Ancient Kamrup

This article is about ancient region. For 350-1140c kingdom, see Kamarupa kingdom. For modern Kamrup, see Kamrup region.

History of Kamarupa
Part of a series on the

Rulers and Events

Rulers of Varman Dynasty (350 to 650 CE)

– Pushya Varman (350-374 CE)
– Samudra Varman (374-398 CE)
– Bala Varman (398-422 CE)
– Kalyana Varman (422-446 CE)
– Ganapati Varman (446-470 CE)
– Mahendra Varman (470-494 CE)
– Narayana Varman (494-518 CE)
– Bhuti Varman (518-542 CE)
– Chandramukha Varman (542-566 CE)
– Sthita Varman (566-590 CE)
– Susthita Varman (590-595 CE)
– Supratisthita Varman (595-600 CE)
– Bhaskar Varman (600-650 CE)

Rulers of Mlechchha Dynasty (650 to 900 CE)

– Salasthamba (650-670 CE)
– Vigrahastambha (670-680 CE)
– Palaka (680-695 CE)
– Kumara (695-710 CE)
– Vajra (710-725 CE)
– Harsha Varman (725-745 CE)
– Bala Varman II (745-760 CE)
– Salambha (795-815 CE)
– Harjjara Varman (815-832 CE)
– Vanamala Varman (832-855 CE)
– Jayamala (855-860 CE)
– Bala Varman III (860-880 CE)
– Tyagasimha (890-900 CE)

Rulers of Pala Dynasty (900 to 1100 CE)

– Brahma Pala (900-920 CE)
– Ratna Pala (920-960 CE)
– Indra Pala (960-990 CE)
– Go Pala (990-1015 CE)
– Harsha Pala (1015-1035 CE)
– Dharma Pala (1035-1060 CE)
– Jaya Pala (1075-1100 CE)

Major Events

– Establishment of first dynasty by Pushya Varman in 350 CE.
– End of Varman Dynasty in 655 CE.
– Establishment of aboriginal second dynasty by Salasthamba in 655 CE.
– End of Mlechchha Dynasty in 900 CE.
– Establishment of third dynasty by Brahma Pala in 900 CE.
– End of Pala Dynasty in 1100 CE.

Ruins of Pragjyotishpura

Ancient Kamrup was period of Kamrup spanning from prehistoric^[1] to early medieval times, consisting of Western Assam and North Bengal which under Kamarupa kingdom covered entire Brahmaputra valley, North Bangladesh, Bhutan and Purnea.

References in epics

The ancient epics Ramayana and Mahabharata refer to this region as Pragjyotish, not as Kamrup. The Puranas, written after the Mahabharata, mention the same Pragjyotish region as Kamrup. The Vishnu Purana describes Kamrup to spread 450 miles in all directions from the Kamakhya Temple (today in Gauhati). The Kalika Purana calls Kamakhya Temple the center or heart of Kamrup. The Yogini Tantra composed thereafter gives the geographical area of Kamrup as the entire Brahmaputra Valley, Bhutan, Rangpur (Bangladesh), Mymensing (Bangladesh), Cooch Behar. The Chinese pilgrim to India, Xuanzang, gives a detailed account of ancient Kamrup. Staying for a period of three months in what is current Guwahati, he observes life, culture and politics in Kamrup. The first millennium of the common era sees the expansion of the geographical, political and cultural influence of Kamrup.^[2] Ancient Kamrup has four geographical divisions collectively known as Kamarupa Pithas.

Capital region

Modern Kamrup region served as capital of ancient Kamrup. Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang visited the capital area and observed that land was low and moist and that the crops were regular. Cocoa-nuts and jack-fruits grew abundantly and were appreciated by the people. The climate was genial.

Culture

The primary language used by Aryan people of land was old Kamrupi language, which also act as lingua franca among non-Aryan peoples. Kamrupi language was a variety of eastern Maithili and Yuan Chwang noted that the spoken language of Kamrup differed only a little from the language spoken in mid-India i.e. Magadha and Mithila. During historic times it was through Mithila that Aryan culture and civilization spread into the Kamrup. From Kamrup in the north that the Aryans gradually spread towards the south to Gauda, north of the Ganges, and to Samatata, south of the Ganges.^[3]

Yuan Chwang observed that people of Kamrup were honest. Their speech differed a little from that of mid-India. They were of violent disposition but were persevering students. They worshipped the Devas and did not believe in Buddhism. The Deva -temples were some hundreds in number and the various systems had some myriads of professed adherents. The few Buddhists in the country performed their acts of devotion in secret.

Industry

Kamrupi silk

Harsha Charita mentions of ingenuously constructed royal umbrella of exquisite workmanship studded with valuable gems, puthis written on Sachi bark, dyed cane mats, Agar-essence, musk in silk bags, liquid molasses in earthen pots, utensils, paintings, a pair of Brahmani ducks in a cage made of cane and overlaid with gold and a considerable quantity of silk fabrics some of which were so even and polished that they resembled Bhujapatramade made of Muga and pat fabrics.^[4]

Chinese accounts states boat-building was a major industry in ancient Kamrup and iron works was mentioned as prosperous. The manufacture of molasses in liquid form, from sugar-cane juice, is still a peculiar practice in the modern Kamrup district. The Muga and pat silk fabrics are still produced in modern Kamrup. Puthis written on Sachi bark an still abundant in Assam and musk is obtained from the Bhutan hills.^[5]

Later periods

In medieval times, it Kamrup lost its unified status and became a battlefield of different powers trying to gain control over Kamrup in absence of strong local rulers, but none could hold Kamrup for long. Thus it remain untouched by any foreign cultural influences including in its language. Though Kamrup underwent such a hostile period, it had major literary activities in this time. Chandra Bharati, Bhattadeva, Ananta Kandali, Madhava Kandali, Sankardeva composed epics in the Kamrupi language.^[6]^[7]

In the colonial period, the size of Kamrup was greatly reduced and limited to an administrative district separated from most of North Bengal areas. In the twentieth century, Kamrup became a center of major industrial development. Guwahati, the largest city of the region, became a major urban center with the character of a veritable metropolis. Thus, the cultural and political capital of ancient Kamrup became the major hub of culture and business again.^[8]

References

↑ "Brahmi script originated in ancient Kamrup". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
↑ Sen, Dineschandra (1988). The Ballads of Bengal - Volume 1. Mittal Publications. p. 375.
↑ Barua, Kanak Lal (1933), Early History Of Kamarupa, p.93
↑ Barua, Kanak Lal (1933), Early History Of Kamarupa, p.96
↑ Barua, Kanak Lal (1933), Early History Of Kamarupa,p.96
↑ Mirza, Nathan (1992). BORAH, Moayyidul Islam, ed. Bahāristān-i-Ghaybī, a history of the Mughal wars in Assam, Cooch Behar, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa during the reigns of Jahāngīr and Shāhjahān. Guwahati, Assam: Gov. of Assam in the Dep. of Historical and Antiquarian Studies, Narayani Handiqui Historical Inst.
↑ Saksena, Banarsi Prasad (1932). History of Shahjahan of Dilhi. Allahabad: Central Book Depot. p. 115f.
↑ Alam, Khorshed (2001). Guwahati: the gateway to the east. Concept Publishing Company.

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