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| full name =  
| full name =  
| image = Portrait of Queen Sadhani.jpg
| image = Portrait of Queen Sadhani.jpg
| caption = Portrait of the last Chutia queen Sadhani
| caption = Modern depiction of queen Sadhani
| succession =
| status = legendary
| reign = 1522–1524
| coronation = 1522
| successor = 
| issue =
| house = [[Chutiya Kingdom|Chutia dynasty]]
| father = Dharmadhwajpal
| mother = Hearla Mahkta
| spouse = Nityapal
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Sadiya]], [[Assam]]
| death_date = 21 April 1524
| death_place = [[Sadiya]], present-day Assam
| date of burial =
| place of burial =
| religion =  
}}
}}


'''Sati Sadhani''' was the last queen of the [[Chutiya Kingdom|Chutia dynasty]]. She was the daughter of King Dharmadhwajpal, also known as Dhirnarayan. Born in Sadiya, she married Nityapal, alias Nitai.
'''Sati Sadhani''' was a legendary 15th/16th-century queen of the [[Chutiya Kingdom|Chutia dynasty]].  


In 1524, [[Ahom people|the Ahoms]] took advantage  of Nityapal's weak leadership and attacked the kingdom, conquering Sadiya and killing Nityapal; thus, they took revenge for the conspiratorial killing of their former king [[Sutuphaa]] by Chutia King Sanghadhwazpal in the Sofrai river. 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 hill|Chandragiri hills]] near Sadiya in 1524.
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.


==History==
==Version of the Legend==
===Queen of Chutia ===
===Queen of Chutia ===
   
   
Sadhani was born around 1493 A.D. to King Dhirnarayan. In 1512 A.D., she married at age 19, and was crowned Queen in 1522 A.D. after Chutia King Dhirnarayan won the battle of Mungkhrang fort (1520 A.D). 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.
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 CE. 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.
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, at Chandangiri===
===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]]

Revision as of 12:34, 1 July 2022

Sati Sadhani
Portrait of Queen Sadhani.jpg
Modern depiction of queen Sadhani

Sati Sadhani was a legendary 15th/16th-century queen of the Chutia dynasty.

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 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

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

A cowherd before becoming king, Nitipal was inefficient in the role. He had no idea how to rule a kingdom, so Sadhani took charge. Nitipal dismissed the experienced ministers and instead recruited his own friends from his village. The old ministers rebelled, led by Surdhwajpal, the brother of the former king. The rebellion was soon crushed. Chaos spread in the kingdom, and the Chutia chiefs of other areas became independent. Nitipal was popularly known as A-nitipal because of this inefficiency and recklessness. Sadiya was solitary and had no contact with Chutia chiefs of the other parts of the kingdom.[1]

Prior royal mandate

As per the Darrang buranji, one of the Chutia princesses was married to an Ahom prince (probably Suhunmung) in the years before the annexation. This princess helped him get one of the royal Golden Cat idols that were the heirlooms of the Chutia kings. Although it was not the original one, it later gave Suhungmung royal mandate to annex and later rule over the Chutia kingdom.

The first day of the attack

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 priests. The siege of Sadiya is referred to as Kosu-kota Ran in the Buranjis, which literally translates to Battle of Yam-cutting, because no resistance was offered by unarmed soldiers.

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.[2] The king was attacked and killed by an arrow while Sadhani took her own life by jumping from a hill.

Divas

Every year in Assam, 21 April is celebrated as Sati Sadhani divas to honor the sacrifices made by the Sutiya Queen. The Government of Assam marked this day a state holiday.[3][4]

Award

The Sati Sadhani award was established by the Sutiya Jati Unnayan Parishad. The award is given to someone with outstanding contributions to the field of art, culture and literature. The honoree is selected by a committee formed by the Parishad.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bhuyan, S.K. Deodhai Assam Buranji. D.H.A.S, 1932, p.195-199.
  2. ↑ Mahanta, Sukumar. Assam Buranji. D.H.A.S., 1945, p. 10.
  3. ↑ "Sati Sadhani Divas observed at North Lakimpur". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Sati Sadhani Divas around the world in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Sati Sadhani Award being launched".
  • Prakash, Col. Ved (2007). Encyclopedia of North East India.Vol.2. Atlantic Publishers & Dist.
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