Sukhrungphaa

Sukhrungphaa (reigned 1696–1714), or Swargadeo Rudra Singha, was a Tungkhungia ahom king and 30th king of the Ahom kingdom under whom the kingdom reached its zenith of power and glory, he is considered as the most illustrious of the Ahom kings. At Gadadhar Singha's death, his elder son Lai ascended the throne with the Ahom name of Sukharngpha and the Hindu name of Rudra Singha. An illiterate (probably dyslexic), he is best known for building a coalition of rulers in the region and raising a vast composite army against the Mughal Empire. He died on the eve of his march west from Guwahati. He had subjugated the Jayantias and the Kachari kingdoms in (1707). He built a new capital at Meteka and named it as Rangpur. Rudra Singha, following the words of his father, decided to reinstate the Vaishnava Gosain and Mahantas, he had settled the Satras in Majuli being nearer to the Ahom metropolis. He had received the initiation of Auniati Gosain, Haridev. He had invited the Bengali priest Krishnaram Bhattacharya from Bengal to take his initiation, as he didn't want to bow down his head before his own mere subject. During Rudra Singha's reign the Ahom nobility far better organized than ever stood behind the king representing the cherished feudal values and aspiration.

His father had to escape persecution by the previous Ahom king and his mother, Joymoti Konwari, was killed in royal custody. He established his capital at Rangpur.

Reign

Political works

Though he was himself illiterate, he had an expansive and progressive political vision, just as Akbar had. Rudra Singha subjugated the Dimasa (1706) and Jaintia kingdoms. His father had removed the last vestiges of Mughal rule in Assam, and he planned to extend his kingdom up to the Karatoya River, the traditional western boundary of the erstwhile Kamarupa kingdom. He began forming an alliance with different kingdoms and positioned himself at Guwahati for the expedition with a large army and fleet, along with the troops from the Dimasa-Kacharis (14,000), the Jaintiyas (10,000) and the Daflas (600) collected all the cannons, and raised a total army of 4 lakhs troops when he died. The later kings did not follow up on his plans.

Rudra Singha reversed the persecution of the Vaishnava ''xatras'' during Gadadhar Singha's reign and reinstated the xatra preceptors, including Chaturbhujdeva the ''satradhikari'' of Mayamara xatra, in their former seats. But he forbade the ''sudra'' satradhikars from initiating Brahmins and Brahmins from vising sudra monasteries, under the influence of the ''gosain'' of Auniati xatra who was the royal perceptor. It is also said that he subjugated all the hill tribes

Administrative works

He encouraged exchanges with other kingdoms and sent ambassadors to other royal houses in various parts of India. He created ''khels'' or official positions specifically for diplomacy, like ''Khaund, Kotoki, Bairagi, Doloi, Kakoti''. He sent men to Delhi to learn music and Brahman boys to Gurukuls for Vedic and Sanskrit studies. He brought architects from outside for constructing the palace and other buildings in the new capital city, Rangpur. He introduced Mughal style dresses in the Ahom court. He encouraged the culture of local folk music and dance and appointed officers called ''Gayan Baruas''. It is said that he was the first Ahom king to have the Bihu celebrated in the courtyard of the palace.

As he grew older, he felt more and more drawn towards Saktism and decided to become a sakta. However, he died before his initiation could be completed. He instructed his sons to invite the Bengali priest Krishna Ram Bhattacharyya and accept him as their religious guide.

Civil works

* In honour of the memory of his mother Joymoti Konwari, he dug the Joysagar Tank, India's largest man-made tank covering an area of , including its four banks.
* In 1703, he built the Ranganath (Shiva) Temple near the Borduar, or main gateway, on the way from the Joysagar Tank to the Talatal Ghar - for the offering of prayers to Shiva.
* Before the Ranganath Dol, a pyramid-shaped temple was constructed in 1703–04, to perpetuate the memory of his mother Joymoti Konwari: this marked the "Maidam" of Joymoti.
* Numerous other architectural monuments and structures are credited to him, including the Namdang stone bridge of Gaurisagar, and the Kharikatia Ali (''ali'' meaning road in Assamese) - leading from Kharikatia to Titabor. The Namdang bridge, a stone bridge 60m long, 6.5m wide, and 1.7m thick was built over the Namdang River in 1703. It is one of the best examples of the engineering workmanship and skill of the Ahom era. This bridge, on National Highway no.37, has been proudly providing service for the last 300 years.

Invasion of Kachari kingdom

The Kachari kingdom which has been virtually independent since the day Ahoms got engaged in Ahom–Mughal conflicts. Tamardhwaj the king of Kachari kingdom who boldly asserted his independence when Rudra Singha ascended the throne, Rudra Singha sent two big armies to resolve the matter once and for all in December 1706.

March

The Bar Barua with over 37,000 men and the Pani Phukan with 34,000 were to march into Kachari country. The Bar Barua's route lay through Raha, Samaguting fort, Namira fort on Nomal Hill, Lathia Hill, Amlakhi, Tarang and Nadereng to Maibong and Mahur. In order to maintain communications and facilitate transmission of supplies, forts were constructed and garrisoned on the route. The Nagas gave trouble on the way but were effectively dealt with. The Kachari offered sporadic, though feeble resistance but could not prevent the Ahom advance. A large booty including a cannon and 700 guns was taken by the Ahoms at Maibong. The Pani Phukan's route lay through Raha, Salgaon, Lambur. Dharmapur, Demera and Nadereng to Maibong. As there was no regular road. the army had to cut its way through dense jungle. A garrison of 3,000 men was left at Demera which was occupied; other places were sacked ; 322 prisoners were taken. The superior strength of the Ahom army overawed the Kacharis who could not repel the invasion. At Maibong the troops suffered greatly because of the pestilential climate and many including the Bar Barua fell ill. Supplies ran short. Inaction in place of vieour seized the camp. The king ordered to press on to Khaspur. The Pani Phukan marched up to Sampani ; the Bar Barua, now seriously ill, died during the return journey to Demera.

Return

In March 1707 the king recalled the Pani Phukan who brought back the whole force after demolishing the brick fort at Maibong, burning down houses there and erecting a thirteen feet high pillar to commemorate his success. Fortifications were made at Demera where a strong garrison was left, which had to be withdrawn by the king owing to sickness and mortality with the setting in of the rains. Terrified by the
advancing Ahom armies, Tamradhvaj fled to Bikramvur - and sent an urgent appeal for help to Ram Singh, Raja of Jaintia.

Invasion of Jaintia Kingdom

Tamradhvaj fled to Bikrampur and sent an urgent appeal for help to Ram Singh, Raja of Jaintia; on the withdrawal of the Ahom forces, he sent a second message to Ram Singh, saying that help was not necessary. Ram Singh now decided to take advantage of the dispersal of the Kachari troops by the Ahoms to seize the person of the Kachari king with a view to gaining possession and control of the Kachari kingdom; under the pretext of a friendly meeting he seized Tamradhvaj and carried him off to the Jaintia capital, Jaintiapur.

Request for help

Tamradhvaj managed to send a message to Rudra Singh through,a 'Bairagi', asking for forgiveness and begging for deliverance from his captor. Rudra Singh sent word to Ram Singh through - the Ahom officer in charge of the Ahom outpost at Jagi, demanding immediate release of Tamradhvaj. Ram Singh refused ; Rudra Singh closed the market at Gobha on which the Hill Jaintias depended for their supplies. Rudra Singh made preparations for invasion of Jaintia territory. The Bar Barua with 43,000 men was to march on Jaintiapur via the Kopili valley and the Kachari country and the Bar Phukan by the direct route through Gobha and the Jaintia Hills.

March

The Bar Barua reached Sampai easily and here a Kachari deputation assured that nothing was to be feared from the neighbouring Naga tribes. He proceeded to Bikrampur and during his march he sent messengers in advance to reassure the people who came and paid their respects and were glad that the forces needed no supplies of provisions from them. Jaintia outposts were taken. Ram Singh was called upon to surrender Tamradhvaj and his family and officers ; this he did ; but the Bar Barua continued his march to Jaintiapur. Ram Singh prepared for fight ; but the nobles who tried to dissuade him from his present adventure would not allow him to escape scotfree. He therefore proceeded towards the Bar Barua's camp for making his submission, escorted bv twenty elephants. Near the camp he was made to dismount and ride on horse-back, unattended. After the interview he was not allowed to return but was made a captive by the BarBarua The Bar Phukan conciliated the Chiefs of Gobha by presents. His forces on the march were harassed by the Jaintias at several places. His route from Jagi lay through Gobha, Athitbhaga Lachor Hill, Buritikar Hill, the Barpani River banks and Pavanai to Jaintiapur. In certain engagements the Jaintias fared well but were ultimately worsted by the Ahoms who had the advantage of superior number and strength and reinforcernents at crucial moments. At one stage the Ahoms went to the attack and with success after consulting astrologers on a day chosen as auspicious by the latter.

Annexed

Rudra Singh ordered the captive kings to be brought to him along with the Jaintia King's garments, jewels, arms, elephants and horses and the Jaintia king's treasures to be divided amongst the troops. The Ahom subjects who had fled to Khaspur during Mir Jumlah's invasion were brought back and an army of occupation under the Bar Barua and the Bar Phukan was stationed at Jaintiapur. Envoys were sent to the Muhammadan Faujdar
of Sylhet to announce that the Kachari and Jaintia kingdoms had been annexed to the Ahom dominions.

Expulsion

These measures greatly irritated the Jaintia nobles who induced the Bar Dalai, the Raja of Khairam and the inhabitants of two hundred independent Khasi villages to join them in expelling the invaders. The Jaintias could not rescue their Raja as he was being taken to Gobha by a strong force, but they attacked eight forts with garrisons left by the Bar Phukan and took three of them. A detachment that was taking the copper image of the Goddess Jaintesvari to Rudra Singh was put to flight and the image was rescued. The Ahom soldiers, seized with panic, fled, pursued by the Jaintias. Rudra Singh sent up reinforcements including four thousand men under the Burha Gohain. The Jaintia strategy of dispersing when attacked and of returning to the attack themselves thereafter made decisive victory impossible for the Ahoms. The Bar Barua and Bar Phukan sent reinforcements from Jaintiapur, no doubt, but with the approach of the rains, it was thought unwise and dangerous to remain in hostile temtory and retreat to Gobha was decided upon. Before departing, the Ahoms put to the sword a thousand inhabitants of Jaintiapur and destroyed surrounding villages.

Casualties and foils of the invasion

For the ultimate failure of the expedition, Rudra Singh thought of punishing the Bar Barua and the Bar Phukan but pardoned them on the intercession of other nobles. In the course of the Jaintia rising, the Ahoms lost 2,366 men including 12 high-ranking officers. About 1,600 persons, chiefly Assamese refugees were brought from Khaspur and 600 from Jaintiapur. During the expedition 3 cannon, 2,273 guns, 109 elephants, 12,000 pieces of silver of the Muhammadan, Ahom, Koch and Jaintia mints and numerous utensils of gold, silver and other metals were taken. Certain articles of jewellery misappropriated by some officers had to be disgorged by them on detection.

Proposed Invasion of Mughal

Objectives and Motives

Rudra Singha subjugated the Kacharis and Jaintiyas. Who had become virtually independent during the period of the Mughal war in 17th century.

Rudra Singha had deputed his agents, disguised as itinerant hermits, had visited different parts of India and collected information about the affairs of the Mughals. Rudra Singha was also informed of the plight to which Hindus had been rendered. He himself was humiliated by Murshid Quli Khan who sent to him robes as presents which were ment for the vassal chiefs.

Another objective for the expedition to Bengal was, As said by Surya Kumar Bhuyan was- Assamese pilgrims also received obstruction from the Mughal officers in there visits to the Hindu shrines in India, specifically in connection with the pilgrimages to the Ganga. The humiliating overtures of Murshid Quli Khan urged Rudra Singha to check the tide of Mughal affronts, received not only by himself but also by his co-religionist.

Rudra Singha was also motivated and inspired by the military achievements of his predecessors and other Assamese rulers. Leaving aside the victorious achievements of Kumar Bhaskarvarman and king Harshadeva of Hindu Kamarupa, the Ahoms had, during the reign of Swarganarayan Suhungmung Dihingia Roja (1497-1539) had conquered Bengal, wholly or partly and, then in the reign of Swargadeo Jayadhwaj Singha (1648-1663).

Preparations

He then began to make elaborate preparations for a fresh war against Mughals with two ends in view namely, to oust them from their sovereign power in eastern India and to expand their territory to the Ahom kingdom as far as the Karatoya river to the west. Conveying a meeting with nobles and officers, the king expressed his desires thus Rudra Singha said: The Borpatrogohain supported the king proposal and said:The Borpatrogohain was supported by BurhagohainBut the king, who perhaps expected more inspiring words from the ministers was not satisfied with their tacit approval words from the minister and got angry and dismissed them. At this the Phukans and the Baruas came to support and said, Rudra Singha was also was not to be discouraged.He carefully thought of his plan to create an opinion among the Hindu Rajah outside Assam. He invited scholars and artist, musicians and artisans and religious men and medicants with due honour and sent monetary presents to those scholars and Brahmans, who couldn't come so far to Assam. He also attempted to organise a confederacy of the Rajas of Hindustan and sent messages to several Rajas and Zamindars, this included Twipra (and Morang, Bana-Vishnupur, Nadiya, Cooch Behar, Burdwan, and Barahanagar) kingdoms to remove the Mughals from Bengal He appealed to their religious sentiments, which is evident from the letters sent to the king of Tripura Ratna Manikya II, where he wrote:

Rudra Singha then augmented his army, his artillery and his navy. The local levies were trained on up-to-date lines. He raised a numerous cavalry and trained the elephants to withstand fights. During this preparations he adopted mesausres to obtain good will of the inhabitants of Bengal in order to render his supremacy acceptable to them.

Rudra Singha held a council of three days with the three Great Gohains, Baruas, Phukans, and the Rajkhowas, in which an exact register was taken of the various Corps which formed the army. The Upper province including the natives of Assam furnished 3,60,000 men and the vassal chiefs with 40,000 men. Out of which 2,60,000 men were effective . The king however desired more reduction in the army, and only wanted the bravest of soldiers for the expedition, and sent the ineffective mens back for cultivation.

The army of Rudra Singha was joined by the armies of Kachari and the Jayantia Rajas along with the vassal chieftains and the Daflas of the north hills of the Darrang , total mobilised a strong army which total numbered 4,000,00 of whom 16,000 were sent back as being inefficient for the expedition, there were further talks of reduction in army, was assembled at Guwahati . An advance contigent was sent to the Kandahar Chokey ( Western border) to erect encampments for the armies of the Swargadeo and the princes on the banks of Manas River, and to provide six boats with provisions for every Crops of one thousand men and two hundred thousand rupees for the purchase of salt, oil, and other alimentary articles.

The whole expedition of Bengal was to start in November 1714 after the autumn harvest which would provide an abundant supply for the army, and that might be proper to consult the Pundits, Ganaks and, the Bailungs to appoint a fortunate day for the march. Just before the expedition could start the Swargadeo Rudra Singha was seized by a dangerous malady, died on August 27, 1714. His immediate descendants didn't follow up on his plans.

Hindu proclivities

He received the initiation from the Auniati Satra, Haridev, who was the most influential Brahman Satradhikar. However, he soon created a dissension in the Vaisnava camp by promulgating a synod, which debarred the non-Brahmin Mahantas from initiating Brahmins, and which was completely against the principles of creed propagated by Sankardeva.

Patronage of Cultural Activities

Since the days of Bamuni Konwar, Sanskritization or Indianization of the gained momentum and reached its peak during Rudra Singha and Siva Singha.Whether in the form of Sakta ritual or in the form of Ekasarana Dharma, the Ahoms kings were receiving increasing dozes of Aryanism. Rudra Singha, being helped by the material conditions of the time, acted more vigorously in the line with his tradition. Now, in the order consolidate the Ahom monarchy in the force of growing feudal forces leading the Neo-Vaishnavite movement, Rudra Singha had to look up for friends among feudal rulers elsewhere in India and to secure a place of confederacy of them, thereby integrating the Ahom ruling class with the Indian ruling classes, including the Mughals.
He introduce Mughal dress to Ahom court and sent Brahman boys to study at great centres of learning un Bengal and Bihar He did not fail to patronise local art and culture. He encouraged the culture of local music and dance and for this he appointed officers like Gyan Barua. It is said that it was he,who for the first time had the Bihu celebrated in the palace courtyard and organised varied performances for full seven days including competitions of many kinds or sports and games and cultural shows For the promotion of sports and games he created offices like those of Sen-chowa Barua, who was in charge of training of hawks and Kukura-chowa Barua, in charge of training of cocks.

Kabiraj Chakravarty

There were numbers of poets and scholars in his court. Of them the most notable was Kabiraj Chakravarty, who composed the famous drama Sankha-Chuda-Bandha, and had translated the Abhiyana Sukuntalam and the Brahma-Vaivrata Purana into Assamese.

Death

On the 12th day of Aghun the king seized by a dangerous disease. He had flattered himself daily with hope of seedy recovery, a month passed without smallest improvement of his health. He made charitable donation on all the temples of in the neighbourhood. His pious offering to Kamakhya Temple were twelve buffalos,hundred goats, hundred and fifty pigeons, 200 rupees, twenty tolas of gold and many land grants. For the temple of Hayagriva Madhava Temple he bestowed a large golden vessel, two hundred rupees, thirty tolas of gold. His pious dristibutive donation's went in vain. Mukali Muriya Bhattacharya was appointed, he Bhattacharya desired permission to offer his devotions in the temple of Bhubaneswaree Devee and promised compliance with his order on the ensuing day. Bhattacharya repaired to the temple with rich presents from the King and after performing the usual devotions became absorbed in the Dyan. In this attitude his person was soon covered with worms which had crawled from the earth, yet his attention was rivetted on the object of his contemplation. Devee stood before him in the form of a Tiger, yet he altered not his attitude, nor betrayed the slightest emotion of fear. She assumed the figure of a man and threw him forcibly to a considerable distance out of the temple; he rose, returned and recommenced the Dyan. The Goddess now seized and hurled his person into’ the shallow water below; again he ascended the temple and resumed his devotions. Devee at last, appeared before him in the shape of a beautiful woman; expressed her curiosity to be informed of the motives of his absolute perseverance after the trials to which she had subjected him. “ If my devotions ” answered the Bhattacharya “ have proved acceptable to you, acquaint me with the event of the Monarch’s indisposition and the period of his death or recovery.” Takooranee informed him that the King would expire on 14th of pooh, in the noon.The Bhattacharya entreated the same information relative to the duration of his own life as a reward for his constant devotion at her alter and received her orders to return to the place of his residence where he might expect the fatal hour at the expiration of a year. the Goddess vanished. The Bhattacharya repaired to the presence of the King and offering up his prayers, pronounced the news of the Monarch's approaching death at the end of three days.The King asked if the information was true.The Bhattacharya replied that he could no further answer for the reality of the sentence than that he received it from Takooranee. The three Gohains, the Borbarua and Borphukan were immediately called before the Monarch and informed of the approaching period of demise.
Rudra Singha was very much attached to each of his sons and expressed his will from his deathbed that all should become in order of succession. This was in violation is the law of the Primogeniture followed in the Ahom right of Kingship and subsequently led to much trouble which manifested in the form of Konwar Bidroh or (rebellion of princes) in the reign of Lakshmi Singha that enhanced the downfall of the Ahom kingdom, this also included Mohanmala Gohain the third son of Rudra Singha, who was denied kingship.

Death bed injunction

Character and Legacy

The most striking events of his reign, which extended over seventeen eventful years, were the war against the Kachari and Jaintia kings. Although illiterate, Rudra Singha was possed with of retentive memory and of exceptional intelligence. He is regarded as the greatest Ahom King. It is also said that he received the submission of all the tribes, and to have established extensive trade with Tibet. Abandoning the policy of isolating the policy of his predecessor to some extent, he encouraged intercourse between the different countries and sent envoys to them of India. He studied foreign customs and adopted those he thought was good. He imported many artificer from Bengal, and also established many school's for Brahmans. Though he is said to be illiterate but he had composed 2 songs by him.

Descendants

* Rudra Singha
** Siva Singha
*** Kalia Gohain
****Tipam Raja
** Pramatta Singha
*** Molou Gohain Tipam Raja
*** Madhab Gohain Charing Raja
****Kana Gohain
*****Bano Gohain
** Barjana Gohian alias Mohanmala Gohain
***Nal Santa
****Lerilla Santa
****Molia Santa
** Rajeswar Singha
*** Ratneswar
**** Bijoy Bormura
***** Brajanath Gohain
****** Purandar Singha
** Lakshmi Singha
*** Gaurinath Singha
****Jayanti Aideo
*****Narayani Aideo

See also

* Ahom Dynasty
* Joy dol

Notes

References

* Baruah, S L (1993), ''Last Days of Ahom Monarchy: A History from 1769 to 1826'', Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.
* Gait, Sir Edward (1905), ''A History of Assam'', LBS First Edition, 1983, LBS Publications, Guwahati.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sukhrungphaa
Ahom kingdom
Ahom kings
1665 births
1714 deaths
Hindu monarchs