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REBEL KING BHARATH SINGHA AND HIS COINS: BHAUMA-NARAKA LEGEND FOR THE FORMATION OF MATAK KINGDOM
Corresponding Author(s) : Sewali Deka
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2020): July
Abstract
Purpose of the study: Moamaria rebel king Bharath Singha of Assam issued coins declaring himself a descendant of Bhagadatta. In the present study, we have discussed the ancestral lineage of the rebel king and the various aspects of his association of Bhagadatta.
Methodology: The ancestral root and genealogy of the Mayamara gurus, the community of the rebel king, based on the biographies and other available sources. Genuine coins issued by Bharath Singha were taken for the present study. Various other primary and secondary sources related to the coinage of Assam, historical events, genealogy, and inscriptions were also analysed, and contents are compared to reach a decision.
Main Findings: Bharath Singha established a kingdom based on the Neo-Vaishnavite faith. He associated himself with the legendary king Bhagadatta of Pragjyotishpura for the legitimation of his rule.
Applications of this study: The study may be applied in analysing the nature of the Moamaria Rebellion.
Novelty/Originality of this study: In the present study we have discussed Moamaria rebel leader Bharath Singha of Assam and his coins. Although a good number of works have been published discussing various aspects of Moamaria Rebellion, no special attention had been given to Bharath Singha.
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- Acharyya, N. N. (1987). A brief history of Assam: From earliest time to the year 1983. Omsons Publications.
- Ahmed, M. (2014), Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva aru ujoni Asomor samaj sangathan [Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva and upper Assam’s social institutions]. In J. Nath (Ed.), Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva, (89–103). Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha.
- Barman R. K. (2014) State Formation, Legitimization and Cultural Change: A Study of Koch Kingdom, The NEHU Journal, 12(1), 17–35. https://www.nehu.ac.in/public/assets/files/journals/NEHUJournalJan _June2014_Art2.pdf
- Barpujari, H. K. (1963). Assam in the days of company, 1826-1858 A critical and comprehensive history of Assam during the rule of the East-India Company from 1826–1858. Lawyer's Book Stall.
- Barua, K. L. (2014). Early history of Kamarupa. Bhabani Books.
- Baruah, B. B. (2017). Moran buranji sar [An outline of Moran history]. Jatiya Prakashan Sangha.
- Baruah, S. L. (2004, November 12), Revisiting the Vaishnav era. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/revisiting-the-vaishnav-era/cid/1552594
- Baruah, S. L. (2006), Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva: A biographical sketch and a short review of his teachings. In S. L. Baruah (Ed.), Life and teaching of Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva, (167–197). Dibrugarh University.
- Bhattacharya, P. (1914). Nidhanpur copper plates of Bhaskarvarman. Epigraphia Indica, 12, 65–79.
- Bhattacharya, P. (1931). KÄmarÅ«paÅ›ÄsanÄvalÄ«. Rangpur Sahitya Parisad.
- Bhuyan, S. K. (Ed.). (1968). Tungkhungia buranji [Tungkhungia chronicle], Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Assam.
- Bhuyan, S. K. (1975). Swargadew Rajeswar Singha. Publication Board Assam.
- Bhuyan, S. K. (Ed.). (1994). Satsari Asom buranji [Collection of seven Assam chronicles], Lawyer's Book Stall.
- Bora, D. (1998). Moamaria gana abhyutthan: Asomor samaj bikasar itihas [Moamaria mass movement: Assam’s history of society development]. Banalata.
- Choudhury, P. C. (1959). The history of civilization of the people of Assam up to 12th century A.D. Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Assam.
- Dohutia, S. (2016). Moran–Matak –Mayamora: Samaj aru sanskriti [Moran–Matak –Mayamora: Society and culture]. Banalata.
- Dutta, S. (1984). The Mataks and their kingdom: Castes and tribes of Assam. Chugh Publications.
- Dutta, S. (1994). A rare gold coin of Bharat Singha: The Matak ruler of Assam, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 55, 931–934. www.jstor.org/stable/44143483
- Dutta, S. (2017). From Mayamara vaishnavism to Moamaria rebellion: An overview of history of Assam. North East India History Association.
- Gait, E. (2018). A history of Assam. EBH Publishers.
- Gogoi D. P. (2016). Bar Raja Phuleswari Kunwari: The centre or the periphery in case of Moamoaria rebellion- A study from gender perspective, and some issues. International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Management Studies, 2(12), 55–60. http://ijahms.com/upcomingissue/07.12.2016.pdf.
- Gogoi, J. (2019). Gayan-Bayan of the Mayamara satra. Research Review International Journal of Multidisciplinary, 4(2), 141–144. https://rrjournals.com/past-issue/gayan-bayan-of-the-mayamara-satra-2/.
- Gogoi, S. (2018). Mayamara alias Matak-Moran rebellion (1769–1805): As an intellectual anachronism in the politics of peasant movements of Assam. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR–JHSS), 23(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2301042027
- Goswami, C. (1933). Sri Sri Aniruddhadevar charitra aru Mayamara satra gosain sakalar vamsavali [Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva’s biography and genealogy of Mayamara satra gosains]. Mayamara Hithadhini Sabha.
- Goswami, K. D. (1993). Srimadbhagavat. Banalata.
- Goswami, P. (2012). The history of Assam from Yandabo to Partition 1826–1947. Orient BlackSwan..
- Guha, A. (1991). Medieval and early colonial Assam: Society, policy and economy. K. P. Bugachi & Co.
- Hazarika, S. (2014). Aniruddhadeva: The great saint of Assam. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 4(3), 466–477.
- Kakati, B. K. (1948). The mother goddess Kamakhya. Assam Publishing Corporation.
- Kalita, B. J. (2019). Metallurgy in medieval Assam: A study with special reference to gold washing and iron smelting technology. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 8(11), 2603–2605. http://www.ijstr.org/paper-references.php?ref=IJSTR-1119-25427
- Kalsi, S. (2005). Coinage and currency of the Ahoms and Jaintiapur: Some reflections on trade. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 66, 474–485. www.jstor.org/stable/4414586
- Lahiri, N. (1991). PreAhom Assam: Studies in the inscriptions of Assam between the fifth and the thirteenth centuries AD. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
- Nath, D. (2008). The Mataks and their revolt against the state in 18th century Assam searching for ethno-religious roots. In J. K. Ray & A. B. Roy (Eds.), Political Roles of Religious Communities in India. (pp. 107-124). Institute for Security and Development Policy. https://isdp.eu/publication/political-roles-religious-communities-india/
- Nath, D. (2014). Cult, ideology and conflict: The ‘Mayamara’ Vaishnavism and social conflict in 18th century Assam, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75, 351–357. www.jstor.org/stable/44158402
- Neog, M. (1965). Sankaradeva and his times: Early history of vaisnava faith and movement in Assam. Department of Publication Gauhati University.
- Neog, M. (1982). Socio-political events in Assam leading to the militancy of the Mayamariya vaishnavas. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta.
- Rajkumar, S. (2000). Itihase soaura chashata bacahar [Six hundred years remembered by history]. Banalata.
- Rhodes N.G., & Bose S. K. (2004). The coinage of Assam: Ahom period. Library of Numismatic Studies.
- Saikia, B. (2018). An introduction to the sattra culture of Assam: Belief, change in tradition and current entanglement. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 12(2), 21–47. https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2018-0009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2018-0009
- Sarma, R. (2017). Ngi Ngao Kham –A Mythical Figure of Tai Ahom People of Assam. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 5(5), 14–18.
- Sarma, S. N. (1966). The Neo-vaishnavite movement and satra institutions of Assam. Department of Publication Gauhati University.
- Sarma, S. N. (2006), Asomia sahityar samikhyatmak itihas [Assamese literature’s critical history]. Saumar Prakash.
- Sharma, C. K. (1996). Socio-economic structure and peasant revolt: The case of Moamaria upsurge in the eighteenth century Assam. Indian Anthropologist, 26(2), 33–52. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41919803
- Sharma, M. M. (1978). Inscriptions of ancient Assam. Department of Publication Gauhati University.
- Shin, J. E. (2011). Changing dynasties, enduring genealogy: A critical study on the political legitimation in early medieval KÄmarÅ«pa. Journal of Ancient Indian History, 27, 173–187.
- Shin, J. E. (2020). Descending from demons, ascending to Kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, the Chutiyas and the Dimasas. The Indian Economic and Social History Review, 57(1), 49–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019464619894134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0019464619894134
- Singh, K. S. (1985). Tribal society in India. Manohar.
- Sirkar, D. C. (2008). Studies in Indian coins. Motilal Banarsidass Publiishers Pvt. Ltd.
References
Acharyya, N. N. (1987). A brief history of Assam: From earliest time to the year 1983. Omsons Publications.
Ahmed, M. (2014), Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva aru ujoni Asomor samaj sangathan [Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva and upper Assam’s social institutions]. In J. Nath (Ed.), Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva, (89–103). Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha.
Barman R. K. (2014) State Formation, Legitimization and Cultural Change: A Study of Koch Kingdom, The NEHU Journal, 12(1), 17–35. https://www.nehu.ac.in/public/assets/files/journals/NEHUJournalJan _June2014_Art2.pdf
Barpujari, H. K. (1963). Assam in the days of company, 1826-1858 A critical and comprehensive history of Assam during the rule of the East-India Company from 1826–1858. Lawyer's Book Stall.
Barua, K. L. (2014). Early history of Kamarupa. Bhabani Books.
Baruah, B. B. (2017). Moran buranji sar [An outline of Moran history]. Jatiya Prakashan Sangha.
Baruah, S. L. (2004, November 12), Revisiting the Vaishnav era. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/revisiting-the-vaishnav-era/cid/1552594
Baruah, S. L. (2006), Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva: A biographical sketch and a short review of his teachings. In S. L. Baruah (Ed.), Life and teaching of Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva, (167–197). Dibrugarh University.
Bhattacharya, P. (1914). Nidhanpur copper plates of Bhaskarvarman. Epigraphia Indica, 12, 65–79.
Bhattacharya, P. (1931). KÄmarÅ«paÅ›ÄsanÄvalÄ«. Rangpur Sahitya Parisad.
Bhuyan, S. K. (Ed.). (1968). Tungkhungia buranji [Tungkhungia chronicle], Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Assam.
Bhuyan, S. K. (1975). Swargadew Rajeswar Singha. Publication Board Assam.
Bhuyan, S. K. (Ed.). (1994). Satsari Asom buranji [Collection of seven Assam chronicles], Lawyer's Book Stall.
Bora, D. (1998). Moamaria gana abhyutthan: Asomor samaj bikasar itihas [Moamaria mass movement: Assam’s history of society development]. Banalata.
Choudhury, P. C. (1959). The history of civilization of the people of Assam up to 12th century A.D. Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Assam.
Dohutia, S. (2016). Moran–Matak –Mayamora: Samaj aru sanskriti [Moran–Matak –Mayamora: Society and culture]. Banalata.
Dutta, S. (1984). The Mataks and their kingdom: Castes and tribes of Assam. Chugh Publications.
Dutta, S. (1994). A rare gold coin of Bharat Singha: The Matak ruler of Assam, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 55, 931–934. www.jstor.org/stable/44143483
Dutta, S. (2017). From Mayamara vaishnavism to Moamaria rebellion: An overview of history of Assam. North East India History Association.
Gait, E. (2018). A history of Assam. EBH Publishers.
Gogoi D. P. (2016). Bar Raja Phuleswari Kunwari: The centre or the periphery in case of Moamoaria rebellion- A study from gender perspective, and some issues. International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Management Studies, 2(12), 55–60. http://ijahms.com/upcomingissue/07.12.2016.pdf.
Gogoi, J. (2019). Gayan-Bayan of the Mayamara satra. Research Review International Journal of Multidisciplinary, 4(2), 141–144. https://rrjournals.com/past-issue/gayan-bayan-of-the-mayamara-satra-2/.
Gogoi, S. (2018). Mayamara alias Matak-Moran rebellion (1769–1805): As an intellectual anachronism in the politics of peasant movements of Assam. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR–JHSS), 23(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2301042027
Goswami, C. (1933). Sri Sri Aniruddhadevar charitra aru Mayamara satra gosain sakalar vamsavali [Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva’s biography and genealogy of Mayamara satra gosains]. Mayamara Hithadhini Sabha.
Goswami, K. D. (1993). Srimadbhagavat. Banalata.
Goswami, P. (2012). The history of Assam from Yandabo to Partition 1826–1947. Orient BlackSwan..
Guha, A. (1991). Medieval and early colonial Assam: Society, policy and economy. K. P. Bugachi & Co.
Hazarika, S. (2014). Aniruddhadeva: The great saint of Assam. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 4(3), 466–477.
Kakati, B. K. (1948). The mother goddess Kamakhya. Assam Publishing Corporation.
Kalita, B. J. (2019). Metallurgy in medieval Assam: A study with special reference to gold washing and iron smelting technology. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 8(11), 2603–2605. http://www.ijstr.org/paper-references.php?ref=IJSTR-1119-25427
Kalsi, S. (2005). Coinage and currency of the Ahoms and Jaintiapur: Some reflections on trade. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 66, 474–485. www.jstor.org/stable/4414586
Lahiri, N. (1991). PreAhom Assam: Studies in the inscriptions of Assam between the fifth and the thirteenth centuries AD. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Nath, D. (2008). The Mataks and their revolt against the state in 18th century Assam searching for ethno-religious roots. In J. K. Ray & A. B. Roy (Eds.), Political Roles of Religious Communities in India. (pp. 107-124). Institute for Security and Development Policy. https://isdp.eu/publication/political-roles-religious-communities-india/
Nath, D. (2014). Cult, ideology and conflict: The ‘Mayamara’ Vaishnavism and social conflict in 18th century Assam, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75, 351–357. www.jstor.org/stable/44158402
Neog, M. (1965). Sankaradeva and his times: Early history of vaisnava faith and movement in Assam. Department of Publication Gauhati University.
Neog, M. (1982). Socio-political events in Assam leading to the militancy of the Mayamariya vaishnavas. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta.
Rajkumar, S. (2000). Itihase soaura chashata bacahar [Six hundred years remembered by history]. Banalata.
Rhodes N.G., & Bose S. K. (2004). The coinage of Assam: Ahom period. Library of Numismatic Studies.
Saikia, B. (2018). An introduction to the sattra culture of Assam: Belief, change in tradition and current entanglement. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 12(2), 21–47. https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2018-0009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2018-0009
Sarma, R. (2017). Ngi Ngao Kham –A Mythical Figure of Tai Ahom People of Assam. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 5(5), 14–18.
Sarma, S. N. (1966). The Neo-vaishnavite movement and satra institutions of Assam. Department of Publication Gauhati University.
Sarma, S. N. (2006), Asomia sahityar samikhyatmak itihas [Assamese literature’s critical history]. Saumar Prakash.
Sharma, C. K. (1996). Socio-economic structure and peasant revolt: The case of Moamaria upsurge in the eighteenth century Assam. Indian Anthropologist, 26(2), 33–52. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41919803
Sharma, M. M. (1978). Inscriptions of ancient Assam. Department of Publication Gauhati University.
Shin, J. E. (2011). Changing dynasties, enduring genealogy: A critical study on the political legitimation in early medieval KÄmarÅ«pa. Journal of Ancient Indian History, 27, 173–187.
Shin, J. E. (2020). Descending from demons, ascending to Kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, the Chutiyas and the Dimasas. The Indian Economic and Social History Review, 57(1), 49–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019464619894134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0019464619894134
Singh, K. S. (1985). Tribal society in India. Manohar.
Sirkar, D. C. (2008). Studies in Indian coins. Motilal Banarsidass Publiishers Pvt. Ltd.