{"id":30125,"date":"2026-09-21T17:33:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T12:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=30125"},"modified":"2026-09-21T17:33:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T12:03:03","slug":"ahom-dynasty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/ahom-dynasty\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahom Dynasty (1228-1826), Founder, Rulers, Time Period, History"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>The Ahom Dynasty (1228\u20131826)<\/strong>, founded by Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from Mong Mao, ruled the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam for nearly six centuries. They brought their own Tai beliefs and customs, later embracing Hinduism while preserving their unique cultural identity. Under great rulers like Suhummung (Dihingia Raja), Suklenmung (Garhgayan Raja), Pratap Singha, Jayadhvaj Singha, Gadadhar Singha, and Rudra Singha, the Ahom kingdom expanded territorially, strengthened its administration, and flourished culturally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ahoms promoted Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism, building magnificent temples and Satras, granting revenue-free lands, and appointing Bahatiya paiks for their service. Renowned for their military prowess and tolerance, the Ahoms repelled Mughal invasions, achieving a decisive victory at the Battle of Saraighat (1671) under Lachit Borphukan, leaving a lasting legacy of unity, culture, and sovereignty in Assam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty History<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ahom Dynasty was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam. It retained its sovereignty for almost six centuries. It had a profound effect on the political and social life in the region.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Although later referred to as the Ahom kingdom during colonial and subsequent periods, it was a predominantly multi-ethnic state, with the Ahoms themselves comprising less than 10% of the population by the end of their rule.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 17th century, the Ahoms repelled successive Mughal invasions, culminating in Lachit Borphukan\u2019s decisive victory at Saraighat (1671), which defeated the Mughal Empire's invading forces.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After a phase of turmoil, the Ahom kingdom regained stability under the Tungkhungia dynasty, founded by Gadadhar Singha.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The kingdom\u2019s strength declined with the Moamoria Rebellion and eventually succumbed to a series of Burmese invasions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the defeat of the Burmese after the First <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/anglo-burmese-war\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Anglo-Burmese War<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, control of the kingdom passed into British hands.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Time Period<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ahom Dynasty ruled the Ahom Kingdom in Assam for nearly six centuries, from 1228 to 1826 CE. In the 17th century, the Ahoms successfully resisted Mughal expansion, notably at the Battle of Saraighat (1671). Their independent rule ended after the Treaty of Yandabo (1826).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Founder<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The founder of Ahom dynasty was <\/span><b>Sukapha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a Tai prince who entered Assam in <\/span><b>1228 CE<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. He established the Ahom kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley and laid the foundation of a powerful state that ruled Assam for nearly <\/span><b>600 years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Rulers<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Several notable rulers shaped the trajectory of the Ahom Kingdom. Rulers such as Sukaphaa, Rudra Singha, and Gadadhar Singha played pivotal roles in the expansion and prosperity of the Ahom Kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suhummung (Suhungmung) or Dihingia Raja\u00a0 (1497-1539)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suhummung, son of Supimpha, was one of Assam\u2019s most dynamic Ahom rulers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shifting the capital to Bakata, his 42-year reign marked the first major expansion since Sukaphaa.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He annexed the Bhuyan region (1512), defeated the Chutiyas (1520), and sacked Dimapur (1526), transforming the Ahom kingdom into a powerful multi-ethnic state.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suhummung also repelled Muslim invasions by Nusrat Shah (1527) and Turbak (1532), securing Ahom supremacy in the Brahmaputra valley.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emphasising inclusivity, he adopted the title Swargadeo, introduced Hindu courtly practices, and founded seven royal houses, laying a strong foundation for Assam\u2019s political unity and dynastic stability.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suklenmung or Garhgayan Raja (1539\u20131552)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suklenmung (Garhgayan Raja), son of Suhummung, shifted the Ahom capital to Garhgaon and strengthened his father\u2019s expanding kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A capable ruler and military leader, he repelled Bir Chilarai\u2019s Koch invasion (1546), consolidating Ahom control over the Chutiya and Kachari territories while keeping the Bhuyans under check.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He promoted public works, including the Garhgaon tank, embankments at Kahikuchi and Changinimukh, and the Naga Ali road to the hills.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suklenmung also introduced the first Ahom coins, octagonal and inscribed with royal legends.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Upholding his father\u2019s Hindu-leaning yet inclusive religious policy, he maintained harmony between Ahom and Hindu traditions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sukhampha or Khora Raja (1553-1603)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sukhampha, also called Khora Raja, held the longest reign in the Ahom dynasty, lasting 50 years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The defining event of his reign was the 1562 conflict with the Kochs, led by Chila Rai, whose forces advanced deep into Ahom territory.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Forced to concede, the Ahom king signed a treaty acknowledging Koch supremacy, ceding land north of the Brahmaputra, and paying indemnity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, the Ahoms soon regained Narayanpur.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">His reign also saw the spread of <\/span><b>Vaishnavism <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in Assam, driven by saints like <\/span><b>Sankardeva<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Madhabdev, and Haridev.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pratap Singha (1603\u20131641) or Burha Raja<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Susengpha or Swargadeo Pratap Singha reigned in one of the most dynamic periods of Ahom history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite his age at accession, his 38-year rule was marked by territorial expansion, administrative reform, and cultural growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He crushed Bharali and Subansiri rebellions, reasserted control over the Kacharis, and introduced the <\/span><b>Posa system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to maintain peace with hill tribes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pratap Singha successfully resisted Mughal invasions under <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/jahangir\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Jahangir<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/shah-jahan\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Shah Jahan<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, concluding with the <\/span><b>Treaty of Koliabar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (1639), which defined clear boundaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A patron of religion and culture, he built Shiva temples at Dergaon and Bishnath, granted lands to Brahmins, and upheld Ahom traditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">His population census (Paikar Piyalar Kakat) showcased his administrative foresight and vision.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jayadhvaj Singha (1648\u20131663)<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After Pratap Singha\u2019s reign, internal unrest led to the Sutamala ascending the throne in 1648, taking the Hindu name Jayadhvaj Singha.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He strengthened Ahom authority by defeating Naga and Miri incursions (1650, 1655) and securing peace with the Jaintia kingdom (1657).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Guided by Damodaria Brahmins, he undertook public works like roads and tanks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">His reign was marked by the Mughal invasion under <\/span><b>Mir Jumla<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (1662\u20131663).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To reclaim Guwahati lost in the 1639 treaty, Jayadhvaj Singha advanced west during the Mughal succession crisis, capturing Guwahati and the Brahmaputra Valley up to the Sankosh River.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In response, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/aurangzeb-and-fall-of-mughals\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Aurangzeb<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> dispatched Mir Jumla (1662), who captured Garhgaon after several Ahom retreats.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, floods and famine crippled the Mughal forces, enabling the Ahoms to recover.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The conflict ended with the <\/span><b>Treaty of Ghiladhari Ghat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (1663), imposing a temporary Mughal victory and heavy indemnity, though the gains were short-lived and destructive.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chakradhvaj Singha (1663\u20131670)<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After Jayadhwaj Singha, the new ruler was Supungmung, who assumed the Hindu name Chakradhvaj Singha.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During his reign, Mughal attacks resumed, which were met with fierce Ahom resistance under Bir Lachit Barphukan, the \u201cShivaji of Eastern Bharat.\u201d<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">King Chakradhvaj renewed the war, accusing the Mughals of violating the 1663 treaty by retaining occupied lands and prisoners.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Determined to reclaim Guwahati, he appointed Lachit Barphukan to lead the campaign.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Religion<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ahoms maintained a liberal and syncretic approach with respect to religion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ahoms, originally Tai people, followed an ancestral faith blending <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/buddhism\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Buddhism <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and animism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Influenced early by Hindu ideas, traced to a 9th-century monk Chandragupta of Magadha, they brought sacred texts like Min Mang Phura Lung and Pung-Gao-Kham (a Tai Ramayana) when Sukapha led them into Assam in the 13th century.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After establishing their kingdom, the Ahoms gradually adopted Hinduism with a liberal, syncretic outlook.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Under Sudangpha, Hindu rituals gained royal prominence. Later, Vaishnavism flourished with royal patronage from Jayadhwaj Singha (1648\u20131663) to Sulikpha (1679\u20131681).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite this, Ahom rulers retained traditional customs, adopting dual names, one Sanskrit (Hindu) and one Tai, at coronation.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">From Gadadhar Singha\u2019s reign, royal preference shifted toward Shaktism; he halted grants to Vaishnava satras and built the Umananda Shiva temple at Guwahati.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rudra Singha, a staunch Sakta, invited priests from Bengal but upheld religious tolerance, supporting Vaishnava monasteries and Ahom priests alike.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thus, the Ahom state fostered a tri-religious synthesis of Shaktism, <\/span><b>Shaivism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and Vaishnavism, while preserving indigenous Tai-Ahom traditions, reflecting a uniquely liberal and inclusive religious policy.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vaishnavism in Assam<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most significant religious development in the Ahom-era Assam was the rise of Vaishnavism under <\/span><b>Srimanta Sankardeva<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (1449\u20131568).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emerging during a period dominated by Shakti worship and diverse cults, Sankardeva led a powerful religious reform movement that reshaped Assamese society.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">His philosophy, <\/span><b>\u2018Eksarana Nama Dharma\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, preached devotion to a formless Supreme God, Vishnu, emphasising faith, equality, and surrender as the sole path to salvation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rejecting caste distinctions, Sankardeva\u2019s inclusive message united people from all communities through worship in the common Assamese language.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He institutionalised his movement through three key institutions:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Nama-Kirtana: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Collective prayers promoting unity and devotion,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Satra:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Monastic centres for teaching, art, and administration,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Namghar:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Village prayer halls serving as both spiritual and social hubs.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sankardeva\u2019s egalitarian and devotional movement transformed Assam\u2019s religious, cultural, and social life, laying the foundation for a unified Assamese identity under the Ahoms.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Administration System<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The society of the Ahom Dynasty was deeply rooted in its customs and conventions, forming the foundation of its administrative structure. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ahom administrative system differed from conventional models, lacking clear divisions of central, provincial, and local governance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>King:<\/strong> Authority was <\/span><b>centralised in the Swargadeo (King)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, assisted by the Patramantri, an elite council of ministers led by the three hereditary Gohains. The king ruled in consultation with them, following a collective and advisory governance model.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Major decisions were discussed in the Barchora (Council Chamber).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">About 12 Phukans and 20 Baruas from noble families managed civil affairs, under the supervision of the Barbarua, aided by the Chorar Phukans.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Officials:<\/strong> Supporting officials included Dihingia Phukan, Chetiya Phukan, Pani Phukan, Deka Phukan, Rajkhowas, and Panidihingias, along with Katakis (messengers), Kakatis (clerks), Dolois (astrologers), and Neogs (civil and military staff).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Local Administration:<\/strong> Governors like Sadiya Khowa Gohain, Marangi Khowa Gohain, and Salal Gohain oversaw frontier defence, law and order, revenue, and justice.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Royal family members often served as Meldagia or Melkhowa Rajas to manage local governance.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Judicial System:<\/strong> The king\u2019s court was the highest authority, with Nyaya Sodha Phukan presiding in the king\u2019s absence.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Appeals could move upward from the Barbarua and Phukan courts.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the village level, minor disputes were resolved in Namghars or village assemblies (Meldowan) through consensus or majority decisions, showcasing a participatory system of local justice.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paik System or Khel System<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>The Paik System was a unique corv\u00e9e (forced or obligation-based) labor and military recruitment system used by the Ahom kingdom in medieval Assam, India.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Structure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Every male aged 16\u201350 rendered service to the state and formed its militia for three months annually.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They were organised into khels, or occupational groups, based on their trades, such as boat-building or agriculture.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Administrative Hierarchy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Bara (20 paiks), Saikia (100 paiks), Hazarika (1,000 paiks), and Phukan (6,000 paiks).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Land Grants:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Paiks were allotted two puras of land but had no hereditary rights.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dynasty <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Architecture<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The archaeological monuments of the Ahom dynasty can be classified into various types, including dol-devalayas (temples), royal palaces, stone bridges, moidams (burial mounds), garhs (forts), and aali (embankments).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the Ahom era, dol-devalayas (temple complexes) formed the largest group of pucca monuments.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The earliest, Naag Shankar Devalaya (1480 AD), built under Swargadeo Susenpha, marks the beginning of this architectural tradition.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prominent examples include the Siva Dol, Devi Dol, Vishnu Dol, Ganesh Mandir, and Surya Mandir at Sibsagar, and the Joy Dol, Vishnu Dol, and Siva Dol at Joysagar.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Siva Dol at Dergaon features subsidiary shrines of Devi, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Surya.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Joy Dol at Joysagar is particularly noted for its superior craftsmanship, while the Nati Gukhai Dol near Gaurisagar exemplifies Ahom terracotta architecture in the Gauri style.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dol devalayas were structured in three parts: Naatghar, Jagmohan, and Garbhagriha, and often reflected North Indian <\/span><b>Nagara style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> influences.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bricks and stones from the Naga Hills were used, bonded with a unique mortar of mustard oil, lime, jaggery, urad dal, fish, and copal.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Major palaces of the Ahom period include\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Kareng Ghar (Garhgaon) and Talatal Ghar:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Both seven-storeyed (three underground, three above, and one at ground level) showcase Mughal-inspired architecture and the engineering brilliance of the Ahoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The Rang Ghar:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A two-storied royal pavilion, it is adorned with arched entrances and carved crocodile motifs on its roof.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom architecture is distinguished by its rich sculptural ornamentation, depicting flora, fauna, deities, and human figures in stone, brick, wood, and terracotta.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Moidams - The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recently, Moidams from Charaideo, Assam, have been officially inscribed on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/unesco-world-heritage-sites-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>UNESCO World Heritage Sites List<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Located at the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam, the site serves as the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom dynasty.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over a span of 600 years, the Tai-Ahom built moidams that harmonised with the surrounding hills, forests, and water bodies, creating a sacred landscape.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Banyan trees, along with species used for coffins and bark manuscripts, were planted, and artificial water bodies were also developed.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ninety moidams \u2013 hollow vaults built of brick, stone or earth \u2013 of different sizes are found within the site.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They contain the remains of kings and other royals together with grave goods such as food, horses and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Tai-Ahom rituals of \u201cMe-Dam-Me-Phi\u201d and \u201cTarpan\u201d are practised at the Charaideo necropolis.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Although moidams exist in various parts of the Brahmaputra Valley, the ones located at this site are considered truly exceptional.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Literature<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom literature is primarily composed of <\/span><b>Buranjis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which are considered valuable assets in the Ahoms' history. The subject matter that these Buranjis reflect is described below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buranjis include discussions of the political events of their time, and they accurately capture the dates of important historical events, descriptions of various wars, their strategies, results, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The life stories of the kings, queens, ministers, and other people from the royal family,\u00a0 direct speech of these people, and the description of the dynasties, etc., are included in the Buranjis.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Buranjis provide detailed accounts of warfare, weaponry, official records, royal titles, and other aspects of the Ahom court.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Buranjis about the neighbouring states give us a picture of the various events of those places and the political relationship between the states.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The language used for writing Buranji is basically oral prose language.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom-Mughal Conflict<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Mughal emperors Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb were driven by a strong ambition for political dominance and territorial expansion in Northeast India.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The first clash between the Mughals and the Ahoms took place in 1615 during the <\/span><b>Battle of Samdhara.<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The hostilities continued through several major engagements, including the <\/span><b>Battle of Alaboi (1669)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the Battle of Saraighat (1671), and lasted until 1682, when the Ahoms achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Itakhuli. This triumph ended Mughal attempts to control Assam permanently.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Among these encounters, the Battle of Saraighat (1671) stands out as the last major Mughal effort to conquer Assam.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Battle of Saraighat<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Mughal Empire, seeking to capture Assam\u2019s fertile and strategic lands, launched a major invasion in 1671 under Raja Ram Singh, advancing up to the Brahmaputra River.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Lachit Borphukan displayed remarkable strategic brilliance by using the Brahmaputra\u2019s terrain to his advantage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He fortified the riverbanks with earthen embankments, creating strong defensive positions, and launched relentless attacks with a fleet of boats equipped with cannons and flaming arrows.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Mughals, though superior in numbers and weaponry, were overwhelmed by Lachit\u2019s tactics and the Ahom army\u2019s mastery of local geography.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The decisive defeat forced Raja Ram Singh to retreat to Rangamati, ending Mughal expansion into Assam.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Battle of Saraighat stands as a lasting testament to Lachit Borphukan\u2019s courage, leadership, and devotion to his homeland, after which the Ahoms fortified Guwahati to secure their eastern frontier permanently.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Dynasty Decline<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ahom Kingdom, after nearly six centuries of political dominance in Assam, gradually weakened because of internal conflicts, administrative disruption, the Moamoria Rebellion, and repeated Burmese invasions. The decline ultimately resulted in the loss of Ahom sovereignty following the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ahom Dynasty was founded in 1228 CE by Chaolung Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from Mong Mao. Read more about Ahom Dynasty, Founder, Rulers, Time Period &#038; History.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":30164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,19],"tags":[2048,40,595],"class_list":["post-30125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-medieval-history-notes","tag-ahom-dynasty","tag-quest","tag-upsc-medieval-history-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30125"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30177,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30125\/revisions\/30177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}