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39-452: Before the British period, the center of administration of Assam was around Sivasagar were the famous Ahoms ruled for nearly six hundred years. The Ahom kings took keen interest in building different temples, dedicated to various deities and which were usually flanked by large tanks which until today stand out as memorials to their glory in the district. Sivasagar, or Rangpur as it was known then,

78-501: A population of 1,151,050, roughly equal to the population of East Timor . This gives it a ranking of 406th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 431 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,120/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 9.37%. Sivasagar has a sex ratio of 954 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 81.36%. After bifurcation Sivasagar district has

117-453: A Hindu name that ended in Singha ( Assamese : Lion): Susengphaa assumed the name Pratap Singha . Buranjis occasionally would refer to a past king by a more informal and colourful name that focused on a specific aspect of the king Pratap Singha was also known as Burha Roja ( Assamese : Old King) because when Pratap Singha became the king, he was quite advanced in age. Subinphaa (1281–1293),

156-719: A lineage created exclusively for the Ahoms. Suhungmung adopted the title Swarganarayan , and the later kings were called Swargadeo's (literal meaning: Lord of the Heavens ). It was during his reign that the Buranji titled Sri Sri Swarganarayan Maharajor Jonmokotha was written wherein the source and lineage of the Ahom kings was connected to the Hindu God, Indra , Lord of the Heaven. The Swargadeo's coronation

195-466: A new rule was introduced during the reign of Sulikphaa Lora Roja—claimants to the throne had to be physically unblemished—which meant that threats to the throne could be removed by merely slitting the ear of an ambitious prince. Rudra Singha , suspecting his brother Lechai's intention, mutilated and banished him. The problem of succession remained, and on his deathbed, he instructed that all his sons were to become kings. One of his sons, Mohanmala Gohain ,

234-550: A new school of art emerged as the 'Garhgaon school'. This school of art broke away from the already existing 'Sattriya school', with much secular influence. Richly illustrated manuscripts such as– Gita Govinda, Dharma Purana, Sankachura Vadh, Hastividyarnava , Ananda Lahiri, Bhagavata Purana VI, Brhamavaivarta Purana, etc., are all products of the royal court. In the nearly 600-years 39-Swargadeo dynastic history, there are three progenitor kings (all subsequent kings are descendants of these kings). They are Sukaphaa , who established

273-466: A population of 679,632, of which 80,373 (11.83%) live in urban areas. The residual district has a sex ratio of 952 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 34,704 (5.11%) and 37,130 (5.46%) of the population respectively. In the residual district Hindus are 592,433 (87.17%), Muslims are 73,961 (10.88%), Christians 8,433 (1.24%). There are also a few villages of Buddhist tribes like Khamyang and Turung people . Moreover, there

312-533: Is a small population of Tiwas , Konyak , Meitei and Nocte living in certain parts of the district. Many Rajasthani families are also present in Sivasagar district Languages of Sivasagar district (2011) Sibsagar is an overwhelming assamese majority district. At the time of the 2011 census, 90.24% of the population spoke Assamese , 2.78% Mishing , 1.96% Hindi , 1.58% Bengali and 1.38% Sadri as their first language. In 1999, Sivasagar district became home to

351-511: The Golaghat district . One of the quaintest towns of Eastern Assam, Sivasagar is one of the cleanest towns in Assam. The district is situated between 26.45° and 27.15° North latitudes and 94.25° and 95.25° East longitudes. Sivasagar district occupies an area of 2,668 square kilometres (1,030 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Estonia 's Saaremaa Island . The Sivasagar district is bordered by

390-584: The Naga Hills and Arunachal Pradesh in the south and south-east respectively and the Brahmaputra river in the north. The district is mostly flat alluvial plain with hillocks on south-eastern and southern areas near the Nagaland border. The main industries in Sivasagar are oil industry, tea industry & tourism industry. Majority of the population are agrarian. According to the 2011 census Sivasagar district has

429-653: The Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary , which has an area of 34 km (13.1 sq mi). There are also many reserve forests like Abhaypur, Dilli, Diroi, Geleky and Saleh. There are some unclassified forests along the Nagaland and Arunachal border. The vegetation is mostly tropical evergreen with trees like hollong , titachapa, nahor, mekai etc. dominating the canopy. The district is also rich in fauna . Various rare and endangered mammals like tiger , elephant , sun bear , sambar , hoolock gibbon are found in

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468-418: The 14th century, the kingdom had no kings when acceptable candidates were not found. The ministers could remove unacceptable kings, and it used to involve executing the erstwhile king. In the 17th century a power struggle and the increasing number of claimants to the throne resulted in kings being deposed in quick succession, all of whom were executed after the new king was instated. To prevent this bloody end,

507-484: The 1st of every year. The day is celebrated with cultural programs and cultural rallies along with plantation programmes in the entire Sivasagar District. 26°59′03.90″N 94°37′53.07″E  /  26.9844167°N 94.6314083°E  / 26.9844167; 94.6314083 Ahom Dynasty The Ahom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam, India for nearly 598 years. The dynasty

546-488: The Swargadeo were called Chamua Kunworis . Some of the queens were given separate estates that were looked after by state officials (Phukans or Baruas). During the reign of Siva Singha (1714–1744), the king gave his royal umbrella and royal insignia to his queens— Phuleshwari kunwori, Ambika Kunwori and Anadari Kunwori in succession— to rule the kingdom. They were called Bor-Rojaa . Some queens maintained office even after

585-576: The Tunkhungiya rulers following Siba Singha was a crucial factor leading to the Moamoria rebellion that greatly depleted the Ahom kingdom. The king was guarded by a six thousand strong household troop under a Bhitarual Phukan . A unit of musketeers consisting of the king's relatives was established by Sukhaamphaa alias Khora Raja that protected the capital (under the Bajua Hilaidari Konwar ) and

624-539: The chaos of the late 17th century, Gadadhar Sinha (1681–1696), the first Tungkhungiya king began his rule with a deep distrust of these religious groups. His son and successor Rudra Singha (1696–1714) searched for an alternative state religion, and his son and successor Siva Singha (1714–1744) formally adopted Saktism , the nemesis of the Mahapuruxiya sects. The persecution of the Mahapuruxiya Sattras under

663-462: The court till the reign of Pratap Singha , during whose rule Assamese became dominant. Sutamla (1648–1663) was the first Ahom king to be initiated into the Mahapuruxiya Dharma , and Ahom kings till Sulikphaa lora roja (1679–1681) continued to be disciples of one sattra or the other. Mahapuruxiya pontiffs belonging to different sects began playing a greater role in state politics. After

702-422: The death or removal of the kings, as happened with Pakhori Gabhoru and Kuranganayani who were queens to multiple kings. One way in which the importance of the queens can be seen is that many of them are named on coins; typically the king's name would be on the obverse of the coin and the queen's on the reverse. Sukaphaa's ruling deity was Chum-Pha and Sheng-mung a pair of non-Hindu, non-Buddhist gods, and he

741-507: The internal disturbances during Moamoria rebellion . Kings who died in office were buried in vaults called Moidam , at Charaideo . Some of the later Maidams , beginning from the reign of Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769) were constructed to bury the ashes of those cremated. On ascent, the king would generally assume an Ahom name decided by the Ahom priests. The name generally ended in Pha ( Tai : Heaven), e.g. Susenghphaa . Later kings also assumed

780-410: The king whenever he moved out. (iii) Da-dhara or guards holding swords accompanied the king on his side. (iv) Dangdhara or guards carrying baton , moved around the side of the king. The Ahom kings particularly of the tungkhungia house were great patrons of art, they encouraged the art of manuscript painting. Under their patronage, a great number of highly illustrated manuscripts were produced and

819-572: The kingdom; Suhungmung , who made the greatest territorial and political expansion of the kingdom; and Supaatphaa , who established the House of Tungkhugia kings that reigned the kingdom during its political and cultural zenith, as well as the period of decay and end (except for Jogeswar Singha , who was a descendant of Supaatphaa's father Gobar , and who was installed as a puppet king by the Burmese). The dynastic history and dates that are accepted today are

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858-516: The last such house, Tungkhungiya , was established by Gadadhar Singha (1681–1696) and his descendants ruled till the end of the Ahom kingdom. Ahom queens ( Kunworis ) played important roles in the matter of state. They were officially designated in a gradation of positions, called the Bor Kuwori (Chief Queen), Parvatia Kuwori , Raidangia Kuwori , Tamuli Kuwori , etc. who were generally daughters of Ahom noblemen and high officials. Lesser wives of

897-555: The other. The descendants of Sukaphaa were not eligible for ministerial positions—a division of power that was followed till the end of the dynasty and the kingdom. When the nobles asked Atan Burhagohain to become the king, the Tai priests rejected the idea and he desisted from ascending the throne. The king could be appointed only with the concurrence of the patra mantris (council of ministers— Burhagohain , Borgohain , Borpatrogohain , Borbarua and Borphukan ). During three periods in

936-403: The palace and environs ( Bhitarual Hilaidari Konwar ). The protection of the king was strictly taken into measure. Several classes of highly trusted guards were entrusted with the duty of protecting the king, which were duly supervised by the superior officers. (i) Hendangdhara or persons wielding hengdang were the personal bodyguards of the king. (ii) Chabukdhara , wielding whip , preceded

975-513: The reserve forests. The Bihus are the most popular agricultural festival in the district. The Bohag Bihu/Rongali Bihu marks the advent of the cropping season, the Magh Bihu is the harvest festival and the Kati Bihu held in the lean period of agriculture is marked by the observing of penance and prayer. The Vaishnav community observes the birth and death anniversaries of the prominent Vaishnava saints of

1014-653: The state. Tribal communities like the Mishings and Deoris also perform Bihu in their own styles. Id-ul-Zuha and Id-ul-fitr are religious festivals of the Muslim community. Other Hindu festivals observed in the district are Ambubashi, Durga Puja and Sivaratri . The Sivaratri Mela of Siva Dol in Sivasagar town has been observed since the days of Ahom rule. The Tea tribes maintain their own rich cultural traditions. The Jhumur dance and traditional music of these communities are very popular. The Sivasagar District celebrates Sivasagar Day on July

1053-496: The subjects of the kingdom called them Chaopha , or Swargadeo (in Assamese ). The office of the Ahom king , was reserved exclusively for the descendants of the first king Sukaphaa (1228–1268) who came to Assam from Mong Mao in 1228. Succession was by agnatic primogeniture . Nevertheless, following Rudra Singha 's deathbed injunction four of his five sons became the king one after

1092-617: The third Ahom king, delineated the Satghariya Ahom , the Ahom aristocracy of the Seven Houses. Of this, the first lineage was that of the king. The next two were the lineages of the Burhagohain and the Borgohain . The last four were priestly lineages. Sukhrangpha (1332–1364) established the position of Charing Raja which came to be reserved for the heir apparent . The first Charing Raja

1131-492: Was Sukhramphaa's half-brother, Chao Pulai, the son of the Kamata princess Rajani, but who did not ultimately become the Swargadeo. Suhungmung Dihingia Raja (1497–1539) settled the descendants of past kings in different regions that gave rise to seven royal houses— Saringiya , Tipamiya , Dihingiya , Samuguriya , Tungkhungiya , Parvatiya and Namrupiya —and periods of Ahom rule came to be known after these families. The rule of

1170-430: Was a descendant of Khunlung, the grandson of the king of the heavens Leungdon, who had come down from the heavens and ruled Mong-Ri-Mong-Ram. During the reign of Suhungmung (1497–1539) which saw the composition of the first Assamese Buranji and increased Hindu influence, the Ahom kings were traced to the union of Indra (identified with Lengdon) and Syama (a low-caste woman), and were declared Indravamsa kshatriyas ,

1209-458: Was accompanied by classes of priests called Deodhai , Bailung etc. But the Ahom kings let themselves be influenced by the religion and customs of those they ruled over. Sudangphaa Bamuni Konwar (1397–1407) installed a Brahmin of Habung , in whose household he was born and raised, as his adviser, but he himself did not convert to Hinduism. Susenphaa (1439–1488) constructed a temple at Negheriting . Suhungmung Dihingia Rojaa (1497–1539)

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1248-417: Was called Singarigharutha , a ceremony that was performed first by Sudangphaa ( Bamuni Konwar ) (1397–1407). The first coins in the new king's name were minted during the reign of Sutamla . Kamaleswar Singha (1795–1811) and Chandrakanta Singha 's (1811–1818) coronations were not performed on the advice of Prime minister Purnananda Burhagohain , due to the financial constraints of State treasury caused by

1287-460: Was created after the annexation of Purandar Singha 's dominion of upper Assam in 1839. The Sadar headquarter of Sivasagar was transferred to Jorhat in 1912–13. The undivided old Sivasagar district comprised three subdivisions, namely Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat. In 1983, the Sivasagar district was reorganized to carve out the Jorhat district . It was further divided on 15 August 1987 for the creation of

1326-431: Was earlier known as Meteka. The original name of Sivasagar district was Sibpur. On February 24, 1826, the treaty of Yandaboo consolidated the British occupation of Assam. This treaty of Yandaboo brought an end to the roughly six hundred year long Ahom rule in Assam. After the 1826 treaty, the British government in Assam incorporated a number of administrative changes such as the formation of districts. The Sivasagar district

1365-632: Was established by Sukaphaa , a Shan prince of Mong Mao (present-day Yunnan , China ) who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai mountains. The rule of this dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam and the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company following the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826. In external medieval chronicles the kings of this dynasty were called Asam Raja , whereas

1404-590: Was excavated by queen Ambika Devi in 1733. The Siva Dol, Vishnu Dol and Devi Dol are situated on the bank of the Sivasagar Tank. Rajeshwar Singha (1751-1769) built the Kareng Ghar in Gargaon. Charaideo, about 28 kilometers away from Sivasagar is famous for a cluster of Maidams, the Ahom age tumuli. Sukapha , the first Ahom king, constructed his capital at Charaideo in 1253. Sivasagar was earlier known as Rangpur and Rangpur

1443-468: Was superseded, who went on to lead a rebel group during the Moamoria rebellion . The later kings and officers exploited the unblemished rule, leading to weak kings being instated. Kamaleswar Singha (2-year-old son of Kadam Dighala) and Purandar Singha (10-year-old son of Brajanath and one of the last kings of this dynasty) came into office because their fathers were mutilated. The Ahom kings were given divine origin. According to Ahom tradition, Sukaphaa

1482-526: Was the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. The famous Joysagar Tank was excavated within 45 days by Rudra Singha (1696-1714) in memory of his mother Joymoti Konwari . The Joy Dol is situated on the bank of the Joysagar Tank. Pramatta Singha (1744-1751) built the Rang Ghar with bricks in 1745. Gaurisagar Tank is situated at a distance of about eight miles from Sivasagar town. The Sivasagar Tank

1521-401: Was the first Ahom king to expand the kingdom and the polity, allow Assamese influence in his court and accept a non-Ahom title— Swarganarayan . Sukhaamphaa Khora Rojaa (1552–1603) began consulting Hindu astrologers alongside the traditional Deodhai-Bailung priests, and Pratap Singha (1603–1641) installed 13 Brahmin families as diplomats. Assamese language coexisted with Tai language in

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