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| full name = | | full name = | ||
| image = Portrait of Queen Sadhani.jpg | | image = Portrait of Queen Sadhani.jpg | ||
| caption = | | caption = Modern depiction of queen Sadhani | ||
| | | status = legendary | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Sati Sadhani''' was | '''Sati Sadhani''' was a legendary 15th/16th-century queen of the [[Chutiya Kingdom|Chutia dynasty]]. | ||
In 1524, [[Ahom people| | According to tradition, she was the daughter of King Dharmadhwajpal, also known as Dhirnarayan. Born in Sadiya, she married Nityapal, alias Nitai. In 1524, the [[Ahom people|Ahoms]] took advantage of Nityapal's weak leadership and attacked the kingdom, conquering Sadiya and killing Nityapal. When Sadhani, who played a prominent role in the fight against the Ahoms, was asked to marry Sadiyakhowa Gohain, the Ahom governor of [[Sadiya]], she preferred death to dishonour and sacrificed her life by jumping from the top of Chandragiri hills near Sadiya in 1524. | ||
== | ==Version of the Legend== | ||
===Queen of Chutia === | ===Queen of Chutia === | ||
Sadhani was born around 1493 | Sadhani was born around 1493 to king Dhirnarayan. In 1512, she married at age 19, and was crowned Queen in 1522. after Chutia King Dhirnarayan won the battle of Mungkhrang fort (1520). Unable to find a suitable groom for Sadhani, the king organised a meeting. The king promised to marry Sadhani to anyone who could shoot down a running squirrel on the top of a ''Mori-xali'' (cemetery) with an arrow. To everyone's surprise, a cowherd named Nitai (from the Chakusara clan) killed the squirrel. The king kept his promise and married the princess to Nitai who was then given the name Nitipal. The king retired to the hills leaving the throne to Nitipal and Sadhani. | ||
===Nitipal's rule=== | ===Nitipal's rule=== | ||
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===The first day of the attack=== | ===The first day of the attack=== | ||
The Sadiya attack took place on the first Wednesday of Chutia Bisu/Bihu, on 16 April 1524 | The Sadiya attack took place on the first Wednesday of Chutia Bisu/Bihu, on 16 April 1524. This day is known for the ''Bor-bali'' (grand sacrifice). It is still practiced in Sadiya. On this day, no other person is allowed to carry weapons besides [[Deori people|Deori]] priests. The siege of Sadiya is referred to as ''Kosu-kota Ran'' in the [[Buranji|Buranjis]], which literally translates to Battle of Yam-cutting, because no resistance was offered by unarmed soldiers. | ||
===Last battle | ===Last battle of Chandangiri=== | ||
The sudden attack at Sadiya forced the king and queen, along with some of the soldiers who survived, to flee to the hills above Sadiya. The Chutiyas applied guerrilla warfare strategies and used ''Faakdhenu'' (crossbows) and spears to defend themselves. Sadhani formed a female fighting squad of 120 warriors. They assisted the army by rolling boulders onto the enemy below. That day was 21 April (7th Bohag) and was widely considered as Ujha (Drummer's) Bisu. One of the former ministers of the Chutias whom Nitipal had removed sided with the Ahoms and suggested the Ahom commander Phrasengmung Borgohain play the ''[[Dhol]]''. The general ordered captives to climb up Ghila creepers and play the Bisu drum or ''Dhol''. As it was the season of Bihu, the Chutia army took it to be a sign that reinforcements had arrived and that it was a sign of victory, thinking the Ahoms had been chased out. So, thinking the drum beats to be a signal of victory they came down to the lower hills where the enemy forces were hiding. Another former Chutia commander, Gajraj Borua, who had sided with the Ahoms showed the enemy the way to the king's hideout.<ref>Mahanta, Sukumar. ''Assam Buranji''. D.H.A.S., 1945, p. 10.</ref> The king was attacked and killed by an arrow while Sadhani took her own life by jumping from a hill. | The sudden attack at Sadiya forced the king and queen, along with some of the soldiers who survived, to flee to the hills above Sadiya. The Chutiyas applied guerrilla warfare strategies and used ''Faakdhenu'' (crossbows) and spears to defend themselves. Sadhani formed a female fighting squad of 120 warriors. They assisted the army by rolling boulders onto the enemy below. That day was 21 April (7th Bohag) and was widely considered as Ujha (Drummer's) Bisu. One of the former ministers of the Chutias whom Nitipal had removed sided with the Ahoms and suggested the Ahom commander Phrasengmung Borgohain play the ''[[Dhol]]''. The general ordered captives to climb up Ghila creepers and play the Bisu drum or ''Dhol''. As it was the season of Bihu, the Chutia army took it to be a sign that reinforcements had arrived and that it was a sign of victory, thinking the Ahoms had been chased out. So, thinking the drum beats to be a signal of victory they came down to the lower hills where the enemy forces were hiding. Another former Chutia commander, Gajraj Borua, who had sided with the Ahoms showed the enemy the way to the king's hideout.<ref>Mahanta, Sukumar. ''Assam Buranji''. D.H.A.S., 1945, p. 10.</ref> The king was attacked and killed by an arrow while Sadhani took her own life by jumping from a hill. | ||
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| publisher = Atlantic Publishers & Dist. | | publisher = Atlantic Publishers & Dist. | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[Category:Legendary Indian people]] | |||
[[Category:Indian female royalty]] | [[Category:Indian female royalty]] | ||
[[Category:Kingdoms of Assam]] | [[Category:Kingdoms of Assam]] | ||