Singarigharutha: Difference between revisions

The ''Singarigharutha'' ceremony was first observed by the Ahom King [[Sudangphaa]], popularly known as ''Bamuni Konwar''. [[Sudangphaa]] came to throne in 1397 CE. He transferred his capital from [[Charaideo]] to Charguwa. In the new capital, [[Sudangphaa]] organized the Kheun rwan mai kaw, a Tai-Ahom ceremony of coronation and claimed the mandate of Heaven to rule the [[Ahom Kingdom]] as a descendant of Lengdon or [[Indra]], the Lord of Heaven and Earth. From that time onward, the [[Ahom kingdom|Ahom]] kings performed the Singarigharutha ceremony as the main event of their coronations. The ritual was termed ''Singarigharutha'' because the wood of ''singari'' tree were used to construct the main platform on which the King sat during the procedure.<ref>Barbaruah Hiteswar Ahomar-Din or A History of Assam under the Ahoms 1981 page 38-39</ref> Most of the Ahom rulers preferred to perform the Singarigharutha ceremony in [[Charaideo]], which was considered very sacred by the Tai-Ahom community of [[Assam]], since the reign of the first Ahom King [[Sukaphaa]].

The ''Kheun rwan mai kaw'' ceremony signifies the fact that even though the Ahom rulers of [[Assam]] adopted Hinduism, the significance of the Tai-Ahom religious customs and practices were at large during the Ahom period. The Tai-Ahom priests and astrologers, the ''Deodhais'' and the ''Bailungs'', occupied important position in the Royal court of [[Ahom kingdom]] till the very end. It was because of their efforts and influence on the royal court, kings and nobles continued to pay their respect to the ancient customs and religious ceremonies of the Tai-Ahom community during the period of Ahom supremacy in [[Assam]].