Ancient Assam History

Q. Give an account of the epigraphic source of Ancient Assam.

No genuine history of ancient Assam can be written without the epigraphic evidence, which to a large extent is
found accurate and reliable.
- Generally found engraved on metal plates, usually copper, on stone tablets, on rocks, on pillars and
other parts of caves, temples and other buildings and also on clay seals.
- Written in Sanskrit, scripts used - Devanagari and north Indian Brahmi.
- While most of them bear no date, some are dated in Gupta era and some in Saka era.
- Allahabad Pillar Prasasti of Samudragupta is the first epigraphic reference of Kamarupa’s diplomatic
relation with an Indian empire.
Varman dynasty:
- The Badaganga epigraph (Bhutivarmana) is the earliest known dated inscription of ancient Assam.
- The Doobi and the Nidhanpur grants and the three Nalanda clay seals help in reconstructing the career
Bhaskar Varman.
Salastambha Dynasty:
- Hayunthal grant and Tezpur Rock inscription of Harjajara varman.
- Parvatiya plates of king Vanamalavarmandeva
- The Nogaong grant and Uttarbarbil plates of king Balavarman III
Pala dynasty:
- Bargaon and the Sualkuchi grants of Ratnapala
- The Gauhati and the Sualkuchi grants of Indrapala,
- The Gachtal inscription of Gopala
Others (from other parts of India):
- The Kamauli grant (Vaidyadeva) - The victory of Ramapala over the Kamarupa king and Vaidyadeva’s
conquest of Kamarupa.
- The Kanai Barasi rock inscription of North Gauhati - Bakhtiyar Khilji’s invasion
- Mandasar epigraph (Yasodharman) -his invasion upto the neighbourhood of Lauhitya.
- Aphsad epigraph (Adityasena) - conflict between Mahasenagupta and Susthitavarman.
- Pasupati inscription (Jayadeva II) - refers to Harshadeva
- Samangad inscription (Dantidurga) - clash between Harshadeva and Kirtivarman
All these epigraphic sources, juxtaposed with other sources, help us in reconstructing the history of ancient
Assam.

Q. What are the literary sources available to reconstruct the history of

ancient Assam?
The historians have used various literary sources to reconstruct the history of Assam. Some major literary
sources available are as follows -
Vedic literature
- Satapatha Brahmana and Aiteraya Brahman - extension of Aryan culture upto in easter part of India.
- Gopatha Brahmana - origin of the name Kamarupa
- Ramayana - foundation of Pragjyotisha by Amurtaraja
 - Mahabharata - reference of Pragjyotisha, Naraka and Bhagadatta.
- Kalika puran and yogini tantra are invaluable for the study of political and cultural history of ancient
Assam.
Classical literature
- Reference of Kamarupa is found in Arthasastra, Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa, Dandin’s
Dasakumaracharita, Banabhatta’s Harshacharit, etc.
Buddhist literature
- Buddhist literature of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan associates ancient Assam with the Mahaparinirvana of
the Buddha.
Assamese chronicles
- Hara Gauri Sambada - genealogy of the rulers of ancient Assam
- Hara Gauri Bilasa - ancient geography of Assam
Foreign accounts
- The accounts of the Shung Shu - mission sent by Kalyanavaran to China
- Si-yu-ki by Hiuen Tsang - detailed account of Kamarupa and Bhaskar Varman.

These literary sources, juxtaposed with other sources, give some invaluable information about the political and
cultural life of ancient assam.

Q. Discuss various theories regarding the origin of the name Kamarupa,

Pragjyotishpur and Assam.
Theories regarding the origin of the name Pragjyotisha
1. A branch of people called Chao-Theius of China migrated to India at a very early period and occupied
three important centres – in the east in Assam, in the centre in the present Bareilly district and in the
north-west in Afghanistan. In India they came to be known as the Zuhthis (later transformed into
sanskrit “Jyotish”) and the three centres were later on named as Prag-Zuhthis (Pragjyotish),
Madhya-Zuhthis and Uttar-Zuhthis respectively.
2. According to Kalika Purana, Brahma made the first calculation of the stars in Pragjyotisha. Prag means
former or eastern and Jyotisha, a star, astrology, shining. Pragjyotishpur may therefore be taken to
mean the “City of Eastern Astrology”.

Theories regarding the origin of the name Kamarupa

1. The word Kamarupa has been derived from an Austric formation like Kamru or Kamrut, the name of a
lesser divinity in Santali. It is said that the word symbolises a new cult, namely the worship of the
mother goddess kamakhya and in exaltation of it, the land was rechristened.
2. Gopatha Brahmana narrates the story of Kamadeva’s revival in this land, after his destruction by the
fiery glance of Siva.

Theories regarding the origin of the name Assam

1. It is derived from the word “Asama” meaning uneven as distinguished from the Samatata or the level
plains of Bengal.
2. The word Asama (peerless) may be a later Sanskritisation of an earlier form of Acham. In Tai, ‘cham’
means “to be defeated”. With the prefix a, Assam would mean “undefeated”, “conquerors”. The name
once applied to the people was subsequently applied to the country as well.
 3. Assam is derived from a Bodo formation like Ha-chom, meaning low land.

Q. The reign of Bhaskaravarman can be called “Zenith of the Glory of

Ancient Assam”. Comment.
Bhaskarvarman succeeded his brother Supratisthitavarman and ruled for more than 50 years which forms a
brilliant chapter in the history of early Assam. The achievements of Bhaskarvarman can be summarised as
below -
- With his alliance with Harshavardhan, Bhaskarvarman brought fresh glories to Kamarupa and enabled
it to participate in pan-Indian politics.
- Bhaskarvarman restored the lost territory of Pundravardhan by defeating Gauda ruler Sasanka. To
celebrate this victory Bhaskarvarman issued famous Nidhanpur grants from his camp at Karnasubarna.
- Visit of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang crowns the career of Bhaskara and adds lustre to the history
of ancient Assam.
- Inscriptions bear testimony to Bhaskarvarman’s manysided qualities and activities.Hiuen Tsang testifies
to Bhaskarvarman’s fondness for learning.
- He was a successful administrator. Even during his absence when he travelled with Hiuen Tsang to
Kannauj, there was no instance of trouble or rebellion, which shows the smooth working of his
governmental machinery.
- His kingdom included besides the whole of Kamarupa defined in the Yogini Tantra, considerable
portion of Bengal and some portions of Bihar or at least the Nalanda region.
- Hiuen Tsang states that the sea route to China was under the protection of the rulers of Kamarupa
which leads us to conclude that Bhaskara held sway over Sylhet and Tripura.

Thus, it seems that Bhaskarvarman was perhaps the most illustrious of all the monarchs of ancient Assam

Q. What information do we get from Hiuen Tsang’s account of Kamarupa?

Hiuen Tsang, in Si-yu-ki, has left a valuable account of Kamarupa, which throws much light on the
accomplishment of Bhaskara, condition of the kingdom and social life of the people. Some of the information
given in Si-yu-ki are as follows.
○ “the country of Kamarupa is about 10,000 li (nearly 1700 miles) in circuit.
○ The capital town is about 30 li.
○ The people cultivated the jackfruit and the coconut.
○ The climate is soft and temperate.
○ The manners of the people are simple and honest.
○ The men are of small stature and their complexion dark yellow.
○ They adore and sacrifice to the Devas and have no faith in Buddha.
○ The sea route to China was under the protection of the rulers of Kamarupa which leads us to
conclude that Bhaskara held sway over Sylhet and Tripura.
○ Bhaskar Varman is of the Brahman caste (which is not actually correct). Though he has no
faith in Buddha, yet he much respects Sramanas of learning.

Visit of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang crowns the career of Bhaskara and adds lustre to the history of
ancient Assam.
Q. The reign of Sri Harshadeva is the Climax of the Military Glory of Ancient
Assam. Comment.
Sri Harshadeva is considered to be the greatest ruler of the Salastambha dynasty who ruled in the 8th century
AD. During his rule the territorial extent of Kamarupa reached a new high. He also strengthened his position
through matrimonial alliance with Lichchavi ruler Jayadeya-II.
- The king described as Gaudradi-Kalinga-Kosalapati in the Pasupati epigraph of Nepal Lichchavi
ruler Jayadeva II is identified with Sri Harshadeva by some historians.
- He first defeated the ruler of Saila dynasty and annexed Kalinga and Kosala.
- Then he defeated Jivitagupta-II and held his sway over parts of Magadha.
- The Samangad epigraph mentions Sri Harsha’s conflict with Dantidurga of Rashtrakuta dynasty.
- This was the highest peak of the military glory of ancient Assam, when its arms extended its sway
to, besides Guda, a great part of Orissa, part of Magadha and the northern part of the Madras state,
including south Kosala.
- Shortly after the incision of the Pasupati epigraph, Harshadeva was overthrown by Yasovarman.
Thus, during Harshadeva’s rule, even though for a brief period, Kamarupa did become the suzerain power
over nearly half of northern India.

Q. Give an account of the administration in ancient Assam.

Reference of a proper state-machinery in Assam appeared from the Varman dynasty. The only sources to
know about the administration of ancient Assam were stray epigraphs and Kalika Puran.
Central administration
- Monarchy was the normal form of government.
- Divinity was attached to kingship. Most of the kings traced their descent from Vishnu.
- The symbol of royalty of the kings appears to be the royal umbrella known as Varuna Chattra.
- The king was assisted by a council whose actual strength is not known.
- Inscriptions refer to the ministers as mantris, amatyas and sachivas.
- A set of officials helped the king in discharging his duties. It included - Rajguru (priest), Bhisaka
(Physician), Mahadvaradhipati (chief warden of the palace), etc.
Local administration
- The administrative divisions in ancient Assam were somewhat in line with the Guptas.
- The bhukti was perhaps the largest division (province).
- The bhukti was further divided in mandalas.
- The next administrative division was visayas which were under visayapati.
- The lowest unit was grama or villages.
Administration of justice
- Justice was administered according to Hindu law books
- The rulers promulgated ordinances in the form of land grants known as sasanas.
- Inscriptions mentions officers with titles such as Hyayakaranika, Vyavaharika, Dandika, Dandapasika,
etc. ordinarily at the headquarters of a district.
Revenue administration
- The source of revenue were - regular taxes (Kara, could be paid in cash or kind), occasional taxes,
commercial levies (custom duties and polls), fines, income from state properties and tribute from
feudatories.
- State derived considerable revenue from the copper mines (Bargaon inscription).
 - Officers associated with revenue administration included uparika, utketika, etc.

Thus, it can be seen that in the ancient period, Kamarupa had an administrative system similar to the
contemporary kingdoms of north India.

Q. Give an account of Assam’s diplomatic relation with China and Tibet in

the ancient period.
Assam maintained a good diplomatic relation with China and Tibet in the ancient period. Many references
could be found in this regard.
- Princess Amritaprabha (daughter of Balavarman) took to Kashmir a Tibetan Buddhist monk who had
been staying in his father’s court.
- Kalyanavarman (mentioned as Yu-chai in Chinese sources) sent a diplomatic mission to China.
- Bhaskarvarman’s concern about the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang’s visit to Kamarupa was determined
as much by diplomatic interest as by religious learnings.
- It appears that after Hiuen Tsang’s return, Bhaskarvarman exchanged envoys with China.
- Bhaskarvarman’s help to Wang Hiuen T’se’s mission and Salastambhas declaration bestowing some
villages in Nalanda region to a Chinese priest, brought Kamarupa closer to China on political and
cultural planes.
From these references, it is understood that the diplomatic relation between Assam China can be traced back
to the ancient period.

Q. Discuss the familiarity of architecture of ancient Assam with other

architectures of the Indian subcontinent.
Epigraphs and literature speak of the construction of numerous temples in ancient Assam, but not a single of
these exist today in their original condition. The existing remains include architecture and fortification,
sculptured designs, icons and a few specimens of painting.
- A close examination of the remains reveals parallels between Kamarupi art and the art of Bihar, Orissa,
Bengal, Central and Southern India, Sri Lanka and even distant places like Java.
- The door frame of Dah-Parvatiya, ascribed to the 5th century AD, is adjudged as one of the best
specimens of its class belonging to the Gupta Period.
- Ruins of Deopani show close resemblance to Gupta and Pala school.
- Temples of the sikhara type in the Kamakhya hills recall Orissan style.
- The ruins at Tezpur have parallels in their counterparts in other parts of northern India.
- The sculptured stone blocks found at Aksaiganga in Nagaon show designs resembling the Chalukyan
style.
- Stone pieces from Gosaijuri in Nagaon sowing Yavanika and other designs are similar to the art of
southern India and even of Sri Lanka.
Thus, a lot of similarity can be observed in the architecture of ancient Assam with other architectures of the
Indian subcontinent.