Mandir,Negheriting Shiva Doul,Hara Gauri Dol,Sukreswar Temple,KamakhyaNat Mandir,Dirgheshwari temple,Shri Kedar Temple,Moglau Pukhuri, Sil Pukhuri,Nati Gosanir dol,Bahikhowa Bar Phukanar Ali, Luthuri Kath,Katiya Barua Ali, Deka Barbarua Ali.[3]
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- Gogoi, Padmeswar (1968)The Tai and the Tai kingdoms,Gauhati University, Guwahati.
- Barpujari, H. K.,The Comprehensive History of Assam,Vol-III, Publication Board, Assam.
- Naoboicha Phukan, Padmeswar.,Asom Buranji,Publication Board,Assam, Guwahati-781 021