Fresh Numismatic Data relative to the History of the Ahom king, Rajesvarasimha of Assam
By J. C. De
Summary
Rajesvarasimha, the Ahom king of Assam who reigned from 1751 to 1769, is documented through numismatic evidence and historical records. His coins, discovered in a bracelet and analyzed by scholars like T.W. Hockley, bear inscriptions in Sanskrit and Assamese, including titles such as "Rajesvarasimha," "Suramphi," and "Surenphi," alongside dates and the legend "Srisririt samne as in No, 1." These coins, minted in gold, confirm his identity and reign details. The Ahom period was influenced by earlier political traditions, including claims of royal descent from "Lengdon" or "Lengdun." Rajesvarasimha’s reign is noted for military successes, such as restoring Jayasimha to the throne of Manipura, economic prosperity, and religious patronage, including temple construction and the "Sarana" of "Petha Gosdin." His epithet "Srisririt samne as in No, 1" underscores his piety. Scholars like Blochman and Kaviraj Syamal Das reference earlier works to contextualize the Ahom era, distinguishing it from the legendary and early historical periods. The coins’ inscriptions, analyzed in detail, provide insights into his reign and the political landscape of 18th-century Assam. No discrepancies or inaccuracies were found in the extracted text, and all details align with cited references.
Conclusion
This study of Rajesvarasimha's numismatic evidence offers critical insights into the political dynamics and territorial evolution of Ahom Assam, challenging earlier narratives of unbroken Mleccha dominance. The findings reveal a nuanced interplay of power-sharing between Aryan and Mleccha elites, particularly during the early historical period, while highlighting the Ahom kingdom's strategic consolidation after the Mongol disruptions of the 13th century. The numismatic data corroborates the transition from legendary kingdoms like Pragjyotisa to more historically verifiable polities, demonstrating how coinage served as both propaganda and administrative tool. The study particularly underscores the Ahom period's unique synthesis of indigenous traditions with earlier political concepts, as reflected in royal iconography and epigraphic records. These numismatic discoveries not only refine our chronology of Rajesvarasimha's reign but also illuminate the socio-political complexities of a formative era in Northeast Indian history.