Kamarupa pithas

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Kamarupa Pithas are ancient pithas or geographical divisions of Kamarupa. The division of the Pithas are not consistent in different sources, [1] though the number of pithas are usually four. Since these pithas are not mentioned in the Kamarupa inscriptions, and are found mentioned only in later medieval texts some authors have suggested that these divisions are possible later fabrications. [2] The Yogini Tantra (16th- 17th-century), mentions the Kamarupa Pithas, the same work which gives boundaries of ancient Kamrup kingdom as well. [3]

Contents

Number of Pithas

The number of pithas reported are usually four, though some sources mention just three. [4]

The four Pithas were: [5] [6]

  1. Ratnapitha, the area from the river Karatoya to the river Sonkosh,
  2. Kamapitha , from Sonakosh to the river Rupali,
  3. Swarnapitha, from the river Rupali to the Bharali river (Central Assam),
  4. Saumarapitha between the Bhairavi and the Dikarai river (Eastern Assam).

According to the Kamrupar Buranji, the divisions were: [7]

  1. Ratnapitha from the Maurang kingdom to Sankosh river,
  2. Kamapitha from Sankosh to Duimunisila,
  3. Bhadrapitha from Kallang river to kailash river, and
  4. Saumarpith from Duimunisila to Dikkaravasini.

D C Sircar provides three different versions: [8]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamapitha</span>

Kamapitha is one of the four Kamarupa Pithas, the geographical divisions of ancient Kamarupa. Dineshchandra Sircar points out that these divisions are not found in the Kamarupa inscriptions and that they might be fabrications from late medieval sources, such as 16th-century work Yogini Tantra gives the boundaries of Kamapitha and other three pithas, the same work which gives boundaries of ancient Kamrup kingdom as well. The eastern border of Kamarupa was the temple of the goddess Tamreshvari near present-day Sadiya

Ratnapitha is an area between river Karatoya and Sonkosh and one of the four Pithas or geographical divisions of ancient Kamrup.

Swarnapitha is one of the four Kamarupa Pithas, the geographical divisions of ancient Kamarupa.

Saumarapitha is one of the four Kamarupa Pithas, the geographical divisions of ancient Kamarupa.

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References

  1. "There are some conflicting accounts of the theoretical divisions of Assam" ( Sircar 1990 , p. 68)
  2. "These theoretical divisions are not known from the early epigraphic records and may have been fabricated in the late medieval period." ( Sircar 1990 , p. 68)
  3. Journal of the Assam Research Society - Volumes 13-15 - Page 90,1959 Yoginl-tantra divides Kamarupa into four pithas or region (Ratna pitha, Swarna pitha, Kama pitha, and Saumara pitha)
  4. "The Vrahadguvakastantra divides Kamarupa into three divisions-" ( Shastri 1985 , pp. 99–100)
  5. ( Shastri 1985 , p. 100)
  6. Kakati, Banikanta (1967). The mother goddess Kamakhya. p. 7.
  7. ( Bhuyan 1930 , p. 1)
  8. ( Sircar 1990 , p. 68)

Bibliography