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44-581: The Rang Ghar ( Assamese: [ɹɔŋɡʱɔɹ] ), ( rong ghor meaning "House of Entertainment") is a two-storeyed building which once served as the royal sports-pavilion where Ahom kings and nobles were spectators at games like buffalo fights and other sports at Rupahi Pathar ( pathar meaning "field" in Assamese ) - particularly during the Rongali Bihu festival in the Ahom capital of Rangpur . It

88-457: 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),

132-465: A fairly detailed local chronicle of Möng Mao. Mong Mao Long, or the white fog of Mong Mao Long, was founded in 56 BC by Hso Hom Hpa, a descendant of the ancient Tai King from Nawng Hsè , who sent his son Hkun Hkam Naw to build the city of Oung Pawng-Hsipaw Later,the city became vacant. And was pioneered by Hkun Lai, who came from the city of Mong Ri Mong Ram, the city sited in the region called Koshanpye . The city has gone through many events. Since

176-746: 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

220-520: A long list with the first ruler of Möng Mao dating from 568 A.D. The dates in Elias for later rulers of Möng Mao do not match very well the dates in Ming dynasty sources such as Ming Shilu (Wade, 2005) and Baiyi Zhuan (Wade, 1996) which are considered more reliable from the time of the ruler Si Kefa . Bian-zhang-ga (1990), translated into Thai by Witthayasakphan and Zhao Hongyun (2001), also provides

264-456: A new explanation of "Guo-zhan-bi" which is "place that produce fragrant soft rice". In Chinese literature, Möng Mao was called Luchuan (Chinese: 麓川 ), first recorded in Yuanshi as the name of the administrative division "Luchuan Circuit " (Chinese: 麓川路 ). Some of literature also called Mong Mao as Baiyi (Chinese: 百夷 ), but most of the time this is a collective name of all

308-466: 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 ,

352-550: 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

396-597: A paste of rice and eggs as mortar for their construction, a pulse called Maati Maah and a fish named Borali Mach in Assamese. They also made use of powdered mixed lime and bricks to cover the surface of the inner walls. It is said that this layer of powder used to keep the inside of the Rang Ghar cool. The adjoining field, known as Rupohi Pothar, wore a festive look when games like bull-fight, cock-fight, elephant fight, wrestling, etc., were held on different occasions during

440-591: Is sometimes used by authors to refer to the entire group of Tai states along the Chinese-Myanmar frontier including Luchuan-Pingmian (麓川平緬), Muang Yang ( Chinese : 孟養 ; pinyin : Mèngyǎng ), and Hsenwi (Chinese: 木邦 ; pinyin: Mùbāng ), even though specific place names are almost always used in Ming and Burmese sources. The center of power shifted frequently between these smaller states or chieftainships. Sometimes they were unified under one strong leader, sometimes they were not. As

484-743: Is three kilometres (1.9 mi) away from the center of Sivasagar Town. Situated by the side of the Assam Trunk Road, it lies to the northeast of the Rangpur Palace, a almost five-storied royal complex comprising the Talatal Ghar and the Kareng Ghar . Ranghar is said to be one of the oldest surviving amphitheaters in Asia, the building was first constructed during the reign of Swargadeo pramattaa singha with bamboo and wood. It

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528-903: The Koshanpye . Across the Pad Kai mountain range into Assam in India to established a new kingdom called the Ahom Kingdom . Mong Mao Long has a total of 81 saophas. Mao Long is currently located near the Burmese border. (located during the Hso Wak Hpa era saopha No.52) in Yunnan Province, which in the past Counting with the provinces in Burma it is a group of Mong Mao Lung, Mongmit , Mongkawng and Bammaw located nearby. Saophas: He

572-649: 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 the subjects of the kingdom called them Chaopha , or Swargadeo (in Assamese ). The office of the Ahom king ,

616-671: The Shan scholar Sai Kam Möng observes: "Sometimes one of these [smaller states] strove to be the leading kingdom and sometimes all of them were unified into one single kingdom..." The capital of the kingdom shifted from place to place, but most of them were located near the Nam Mao river (the " Shweli " on most maps today)" The various versions of the Möng Mao Chronicle provide the lineage of Möng Mao rulers. The Shan chronicle tradition, recorded very early by Elias (1876), provides

660-475: The Ahom rule. Rang Ghar, besides standing as the royal pavilion, also contributed in spreading the games to different parts of the kingdom and its neighbouring States. About a kilometer to the northeast of the Rang Ghar is the Joysagar Pukhuri . This is a man-made tank, encompassing an area of about 120 bighas of land. It was dug in memory of Joymoti Konwari , mother of Rudra Singha (1665 – 1714) -

704-493: 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

748-597: 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

792-554: 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

836-471: 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

880-422: 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

924-449: 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 the 14th century,

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968-591: The ethnic groups in south west of Yunnan, or specifically refers to Dai people. In Burmese literature, Möng Mao was called Maw or Maw Shan . In the Manipur literature, such as Cheitharol Kumbaba use the name Pong refer to Mong Mao. The chronicle of this region, titled the Möng Mao Chronicle , was written much later. Some scholars identify Möng Mao with the Kingdom of Pong , as well as with

1012-510: 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

1056-410: 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

1100-400: 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,

1144-642: The kingdom of Luh Shwan mentioned in Chinese chronicles. Like most of Tai Yai history, the history of the Kingdom of Pong is largely legendary and existing chronicles and traditions include conflicting names and dates which have led to different interpretations. Möng Mao arose in the power vacuum left after the Kingdom of Dali in Yunnan fell to the Mongol Yuan Dynasty around 1254. The Yuan ruled

1188-581: 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

1232-522: 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

1276-475: The monument. The project is expected to provide facilities like a fountain show, a boat house with a jetty, an artisan village and food stalls. A comprehensive History Of Assam by S.L. Baruah. Page 293 Ahom Dynasty The Ahom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam, India for nearly 598 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa , a Shan prince of Mong Mao (present-day Yunnan , China ) who came to Assam after crossing

1320-484: The most illustrious of the Ahom kings. Frequent earthquakes and seismic surveys being undertaken by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation are posing a threat to Assam's 18th century amphitheatre Rang Ghar. At least 35 cracks have been noticed at various places on the walls of the historic Rang Ghar. On 14 April 2023, on the occasion of Bohag Bihu , Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of beautification project of

1364-403: 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

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1408-683: The region indirectly in what was known as the Native Chieftain System . This kingdom had asserted some unity over the diversity of ethnic groups residing along the southwest frontier of Yunnan. After the Ming conquest of Yunnan the Möng Mao under Si Lunfa decided to submit to Ming authority. However, Möng Mao revolted in 1386 and led to the Ming–Mong Mao War (1386–1388) . In 1448, a combination of Ming , Sipsongpanna , and other allied forces subjugated Möng Mao . "Muang Mao"

1452-431: The reign of Hso Hkan Hpa, their subsequent saopha have assassinated each other. The struggle for the throne led to Hso Kaa Hpa, son of Sao Chang Nyue from Mong Ri Mong Ram (different from Chao Chang Nyue, the 37th saopha of Mong Mao Long) and Mahadevi Phlak Hkam Hsen Mawng, daughter of Sao Tai Lung, the 45th (Sao Pam Myo Pung, his son the 46th saopha, handed over the throne to Hso Kaa Hpa) Hso Kaa Hpa had to evacuated from

1496-406: The result of a re-examination of Ahom and other documents by a team of Nora astronomers and experts who were commissioned to do so by Gaurinath Singha (1780–1795). Mong Mao Möng Mao is Tai Nuea and Shan language name, also called Möng Mao Lông ( Tai Nüa : ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥛᥣᥝᥰ ᥘᥨᥒᥴ ; Shan : မိူင်းမၢဝ်းလူင် ), which means "Great Muang Mao". The " Möng " means country or place. The "Mao" (ᥛᥣᥝᥰ)

1540-641: 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

1584-496: 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

1628-430: 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 ,

1672-458: 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)

1716-417: 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

1760-528: Was evolved from "dizzy" (ᥛᥝᥰ), it is because the mother of legendary king Chao U Ting felt dizzy when she was brought to the sky by a bird. The name "Möng Mao" is still used nowadays, as the official Tai Nuea name of Ruili City (ᥝᥥᥒᥰ ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥛᥣᥝᥰ). Kosambi was an Indian ancient country, Mong Mao used Kosambi as his Buddhistic classical name. "Kosambi" is also called "Guo-zhan-bi" ( Tai Nüa : ᥐᥨᥝᥰ ᥓᥛᥱ ᥙᥤᥱ , Chinese: 果占璧 ) in Ruili, modern Dai people give

1804-505: Was later rebuilt with brick by Swargadeo Pramatta Singha in 1744 - 1751 A.D. The roof of the Rang Ghar is shaped like an inverted royal Ahom long boat . The base of the monument has a series of arched entrances, while atop the roof sits a decorative pair of carved stone crocodiles. Many of the arched entrances have retained little more than their brick framework, with mere vestiges of sculptural adornments here and there. The Ahoms, who used special, thin, baked bricks, did not use cement but

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1848-408: 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 the other. The descendants of Sukaphaa were not eligible for ministerial positions—a division of power that was followed till

1892-468: 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

1936-401: 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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