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Pragjyotishpura (IPA: [prāgˈʤjəʊtɪʃˌpʊərə]) or Pragjyotisapura, now deemed to be a region within modern Guwahati, is claimed to be an ancient city and capital of the Varman dynasty (350 - 650 A.D).^[1] Though the earliest mention of Pragjyotisha in local sources come from the 7th century,^[2] the form was changed to Pragjyotishpura in the 9th century which describes it as the city of Naraka within Kamarupa.^[3] In Puranic text like the Ramayana, Pragjyotishpura is described as the fortress of Narakasura on mount Varaha located in the north-west of the Indian subcontinent in what is modern-day Punjab and Sindh.^[4]

Etymology

The Pragjyotishpura is derived from Sanskrit. Prag means former or eastern and 'jyotisha' a 'star', 'astrology', 'shining', 'pura' a city thus meaning ' city of eastern light ' otherwise 'city of eastern astrology'.^[5]

Location of Pragjyotishpura

No inscription up to the 12th century, when the kingdom of Kamarupa came to an end, give an indication of the location of Pragjyotishpura,^[6] and the exact location is not known. Three late medieval inscriptions seem to suggest that Pragjyotishpura included the Ganeshguri (inscription from Dununtarai, 1577).^[7] Southern slope of Nilachal hills (inscription from Dihingiya Borphukan 1732) and Navagraha temple (inscription Tarun Duara Borphukan, 1752).^[8] There are various other theories that modern historians have put forward,^[9] but none of them are backed by archaeological evidence. The location of a temple of planet worship called Navagraha, meaning abode of nine planets of the solar system, and its connection with ancient research on astronomy and astrology lends weight to the origin of its name.^[10]

Notes

^ Chaudhury, P. D. (2010). Archaeology in Assam: An Introduction. Directorate of Archaeology, Assam. p. 17.
^ "The earliest mention of the name of Pragjyotisha in the local sources has been found only in the 7th century onwards." (Boruah 2003:339)
^ "(T)he Pragjyotisha was, however, redefined in the Uttarbarbil and the Nowgong plates dated to the last quarter of the ninth century. Both record that Naraka, the conqueror of Kamarupa (jitakamarupa), used to live in a city (pura) named Pragjyotishpura in Kamarupa." (Shin 2018:39)
^ "These descriptions seem to indicate the possible affiliation of Bhagadatta and Vajradatta to the north-western India and locate Pragjyotisha in the region, especially the Punjab-Sind area. They also remind us about the Mahabharata's reference to Pragjyotishpura which describes it as the mythical citadel of Naraka, located on the Varaha Mountain in the west. Some scholars including M.C. Majumdar and K. V. Athavale, thus, placed Pragjyotisha in the north-western region"(Shin 2018:36)
^ Indian History Congress (1960). Proceedings, Indian History Congress. Indian History Congress. p. 43.
^ (Boruah 2003:342)
^ Neog, Maheswar, Prachaya Sansanavali, p. 16, The inscription is dated to 1499 saka (1577 AD)
^ (Boruah 2003:342–343)
^ (Boruah 2003:343)
^ Sonalker, Manoher V. (2007). India: The Giant Awakens!. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 159.

References

Sen, Debasis (1984). "Ethnic Elements in the Political Life of Ancient Assam". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 45: 101–106. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44140186.
Boruah, Nirode (2003). "Pragjyotisapura: The Capital City of Early Assam". Proceedings of the Indian Historical Congress. 64: 337–347. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44145474.
Shin, Jae-Eun (2018), "Region Formed and Imagined: Reconsidering temporal, spatial and social context of Kamarupa", in Dzüvichü, Lipokmar; Baruah, Manjeet (eds.), Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation, London & New York: Routledge, pp. 23–55
Shin, Jae-Eun (2020). "Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas". The Indian Economic and Social History Review. 57 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1177/0019464619894134. S2CID 213213265.