Koch dynasty

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The Koch dynasty of Assam and Bengal, named after the Koch tribe of Tibeto-Burmese affiliation, took control of the Kamata kingdom in 1515 after the fall of the Khen dynasty in 1498. The capital was located at Cooch Behar town.

Contents 1 Beginning of the Koch dynasty 2 Early history 3 History of Cooch Behar 4 Kings 4.1 Rulers of undivided Koch kingdom 4.2 Rulers of Koch Bihar 4.3 Rulers of Koch Hajo 4.4 Rulers of Darrang 4.5 Rulers of Beltala 4.6 Rulers of Bijni 4.7 Rulers of Khaspur 5 Notes 6 References

[edit] Beginning of the Koch dynasty

The first major king was Vishwa Singha, who established himself in 1515 as the ruler of the Kamata kingdom after the Khen dynasty was defeated by Alauddin Hussein Shah in 1498. According to J N Sarkar Viswa Singha belonged to one of the dominant Koch tribes,^[2] which were a collection of Mongoloid tribes,^[3] loosely allied to the Meches, Garos, Tharus and also Dravidians. They had adopted Hinduism a few generations before Vishwa Singha and claimed the Kshatriya varna. The earliest known ancestor of Viswa Singha was Haria Mandal,^[4] from the Chiknabari village in Goalpara district, the head of the twelve most powerful Koch families. He was married to Jira and Hira, daughters of a Koch chief named Hajo, after whom Koch Hajo was named. Viswa Singha was the son of Haria Mandal and Hira.^[5]

Viswa Singha's two sons, Naranarayan and Shukladhwaj (Chilarai), the king and the commander-in-chief of the army respectively, took the kingdom to its zenith. Nara Narayan made Raghudev, the son of Chilarai, the governor of Koch Hajo, the eastern portion of the country. After the death of Nara Narayan, Raghudev declared independence. The division of the Kamata kingdom into Koch Bihar and Koch Hajo was permanent.

Nara Narayan was impressed by the bhakti saint Srimanta Sankardeva who became a member of his court in the last three years of his life and who established a sattra in the kingdom.

[edit] Early history

In earlier time in the north eastern frontier of India which was known as Pragjyotisha, which later came to be known as Kamarupa. Ancient Kamrup was divided into four parts, namely Kampith, Ratnapith, Subarnapith and Soumarpith. Ancient Kamrup was ruled by many dynasties.

[edit] History of Cooch Behar

The princely state known as Cooch Behar during the British rule was a part of the Kamarupa Kingdom from 4th century–12th century ruled by the Varman, Mlechchha and Pala dynasties. From 12th century, the area became a part of Kamata kingdom, first ruled by the Khen dynasty from their capital at Kamatapur. The most important Khen rulers were Niladhaj (1440-1460), Chakradhaj (1460-1480) and Nilambar (1480-1498) The Khens were an indigenous tribe and they ruled till about 1498 CE when they fell into the trick of Alauddin Hussain Shah, the independent Pathan Sultan of Gour and lost their empire. The new invaders came into conflict with the local Bhuyan chieftains and the Ahom king Suhung, and lost control of the region.

After the Muslims left the area there was confusion and commotion in the country. During this time independent Bhuiyans started ruling over small areas. Among these a Koch Bhuiyan named Hajo had two daughters named Jira and Hira. On the other side there was a small territory at Chikna Mountains situated between the Sankosh River and the Champabati River about 80 kilometers north of Dhubri in present-day Goalpara District of Assam. This territory was ruled by Haridas Mondal, a Mech chieftain. To establish unity with Chikna, Hajo wedded off his daughters to Haridas. In due time Jira gave birth to Madan and Chandan while Hira gave birth to Sishu (Sisya Singha) and Bishu (Biswa Singha). Among the four brothers Bishu was the cleverest and strongest.

One day the four brothers were praying to Goddess Bhagwati in a playful mood and they offered one of their friends for sacrifice; it is believed that mysteriously the head of the friend was cut off his body. Turka Kotwal ordered their arrest; fearing capture they took shelter in the forest.

Later they collected soldiers, elephants and horses and attacked the Turka Kotwal. Madan was killed in the battle; to take revenge Biswa Singha killed Turka Kotwal. To please stepmother Jira, whose son Madan was killed instead of becoming himself the king, Biswa Singha enthroned Chandan as the King. In this way in 1510 the Koch kingdom was started.

[edit] Kings

[edit] Rulers of undivided Koch kingdom

• Maharaja Chandan
• Biswa Singha (1515-1540)
• Nara Narayan (1540-1586)

[edit] Rulers of Koch Bihar

• Lakshmi Narayan
• Bir Narayan
• Pran Narayan
• Basudev Narayan
• Mahindra Narayan
• Roop Narayan
• Upendra Narayan
• Devendra Narayan
• Dhairjendra Narayan
• Rajendra Narayan
• Dharendra Narayan
• Harendra Narayan
• Shivendra Narayan
• Narendra Narayan
• Nripendra Narayan^[6]
• Rajrajendra Narayan
• Jitendra Narayan
• Jagaddipendra Narayan

[edit] Rulers of Koch Hajo

• Raghudev (son of Chilarai, nephew of Nara Narayan)
• Parikshit Narayan
• Bali Narayan

[edit] Rulers of Darrang

• Sundar Narayan (son of Bali Narayan)
• ...

[edit] Rulers of Beltala

• Gaj Narayan (brother of Bali Narayan)
• ...

[edit] Rulers of Bijni

• Chandra Narayan (son of Parikshit Narayan)
• Joy narayan
• Shiv Narayan
• Bijoy Narayan
• Mukunda Narayan
• Haridev Narayan
• Indra Narayan
• Amrit Narayan
• Kumud Narayan
• ...
• Bhairabendra Narayan

[edit] Rulers of Khaspur

• Kamal Narayan (Gohain Kamal, son of Viswa Singha, governor of Khaspur)
• Udita Narayan (declared independence of Khaspur)
• ...
• Bhim Simha (his only issue, daughter Kanchani, married prince Lakshmichandra of Kachari kingdom, and Khaspur merged into the Kachari kingdom.)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References