Pragjyotisha Vol. II

Total pages 65 (25-88)

1. PRAGJYOTISHA to Cooch Behar : Review the history Tusar Kanti Ghosal M.Sc. Ph.D. & Tunir Ghosal BA B Ed, M.A (Final year, C.U.) Email: [email protected] Published : 29 th July 2021 © TKG

2. PRAGJYOTISHA to Cooch Behar : Review the history Vol. II Total pages (63) : 25- 88

3. Danava DANAVA  were a race descending from Daksa . The Danavas are a part of a larger group of the Asuras and are typically portrayed as opposed to the Hindu deities . They ruled Pragjyotisha during proto-historic period.

4. PRAGJYOTISHA Kingdom before 5694 BC Danava Dynasty : 1 st Rular : Mahiranga Danava References : Kalika Purana . The Danava dynasty was the first legendary line of rulers in Pragjyotisha , established by  Mahiranga   Danava . The dynasty was of Boro origin.

5. PRAGJYOTISHA Kingdom Danava Dynasty : The   Danava dynasty was the 1 st legendary line of rulers in Pragjyotisha .  The dynasty was of Boro  origin. Mahiranga was sanskritized from Boro-kachari word Mairong . 'Mai' means paddy and 'rang' means to remove the husks in Kachari language. Mairong hill is exit at Kamrup . Area : Pragjyotisha kingdom was extended from the Karatoya in the west to the Dikrai river in the east . 1 st Rular : Mahiranga danav ( Mairong )   . 2 nd Rular : Hatakasura 3 rd Rular : Sambarasura 4 th Rular : Ratnasura 5 th Rular : Ghatakasura References : Kalika Purana .

6. Kingdom of Mahiranga Danav : MAIRONG hill

7. PRAGJYOTISHA Culture Pragjyotisha cultures are in combination of both primitive and advanced. From pre-historic period, Pragjyotisha had been invaded by Aryan and non-Aryans. Its culture was composite and contributed by Danava , Kirata , Asura , Yadava,Austric,Alpine -Aryan, Tibeto -Sino, Tibeto -Tai, Mohamedans , Turkis , Persian, Chinese-Shang, Burmese, Palas , Tibeto-Burmans , Moghals,Khristans and native communities but the culture of its native communities appears to have remained un-explored.

8. AMURTA Raja : According to the Adikanda of the Ramayana ( XXXV ), it is recorded that K ingdom Pragjyotisha   was founded by an Aryan named Amurta Raja hailing from the country around the Kosi river. * Kosi river P r a g j y o t I s h a

9. VARAHA, the Kingdom of Naraka : In the Kiskindhya Kanda (XLII) and Mahabharata, it refers that Naraka's Pragjyotisa was at VARAHA Mountain . Naraka, Kirata , China and other communities are recorded in the Parba of Sabha (XXVI-XXX), Asvameclha (1XXV-1XXVI), Udyoga (XVIII), Drona (XXVI-XXX), Bhisma and Karna .

10. KINGDOM of Naraka : In the Brihatsamhita of Varahamihira , it is referred that Pragjotisha was at Nilachal hill near Guwahati.

11. KINGDOM of Naraka: In the Brihatsamhita of Varahamihira , it is referred that Pragjotisha was at at Laohitya .

12. JANAKPUR of Videha According to legends and epics, Janaka of Videha ruled during the Ramayana period ( Treta Yuga ie 9582 BC to 5694 BC ). His daughter was Janaki ( Sita ). In the swyambar , she had chosen Lord Rama as her husband and become the queen of Ayodhya . Janakpur  has been mentioned in the Ramayana as the birthplace of Sita ,

13. H I M A L A Y A * JANAKPUR of Videha during Ramayana *

14. Mahabharata Dwapara Yuga (5694 BC - 3102 BC) Pragjyotisha Manimum Virat Nagar Videha Aang Magadha Dwapara Yuga ( 5694 BC - 3102 B C)

15. RAMAYANA TRETA YUGA (9582 BC to 5694 BC) * * * * * * * * Videha Anga Louhitya Kosola Vidharva Panchala Kuru Gandhar Bana Bali Kombouj Lanka

16. PRAGJYOTISHA Kingdom after 3 530 BC Virata Kingdom : Birat Nagar (Central Nepal) Kirata Dynasty : As per the mythology, Banashur was the first Kirat king. The region is believed to be a part of the kingdom of Viratha , mentioned in the Mahabharata . At that time, there were many kings in Bihar and B engal like Harba Hang, Darba Hang, Satya and Kichaka . Among them, King Viratha was very famous. In those days, the Kirata people were ruling all the lands from Himalayan Mountains to the sea shores of the Bay of Bengal. Biratnagar got its present name in 1919 AD from Keshar Shamsher .

17. K ingdom VIRAT BANASUR : First King of Kirata Dynasty VIRAT NAGAR, Nepal

18. INVASION OF GOPALA after 3 530 BC When Krishna came to know about the establishment of a Kirat rule in central Nepal, he sent Bhuktaman to conquer the kingdom of Banashur . At that time Lord Krishna’s follower Bhuktaman (an hill tribe ) captured few areas of Nepal. He was founder of Ahir dynasty in Central Nepal. Ahir’s were great fighter (in Sanskrit   Ahira   means “fearless”). Reference : Iman Singh Chemjong (2014 ). Kirat History and Culture.

19. PRAGJYOTISHA Kingdom after 3 530 BC Capital : Tistung (West Kathmandu) GOPALA or Ahir dynasty : At that time, there were many kings in Bihar and Bengal like Harba Hang, Darba Hang, Viratha , Satya and Kichaka . Among them, King Viratha was very famous. In those days, the Kirat people were ruling all the lands from Himalayan Mountains to the sea shores of the Bay of Bengal. 1 st Rular was Bhuktaman who ruled beyond the geographical borders of present-day India, as kings of the hilly terrain of Nepal. After him another 7 kings of the first Ahir dynasty ruled Nepal. The last king was Yakha Gupta. Reference : Iman Singh Chemjong (2014 ). Kirat History and Culture.

20. GOPALA Dynasty in Pragjyotisha after 3530 BC GOPALA Dynasty : The present dynasty in Nepal  is very ancient. Gopala Dynasty was established before Yadava dynasty. They ruled over 500 years.  Bhuktaman was first king in the line of the Yadav Dynasty and Yaksha Gupta was the last. They ruled for 621 years. 2 nd Rular : Jaya Gupta 3 rd Rular : Param Gupta 4 th Rular : Harsha Gupta 5 th Rular : Bhim Gupta 6 th Rular : Vishnu Gupta 7 th Rular : Jaya Gupta II Last Rular : Yaksha Gupta Reference : Jishnu Gupa inscription reads Kshatriya of the Lunar Dynasty, Somavansa Bhushana Capital : Matatirtha

21. KIRAT BIRUPAKSHYA was the ancestor of the Kirati people. KIRAT is the indigenous religion of the Kirati -ethnic groups of Himalaya especially Nepal, Darjeeling, Bhutan, Sikkim and few areas of North eastern India . PASHUPATINATH Temple of Nepal

22. KIRAT Dynasty in Pragjyotisha after 3 530 BC Ekalabha or Akash Bhairav was a kirata Prince mentioned in Mahabharata. They took part in the Kurukshetra war along with the Parvatas (mountaineers) and other hill tribes. Kirata nationality is included among the Javan , Pallava and Koch . Kirata entranced North-eastern region around 2400 BC and intermingled with Asura community. Reference: Jogini Tantra; Mahabharata ; Iman Singh Chemjong (2014 ). Kirat History and Culture.

23. EKALAVYA of Pragjyotisha Accoding to Mahabharata, Ekalavya (or Akash Bhairab ) was a great Prince of Kirata kingdom and he was an ancestor of Yalambar .

24. YALAMBAR of Pragjyotisha KIRATA Dynasty : Yalamber also known as Barbarika (Ref.: M ahabharata ). He was the first great Kirat King who conquered Kathmandu valley defeating Gopal dynasty and established Kirata Kingdom. His dynasty was succeeded by Licchavi kingdom . He had the biggest empire Nepal ever had. It is also believed that King Yalambar witnessed the great battle of Hindu epic Mahabharata. His successors ruled Kathmandu valley for about 31 generations (nearly 1904 years).

25. INVASION OF YADAVA after 3 530 BC YADAVA NEPAL According to the Puranic history , Aniruddha -the grandson of Lord Shri Krishna, after marrying Usha ( daughter of Banasur ) , was returning home with his army. Few army men of Anirudhha liked that place (presently known as Nepal) so much and settled with their families there . References: Vedic scriptures including “ Skanda Puran ”,“ Dev Puran ”,“ Varaha Tantra” and “Puranic history”;

26. KIRATA Kingdom before 3530 B.C According to the Markandey Puran , the famous seven Kirat kingdoms during the Mahabharat time were 1. Aswakut ( Kabul ) 2. Kulya ( Kulu Valley ) 3. Matsya ( North Bihar Paundra or Bengal ) 4. Sumer ( Assam ) 5. Malak ( Lohit ) 6. Kinner ( Garhwal ) 7. Pragjyotisha ( Nepal ) King Viratha was ruled in terai plains of North Nepal including North Bihar, Northern Bengal and Kamrupa . At the period of 6 th King Humati Hang of Central Nepal named him as KIRATESUR. Reference : Iman Singh Chemjong (2014) Kirat History and Culture . ;

27. SEVEN Kirata Kingdom 1. Aswakut ( Kabul ) 2. Kulya ( Kulu Valley ) 3 . Matsya ( North Bihar Paundra or Bengal ) 4 . Sumer ( Ahom ) 5 . Malak ( Lohit ) 6. Kinner ( Garhwal ) 7. Pragjyotisha ( Nepal ) .

28. INVASION of Kirat-Asur Tribe in Pragjyotisha after 3 530 BC VIRATHA , a Kirat king was ruled Himalayan mountains and terai plains of North Nepal including North Bihar, Nothern Bengal and Kamrupa . Another branch of that Kirat-Asur tribe migrated to Kamarupa and established their habitat in Pragjyotishpur . He was King Naraka. He was kiratasur nationality and Mlechha tribe. Reference : Iman Singh Chemjong (2014) Kirat History and Culture.

29. KIRATA Dynasty In Twipra after 3 530 BC Capital : Udaipur ( Rangamati ) TWIPRA or Tripura Kingdom : According to Mahabharata, ancient name of Tripura was Kirat Desh . It was a Kingdom of SAMRASUR. His capital was Rangamati . Udaipur was the capital of Tripura up to 1700 AD. Maharaja Krisna Manikya shifted the state capital Udaipur to Agartala . From Jujarafa to Krisna manikya ( krisnamani ), a total 59 kings were ruled Tripura uo to 1883 A.D. Reference : Kharga Narayana Bansabali (1800 AD);

30. ASURA Reference: Asuras depicted in the “SAMUDRA MANTHAN”  bas-relief from Ankar Wat. Asuras were power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Suras (Deva) in Hinduism.  

31. BHAUMA or Narakasura Dynasty   before 3530 BC - 200 BC (Iron age ) References : Ramayana and Mahabharat , Kalika Puran

32. PANDU of Pragjyotisha According to Mahabharata (Santi Parva-347) i t is the place where Lord Vishnu killed the Asura King Madhu and Kaitabha , The city was named after King Pandu ( father of the five famous Pandava brothers) . There is an ancient and beautiful Pandunath Temple , located in the rolling hills of a tilla and many believe that the town was named after this instead of the king PANDU.

33. PRAGJHYOTISHA Kingdom after 3 530 BC - 200 BC (Iron age) BHAUMA or Naraka dynasty   : Capital : Pragjyotishpur (Guwahati) It was 1 st legendary dynasty of Pragjyotisha , the  dynasty was established by  Naraka , by removing Ghataka , the last king of the Danava  dynasty . Naraka came from Videha ( North Bihar ), occupied and ruled over the other Mlecchas and Kiratas settled in Pragjyotisha . Reference : Kalika Purana (10 th century), Mahabharata

34. BHAUMA / NARAKA Dynasty after 3 530 BC – 600 AD Capital : Pragjyotishpur ( Guwahati ) BHAUMA / NARAKA Dynasty : Naraka , also known as  Narakasura , was a mythical asura king , the legendary progenitor of all three dynasties of Pragjyotisha , Kamrupa , Bhauma dynasty of the then Pragjyotisha According to legend, the Naraka kings was killed by Lord Krishna and his son Bhagadatta took the throne. Bhagadatta is said to have participated in the Mahabharata war with an army of " chinas , kiratas and dwellers of the eastern sea“. 1 st rular : Naraka or Narakasura References : Kalika Purana (10 th century)

35. BHAUMA / Naraka Dynasty 3530 BC – 200 BC Capital : PRAGJYOTISHPUR (MODERN GAUHATI). BHAUMA / Naraka Dynasty: According to legend, Lord Krishna killed Bhagadatta in the Kurukhetra war and his son Vajradutta took the throne of Pragjyotispur . His Successors (22 kings) enjoyed 3000 years as rulers of Pragjyotisha Kingdom. After the death of Suparu , that dynasty was ruined. 2 nd rular : Bhagadatta 3 rd R ular : Vajradatta 18 th rular : Subahu 19 th rular : Suparu (Last king) References : E . Gait (1905); “A HISTORY OF ASSAM ”, Kalika Purana , Harshgacharita , Purana , Mohabharata and Bhaskar Varma Tamro-sason .

36. Arjuna killed Bhagadatta References : Mohabharata .

37. Rangpur (Abode of bliss) : It is said to be the place where Raja Bhagadatta took part in the war recorded in the Sanskrit epic poem in Mahabharata.

38. PRAGJYOTISHA Kingdom after 3 530 BC Capital : Sonitpur ( Tezpur ) or Louhitya SONITPURA BHAUMA dynasty : Krishna  is also associated with two other mythological kings,  Bana of Shonitpur (modern Tezpur ) and  Bhismaka  of Kundin , near Sadiya . King Ban or Banasura was the 1 st King of Sonitpura Dynasty. He had so many sons of whom eldest son Bali was most famous succeeder . Bana is described as an ancient king of Sonitpur   in several Hindu Puranic scriptures. Bana was a thousand-armed Asura   king and the son was Bali or Mahabali . Area : Present Sonitpur  district was bifurcated. Tezpur Sub-Division was named as  Sonitpur   District of Assam. Biswanath and Gohspur Sub-Division was named as Biswanath District of Assam. References : VISHNU PURAN

39. PRAGJYOTISHA Kingdom after 3 530 BC Capital : Sonitpura or Louhitya ( Tezpur ) SONITPURA BHAUMA dynasty : Bana or Banasura was 1 st King. His s on was Bali or MAHABALI. King Ban had many sons and single daughter named USHA. Lord Krishna’s grandson Aniruddha married her her according to GANDHARVA ceremony. Ban captured Aniruddha but he was rescued by KRISHNA. Krishna defeated BAN in a battle at Ban Raja Fort of Sonitpur . References : Visnu Puran

40. PRAGJYOTISPURA Kingdom after 3 530 BC Sadiya Bhauma Dynasty : Krishna is associated with mythological king Bhismaka  of Kundin , . According to mythology epic of Mahabharata, Bhismaka was the 1 st rular of Sadiya . Rukmini (queen of Lord Krishna) was his daughter. A ruined fort still existed 24 miles north of the Kundin Nagar situated in between Dikrang and Dibang river. Bhismaka  of Kundin was non-Aryans , or in all likelihood Mongoloid . Capital : Kundin Nagar of Sadiya Reference : ‘ ’Rukmini Haran ” composed by Sankardev ;

41. Capital : Bhalukpong Sadiya dynasty : King : Bhaluka Sadiya  is now a town in Tinsukia of Assam. BAN was also the famous king of Sadiya . His grandson, BHALUKA, made his capital at BHALUKPOONG near BALIPARA at the foot hills of the AKA hills. The AKAS tribes are most powerful community of Sadiya . They said to claim King Bhaluka as their progenitor. SADIYA Kingdom after 3 530 BC o References : VISHNU PURAN

42. BHALUKPONG Fort Bhalukpong is on the banks of Kameng River and Pakhui Game Sanctuary

43. Sadiya   It is now a town in Tinsukia , Assam . It was the ancient capital of the Chutiya dynasty.

44. BANASURA Fort BANA was an ancient king of Sonitpur ( Tezpur ). Bana He was a thousand-armed son of mythological king Bali ( Mahabali ).There is a hill named " Banasur Hill" and a dam, Banasur Sagar Dam.

45. According to In Hindu mythology, Agnigarh fort of Tezpur was built by Banasura beside the banks of the Brahmaputra river. BANASURA HILL ( Agnigrah Fort)

46. BANASURA Sagar dam The Banasura Sagar Dam is named after King Bana . His son Mahabali (King Bali) was a very respected king of Kerala. This dam is located in the Western Ghat Mountain of Kerala. It is the largest earth dam in India and the second largest of its kind in Asia

47. MAHANHAIRAV Temple of Sonitpur References : Boby Kalita (2000), The Study Of The Ancient Temples of Tezpur . This Temple is situated at the top of a small hill in eastern Tezpur . According to popular beliefs, king Ban or Banasura built this Temple.

48. BANESWAR TEMPLE According to popular belief Banasura, an ardent devotee of Shiva had made it. When Shiva was following Raja Banasura, the devotee suddenly stopped at Baneswar (earlier name Gordasandara ) near the bank of river Bangti near Cooch Behar town.

49. SHANG tribe Invation in Pragjyotisha 1600 BC - 1046 B.C Shang Mokwan tribe of ancient China entranced and captured Northern Tibet including Sikkim, Bhutan. Nepal, Northern hill of Bengal. They entranced and captured Himalayan plains at Jajal Grah near Purnia , Bihar. They entranced and captured eastern plains of River Teesta . They entranced and captured western plains of river Dudh Koshi . References : Iman Singh Chemjong (2014) Kirat History and Culture

50. SHANG tribe Invation in Progjyotisha 1600 BC -1046 B.C Shan Mokwan tribe of China Recent map

51. SHANG tribes Invasion in Pragjyotisha 1600 BC -1046 B.C Ancient map Shan Mokwan

52. KIRATA Kingdom in Nepal Valley before 9 00 BC Kirata dynasty in Nepal (900 BC - 300 AD): Capital : Lakhspur , Nepal KIRAT Kingdom   ruled 1225 years and refers to the kingdom of the kirata people of eastern Himalayas. They are widespread in valleys of Himalayas in Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Assam, Tripura, northern hill of West Bengal. Kiratas are the inhabitants of Himalaya whose inhabitation extended from Chamba in the west to Assam , Nagabhumi (Nagaland), Meghalaya , Burma and Cambodia in the east. .

53. KIRATA Kingdom of Pragjyotisha after 800 B.C. Ancient map KIRATA

54. KIRAT Dynasty before 900 BC – 300 AD KIRATA Dynasty in Nepal : Yalamber , the first Kirati king of Nepal belonged to the Yellung clan . Altogether, there were 29 kings of this dynasty who ruled over Pragjhyotisha (Nepal) for about 1225 years. Kiratas ruled over from about 900 B.C. to 300 A.D . King Yalamber reigned 90 years. He defeated last king namely Bhuvan Singh ( Ahir dynasty ) and established  Kirata  rule in Nepal. He extended his kingdom as far as the Teesta river in the east and the Trishuli river in the west. 1 st Rular : Yalamber 2. Pavi 3. Skandhar 4. Balambo ( Kitatesur ), son of Yalamber 5. Hriti 6. Humati Hang ( Kiratesur ) 7. Jitedasti 8. Galinja 9. Pushka 10. Suyarma 11. Papa 12. Bunka 13. Swananda 14. Sthunko 15. Jinghri 16. Nane 17. Luka 18. Thor 19. Thoko 20. Verma 21. Guja 22. Pushkar 23. Keshu 24. Suja 25. Sansa 26. Gunam 27. Khimbu 28. Patuka , 29. Gasti ( Krish ). Reference: Chronicle ( Bamsavali ) of Kirkpatrick; Iman Singh Chemjong (2014 ). Kirat History and Culture; Mahabharata.

55. KINGDOM of Yalamber TEESTA TRISULI

56. VISIT of Goutam Buddha after 600 BC Gautama Buddha visited the Nepal Valley along with his disciples. He visited the shrines of Swayambhu and Guheswari and preached his doctrine. At that period Kirata King was Jitedasti .

57. KACHARI Dynasty before 600 B.C Capital : Duarani , Kachamari . Dimapur , Maibong and Khaspur   The Kachari kings had ruled Dhansiri valley at the time . Ahom kings compelled them to leave that valley and they later set up capital at Dimapur , then Maibong and finally at Khaspur in North Cachar Hills. Reference : The stone inscription signed by king Basundhar Barman recovered at Khanikargaon , Sarupathar in Dhansiri sub-division of Assam.

58. PUNDRA KINGDOM oR Pundravardhana 200 BC , Ruined : 800 AD Capital : Pundravardhana Nagara Kingdom Pundra is included entire Northern part of West Bengal, Rangpur division, Bogura , Rajshahi , Pabna and Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Reference : A limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit  in Brahmi script (1931). 

59. PUNDRA Kingdom 200 BC Ruined : 800 AD *

60. PAUNDRA Khastriya Dynasty after 200 BC PAUNDRA Kingdom : Capital : Ban Rajar Grah ( Shivbari Hat, Gangarampur , South Dinajpur district of West Bengal). king Bana was 1 st rular . They were known as Paundra Kshatriya . According to archeological survey research that kingdom was near about 2400 year old. Traces of ancient civilization of Pundradesh are found from Mahasthangarh and Bangarh . 1 st Rular : Banasur 2 nd Rular : Pundra . 3 rd Rular : Birputra Ban

61. Ban Rajar Grah Gangarampur Ban Rajar Grah *

62. VISIT of Emperror Ahoka 250 BC During the rule of 14 th Kirata King Sthunko of Nepal Valley, the Indian Emperor Asoka came on a pilgrimage to Lumbini , in Nepal in about 250 BC.. To mark the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, Asoka got inscriptions engraved on rocks and set up a stone-pillar which was ruined due to earth quake or flood.

63. PAUNDRA Khatriya Dynasty 300 BC Mahasthan Garh   is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites so far discovered in Bangladesh. The Mahasthan is now at Shibganj   thana of Bogura , Bangladesh. It was an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura .   A limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit   in Brahmi script, discovered in 1931. It was constructed at least in the 3rd century B.C. The fortified area was in use till the 18th century.