Moamoria - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|18th-century native of Assam, India}}
	{{Assam History}}		{{Assam History}}
	The '''Moamoria''' (also '''Matak''') were the adherents of the egalitarian, proselytizing ~~Moamara~~ [[Satra (Ekasarana Dharma)\|~~sattra~~]] of 18th-century [[Assam]], who initiated the [[Moamoria rebellion]] against the [[Ahom kingdom]] in the 18th century.<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=46}}</ref> The rebellion weakened the Ahom kingdom to such an extent that the kingdom became vulnerable to repeated [[Burmese invasions of Assam]] and the subsequent [[Colonial Assam\|colonization]] by the [[British India\|British]]. The Moamorias were also called ''Mataks''~~, most of who belonged to the [[Bodo-Kachari peoples\|Kachari]] [[Moran people\|Moran]] ethnic group.<ref>"The Marans were the most conspicuous of the Moamara disciples. They were a tribe of Bodo origin~~.~~" {{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=50}}</ref>~~ Over time, the main groups that had supported the Ahom kingdom came to owe allegiance to the Moamara sattra: [[Moran people\|Morans]] (the mainstay of the Ahom militia), the [[Sonowal Kacharis]] (gold-washers), [[Chutia people\|Chutia]]s (expert archers and matchlockmen), professional castes such as Hiras (potters), ~~Tantis~~ (weavers), [[Jalia Kaibarta\|Kaibartas]] and [[Ahom people\|Ahom]] nobles and officers.<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=53}}</ref>		The '''Moamoria''' (also '''Matak''') were the adherents of the egalitarian, proselytizing Mayamara [[Satra (Ekasarana Dharma)\|Satra ]] of 18th-century [[Assam]], who initiated the [[Moamoria rebellion]] against the [[Ahom kingdom]] in the 18th century.<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=46}}</ref> The rebellion weakened the Ahom kingdom to such an extent that the kingdom became vulnerable to repeated [[Burmese invasions of Assam]] and the subsequent [[Colonial Assam\|colonization]] by the [[British India\|British]]. The Moamorias were also called ''Mataks''. Over time, the main groups that had supported the Ahom kingdom came to owe allegiance to the Moamara sattra: [[Moran people\|Morans]] (the mainstay of the Ahom militia), the [[Sonowal Kacharis]] (gold-washers), [[Chutia people\|Chutia]]s (expert archers and matchlockmen), professional [[Caste system in India#Varna, jāti and caste\|castes]] such as Hiras (potters), [[Tanti]]s (weavers), [[Jalia Kaibarta\|Kaibartas]], and [[Ahom people\|Ahom]] nobles and officers.<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=53}}</ref> The largest group among the Mataks were the Morans,<ref>"The Marans were the most conspicuous of the Moamara disciples. They were a tribe of Bodo origin." {{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=50}}</ref> followed by the Chutias.<ref>"Next to the Morans, the most dominant members of the Matak community, were the Chutiyas."{{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|p=27}}</ref>

	The Matak identity solidified during the rebellion and the Moamorias referred to themselves as Mataks over their original ethnic identities.<ref>"(I)nitially different members of the Matak community used their respective original identities as a suffix to the term Matak: Matak-Moran, Matak-Chutia, Matak-Kachari, Matak-Ahom. This was abandoned during the time of the Matak Rebellion when all members preferred to identify themselves in a single identity that of the Matak community." {{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|p=12}}</ref> ~~The~~ Moamorias were able to set up an autonomous region, the ''Matak Rajya'', under the office of ~~[[Moamoria rebellion\|~~''Borsenapati'']] with his seat at Bengmara (modern-day [[Tinsukia]]) ~~in a treaty with the Ahom kingdom in 1805~~.~~<ref>{{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|p=13}}</ref>~~ The Matak community continued to hold strong till the beginning of the 20th century and the ''Matak-Moran Sanmilan'' was formed in 1937; but the Morans formed their own organization, the ''Moran Sabha'', in 1965 with the hope that the Moran people might benefit from the 5th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.<ref>{{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|pp=12-13}}</ref>		The Matak identity solidified during the rebellion, and the Moamorias referred to themselves as Mataks over their original ethnic identities.<ref>"(I)nitially different members of the Matak community used their respective original identities as a suffix to the term Matak: Matak-Moran, Matak-Chutia, Matak-Kachari, Matak-Ahom. This was abandoned during the time of the Matak Rebellion when all members preferred to identify themselves in a single identity that of the Matak community." {{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|p=12}}</ref> In a treaty with the Ahom kingdom in 1805, the Moamorias were able to set up an autonomous region, the ''[[Matak rajya\|Matak Rajya]]'', under the office of ''Borsenapati,'' with his seat at Bengmara (modern-day [[Tinsukia]]). The Matak community continued to hold strong till the beginning of the 20th century, and the ''Matak-Moran Sanmilan'' was formed in 1937; but the Morans formed their own organization, the ''Moran Sabha'', in 1965 with the hope that the Moran people might benefit from the [[Autonomous administrative divisions of India\|5th Schedule of the Indian Constitution]].<ref>{{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|pp=12-13}}</ref>

	==~~Moamoria~~ Sattra==		==Moamara Sattra==
	===Beginning===		===Beginning===
	The ''sattra'' was established by [[Aniruddhadev]], whose mother was a cousin to [[Sankardev]],<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=51}}</ref> sometime after 1601. Aniruddhadev was the disciple of [[Gopaldev]] (Gopal ''Ata'' of Bhawanipur) who had initiated the ''[[Ekasarana_Dharma#Kala_sanghati\|Kala sanghati]]'' sect of the [[Ekasarana dharma]]. He established the ''sattra'' near the Moamari lake in [[Majuli]].<ref>The lake has since either dried up or washed away, but there exists still a region called ''Moamara'' in upper Majuli. {{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|p=15}}</ref> He quickly gathered a large following, and the followers developed such rigid principles that they would not bow to anyone or anything except their guru, the ''sattradhikar'' (abbot) of the ''sattra'' (monastery). Aniruddhadev was followed by his son, Krishnanandadev, as the abbot during whose time the Ahom king [[Susenghphaa\|Prataap Singha]] subjugated the [[Baro-Bhuyan]]s in the north bank of Brahmaputra and moved them to the south bank. Krishnanandadev, being a Bhuyan, too moved and established his seat at Khutiapota, near present-day [[Jorhat]]. Here he was able to convert even more, including many Ahom nobles.		The ''sattra'' was established by [[Aniruddhadev]], whose mother was a cousin to [[Sankardev]],<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=51}}</ref> sometime after 1601. Aniruddhadev was the disciple of [[Gopaldev]] (Gopal ''Ata'' of Bhawanipur) who had initiated the ''[[Ekasarana_Dharma#Kala_sanghati\|Kala sanghati]]'' sect of the [[Ekasarana dharma]]. He established the ''sattra'' near the Moamari lake in [[Majuli]].<ref>The lake has since either dried up or washed away, but there exists still a region called ''Moamara'' in upper Majuli. {{harvcol\|Dutta\|1985\|p=15}}</ref> He quickly gathered a large following, and the followers developed such rigid principles that they would not bow to anyone or anything except their guru, the ''sattradhikar'' (abbot) of the ''sattra'' (monastery). Aniruddhadev was followed by his son, Krishnanandadev, as the abbot during whose time the Ahom king [[Susenghphaa\|Prataap Singha]] subjugated the [[Baro-Bhuyan]]s in the north bank of Brahmaputra and moved them to the south bank. Krishnanandadev, being a Bhuyan, too moved and established his seat at Khutiapota, near present-day [[Jorhat]]. Here he was able to convert even more, including many Ahom nobles.

	===Matak===		===Matak===
	The Moamoarias were also called ''mataks''. One theory suggests that this name was given by the Ahom king, [[Prataap Singha]], on account of their strict adherence to the monotheism of [[Ekasarana dharma]] (in [[Assamese language\|Assamese]]: ''mat'': opinion, ''ek'': single). In an incident narrated in some [[Buranji]]s, Prataap Singha tested the fanaticism of his own high nobles and officers, who were disciples of the Moamara Sattra, by making them ride their horses against naked swords held at the level of their necks. A noble, the Guimela Sola [[Borgohain]] and an officer, the Neog-Phukan, lost their lives since they refused to bow down and ride under the sword, at which point the test was stopped.<ref>The other noble, Laku [[Borpatrogohain]], was discouraged from taking the test. {{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=53}}</ref> Another possible explanation is that the Maran people acquired that name because of their valour (in [[Ahom language]]: ''ma'': courage, ''tak'' tested) which then transferred to the Moamorias in general; the cognate [[Tai languages\|Tai-language]] speaking [[Jingpo people\|Singpho]] and [[Khamti people]] described the people of the Barsenapati too as ''matak'' (strong) against the weaker ''mulungs''.<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=48}}</ref>		The Moamoarias were also called ''mataks''. One theory suggests that this name was given by the Ahom king, [[Prataap Singha]], on account of their strict adherence to the monotheism of [[Ekasarana dharma]] (in [[Assamese language\|Assamese]]: ''mat'': opinion, ''ek'': single). In an incident narrated in some [[Buranji]]s, Prataap Singha tested the fanaticism of his own high nobles and officers, who were disciples of the Moamara Sattra, by making them ride their horses against naked swords held at the level of their necks. A noble, the Guimela Sola [[Borgohain]] and an officer, the Neog-Phukan, lost their lives since they refused to bow down and ride under the sword, at which point the test was stopped.<ref>The other noble, Laku [[Borpatrogohain]], was discouraged from taking the test. {{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=53}}</ref> Another possible explanation is that the Maran people acquired that name because of their valour (in [[Ahom language]]: ''ma'': courage, ''tak'' tested) which then transferred to the Moamorias in general; the cognate [[Tai languages\|Tai-language]] speaking [[Jingpo people\|Singpho]] and [[Khamti people]] described the people of the Barsenapati too as ''matak'' (strong) against the weaker ''mulungs'' (the weak royalists).<ref>{{harvcol\|Baruah\|1993\|p=48}}</ref>

			==Notable people==
			* [[Paresh Baruah]]

	==Notes==		==Notes==

imported>Chaipau: CE

2021-08-13T17:22:06Z

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{{Assam History}}
The '''Moamoria''' (also '''Matak''') were the adherents of the egalitarian, proselytizing Moamara [[Satra (Ekasarana Dharma)|sattra]] of 18th-century [[Assam]], who initiated the [[Moamoria rebellion]] against the [[Ahom kingdom]] in the 18th century.<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=46}}</ref> The rebellion weakened the Ahom kingdom to such an extent that the kingdom became vulnerable to repeated [[Burmese invasions of Assam]] and the subsequent [[Colonial Assam|colonization]] by the [[British India|British]]. The Moamorias were also called ''Mataks'', most of who belonged to the [[Bodo-Kachari peoples|Kachari]] [[Moran people|Moran]] ethnic group.<ref>"The Marans were the most conspicuous of the Moamara disciples. They were a tribe of Bodo origin." {{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=50}}</ref> Over time, the main groups that had supported the Ahom kingdom came to owe allegiance to the Moamara sattra: [[Moran people|Morans]] (the mainstay of the Ahom militia), the [[Sonowal Kacharis]] (gold-washers), [[Chutia people|Chutia]]s (expert archers and matchlockmen), professional castes such as Hiras (potters), Tantis (weavers), [[Jalia Kaibarta|Kaibartas]] and [[Ahom people|Ahom]] nobles and officers.<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=53}}</ref>

The Matak identity solidified during the rebellion and the Moamorias referred to themselves as Mataks over their original ethnic identities.<ref>"(I)nitially different members of the Matak community used their respective original identities as a suffix to the term Matak: Matak-Moran, Matak-Chutia, Matak-Kachari, Matak-Ahom. This was abandoned during the time of the Matak Rebellion when all members preferred to identify themselves in a single identity that of the Matak community." {{harvcol|Dutta|1985|p=12}}</ref> The Moamorias were able to set up an autonomous region, the ''Matak Rajya'', under the office of [[Moamoria rebellion|''Borsenapati'']] with his seat at Bengmara (modern-day [[Tinsukia]]) in a treaty with the Ahom kingdom in 1805.<ref>{{harvcol|Dutta|1985|p=13}}</ref> The Matak community continued to hold strong till the beginning of the 20th century and the ''Matak-Moran Sanmilan'' was formed in 1937; but the Morans formed their own organization, the ''Moran Sabha'', in 1965 with the hope that the Moran people might benefit from the 5th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.<ref>{{harvcol|Dutta|1985|pp=12-13}}</ref>

==Moamoria Sattra==
===Beginning===
The ''sattra'' was established by [[Aniruddhadev]], whose mother was a cousin to [[Sankardev]],<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=51}}</ref> sometime after 1601. Aniruddhadev was the disciple of [[Gopaldev]] (Gopal ''Ata'' of Bhawanipur) who had initiated the ''[[Ekasarana_Dharma#Kala_sanghati|Kala sanghati]]'' sect of the [[Ekasarana dharma]]. He established the ''sattra'' near the Moamari lake in [[Majuli]].<ref>The lake has since either dried up or washed away, but there exists still a region called ''Moamara'' in upper Majuli. {{harvcol|Dutta|1985|p=15}}</ref> He quickly gathered a large following, and the followers developed such rigid principles that they would not bow to anyone or anything except their guru, the ''sattradhikar'' (abbot) of the ''sattra'' (monastery). Aniruddhadev was followed by his son, Krishnanandadev, as the abbot during whose time the Ahom king [[Susenghphaa|Prataap Singha]] subjugated the [[Baro-Bhuyan]]s in the north bank of Brahmaputra and moved them to the south bank. Krishnanandadev, being a Bhuyan, too moved and established his seat at Khutiapota, near present-day [[Jorhat]]. Here he was able to convert even more, including many Ahom nobles.

===Matak===
The Moamoarias were also called ''mataks''. One theory suggests that this name was given by the Ahom king, [[Prataap Singha]], on account of their strict adherence to the monotheism of [[Ekasarana dharma]] (in [[Assamese language|Assamese]]: ''mat'': opinion, ''ek'': single). In an incident narrated in some [[Buranji]]s, Prataap Singha tested the fanaticism of his own high nobles and officers, who were disciples of the Moamara Sattra, by making them ride their horses against naked swords held at the level of their necks. A noble, the Guimela Sola [[Borgohain]] and an officer, the Neog-Phukan, lost their lives since they refused to bow down and ride under the sword, at which point the test was stopped.<ref>The other noble, Laku [[Borpatrogohain]], was discouraged from taking the test. {{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=53}}</ref> Another possible explanation is that the Maran people acquired that name because of their valour (in [[Ahom language]]: ''ma'': courage, ''tak'' tested) which then transferred to the Moamorias in general; the cognate [[Tai languages|Tai-language]] speaking [[Jingpo people|Singpho]] and [[Khamti people]] described the people of the Barsenapati too as ''matak'' (strong) against the weaker ''mulungs''.<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=48}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation |last=Baruah |first=S. L. |title=Last Days of Ahom Monarchy |place=New Delhi |year=1993}}
* {{Citation |last=Dutta |first=Sristidhar |title=The Mataks and their Kingdom |publisher=Chugh Publications |place=Allahabad |year=1985}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:1770s in India]]

[[Category:1790s in India]]

[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]
[[Category:1780s in India]]
[[Category:1800s in India]]