Sunyatphaa
Sunyatphaa also Udayaditya Singha was the king of Ahom Kingdom from 1670 CE to 1672 CE. After his elder brother Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha died in the middle of Ahom-Mughal war, Udayaditya Singha succeeded to the throne. His reign witnessed the end of Ahom-Mughal war, which started during the reign of Chakradhwaj Singha, when the Mughal army led by Rajput prince, Ram Singh I of Amber, was decisively defeated by the Ahom forces led by Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan in the Battle of Saraighat. The later part of his reign was characterized by the failure of military expedition against the Dafala tribes and the influence of Paramananda Sannyasi, a saintly figure from Brindaban, over Udayaditya Singha. Udayaditya's over exerted devotion towards Paramananda Sanyasi, aroused dissatisfaction among the nobles, which ultimately caused his deposition and execution. His reign was followed by a series of political anarchy and internal disturbances in the Ahom kingdom which continued till the accession of Gadadhar Singha in 1681 CE.
Ancestry and early life
Udayaditya Singha was the second son of Namrupia Raja, the grandson of Sureng Deoraja, great grandson of Ahom king Suhungmung. His grandfather Sureng Deo Raja was the founder of the Charingia branch of Royal Ahom Dynasty. Sureng Deo Raja was a valliant warrior, who fought many battles in military expedition against Chutiya Kingdom and Kachari kingdom during the reign of his father Suhungmung. He also fought against the invading forces of Koch kingdom led by Chilarai during the reign of his elder brother Suklenmung and his nephew Sukhaamphaa. The early name of Udayaditya Singha was Maju Gohain. When his elder brother Chakradhwaj Singha ascended the throne, Maju Gohain was appointed as Charingia Raja, a post usually held by the heir apparent to the throne.Accession
Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha died of dropsy in April 1670 CE. The heir apparent to the throne, Maju Gohain was proclaimed as the king of Ahom Kingdom. The Hindu priests and Brahmins named him as Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha, while the Tai-Ahom priests conferred on him the title Sunyatphaa. He took as his queen the chief queen of his deceased brother.Reign
War with the Mughals
Udayaditya Singha ascended the throne at a time when the Ahom-Mughal war that started during the reign of his elder brother Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha was at its climax. The Mughal army led by the Prince Ram Singh I of Amber was desperately trying to conquer the military outpost of Guwahati, while the Ahom forces led by Lachit Borphukan and Atan Burhagohain was bravely defending it against all odds. Ram Singh I sent a proposal to the Lachit Borphukan, that if the Ahoms surrender the garrison of Guwahati in favour of Mughals, he gave his word that the Mughals will respect the boundary of Ahom kingdom which was set according to the treaty of Asura Ali in 1639 CE. The long continuance of hostilities without any decisive result produced some discontent in the Ahom camp. The demand of Ram Singh I thus, received a more encouraging response from Lachit Borphukan and his lieutenants. The proposal was sent to Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha for final decision. The king held consultation with all the nobles. While most of them are in favour of the proposal, the Prime Minister of Ahom kingdom, Atan Burhagohain opposed this proposal stating that the resistance which they had offered to the enemy and which caused such loss of men and provisions was absolutely meaningless if it was followed by their voluntary surrender of Guwahati. He also characterized the promises made by Ram Singh I as a highway made of ashes as they might not be accepted by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, or by the next Mughal commander who will succeed Ram Singh I. Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha confirmed the views of the Premier Atan Burhagohain and directed the commanders to bring the war to a victorious conclusion.When the Ahom rejected the proposal of Ram Singh I, the latter in desperation commanded a contingent of his cavalry to cross the Brahmaputra in boats and enter the plains of Guwahati by breaking through the opening at the Andharubali rampart. The Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan was seriously ill at that time and the Ahom army was demoralized by the absence of their general. On the sight of Mughal boats sailing towards Guwahati, the Ahom forces began to retreat without any fight. When the general Lachit Borphukan learnt about this he himself came to the battle scene and boarded his boat accompanied by six other war vessel and rushed towards the enemy with his seven boats. The appearance of Lachit Borphukan filled the soldiers with enthusiasm and courage. The retreating Ahom army and fleet joined their general and fell upon the invading Mughal forces. The Ahom war vessels entered into the thick of Mughal fleet and in the fight that ensued, the Mughals were completely defeated and the Ahoms gained a decisive victory. This battle is known in the history as the Battle of Saraighat, which occurred in the middle of March, 1671 CE. The Mughal forces were chased till Manas River and the Ahoms retained their possessions of Guwahati and Kamrup. Hadira, opposite Goalpara, now became the Ahom kingdom's western frontier outpost. Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha was overjoyed by this victory and he offered handsome rewards to all the generals of the victorious Ahom army. For their support and services rendered to Ahom forces in driving out the Mughal invaders, the Koch princes, Chandra Narayan, son of Mahendra Narayan, grandson of Bali Narayan, was installed as tributary ruler of Darrang, and Gandharva Narayan, was installed as the tributary ruler of Beltola. Unfortunately Lachit Borphukan who was in high fever during the battle against Mughals died soon after his memorable triumph at Saraighat. His elder brother Laluk Sola was appointed as the new Borphukan at Guwahati. Most of the prominent nobles like Atan Burhagohain remained in Guwahati in order to repel any possible Mughals invasion in Lower Assam
Fire in the Royal Stores
In 1671 CE, a treasure house at Hilikha, containing a great store of gold and silver, was burnt down. Enquiry showed that the Bharali Barua, the officer in charge of the store-house was responsible for the fire, which was caused by his carelessly leaving a lighted pipe near some inflammable material. As a punishment for his carelessness, Bharali Barua was compelled to smoke elephant's dung.Dafala expedition
The Dafala tribe was living in the hills to the north of present-day Lakhimpur district and Sonitpur district. They use to come down to the plains on marauding excursions when they would capture Assamese people and properties. The Dafalas were however kept in check by the grant of blackmail from the Ahom rulers and by permission to use the services of the Dafala-Bahatias who were formed into a penal colony settled along the foot of the Dafala hills. The Dafalas now complained that they were on the verge of starvation owing to the long delay in the delivery of the stipulated blackmail and the payment of the taxes due from the Bahatias. Therefore, under the leadership of Bar Gam, Radha Gam, Tami Gam and Bakara Gam, the Dafalas raided a village called Gagaldubi and killed three Assamese persons, and carried off forty persons including women and children. Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha immediately arranged an expedition under Ghorakonwar Borbarua to capture and punish the Dafala raiders. The Prime Minister Atan Burhagohain tried to dissuade the monarch stating reasons that the Dafalas lived in inaccessible villages situated in the midst of dense forest and steep mountain defiles, and the hill-men could always evade the pursuers by flying from one shelter to another. The Premier instructed Udayaditya Singha to use tact and diplomacy instead of military force. But the monarch ignored the advice of Atan Burhagohain, and dispatched Ghorakonwar Borbarua against the Dafalas at the head of a considerable force.In May 1672 CE, the Borbarua crossed the Subansiri River and halted at Rangamati from where he shifted his camp to Dulungmukh. Two Assamese officers, Tua and Tita were dispatched to bring the Dafalas to submission. The agents of Dafala chief Bakara Gam met Tua and Tita and expressed regrets for having acted disloyally against the Ahom monarch. Tua and Tita offered to secure pardon for the Dafalas, first from the Borbarua and then from the Swargadeo, and asked them to proceed to the presence of the Borbarua to pay their respects to him. The Dafalas however hesitated to appear before the Borbarua, fearing punishment under Royal orders. Their leader Bakara Gam now appeared on the scene with fifty-two followers and continued the parleys with Tua and Tita. Bakara Gam realized the insecurity of his position, and said, “The Borbarua has come to kill us. How will it be possible on the part of elephants to proceed by paths meant for the passage of dogs and jackals?” Tua and Tita sent a secret message through Ramdhan Ganak Hatkhowa to Ghorakonwar Borbarua asking him to fall upon the Dafalas during the continuance of the negotiations. The Borbarua sent a force who proceeded by boat, but the Dafalas had meanwhile left the venue on the pretext of coming back with the men and goods captured by them from the Assamese. The king accused Tua and Tita for having put the Borbarua on a wrong track and had them chained with iron fetters and imprisoned. The rains then set in, and the Borbarua was compelled to suspend operations which were made more difficult by inaccessible character of the terrain.
The king threatened to kill Borbarua if he returned to the capital without subduing the Dafalas. He even asked the Borbarua to wear the skirt of woman in the event of his further inaction. Having heard this the Borbarua came from Dulungmukh to Barchetia and then to Gangmukh, from where he sent a number of detachments under Khaga Chutia Hazarika, Kharagom, Chutia-kari Barua and Chungi Barua who proceeded by different routes against the Dafalas. But the Ahom troops could not make any headway for difficulties of communications aggravated by the torrential showers of the monsoon season. Finally when they reached the villages of the Dafalas, they found it empty, as the Dafalas had already evacuated them for safer destinations. As the Ahom soldiers were about to return, they were attacked by the Dafalas who had concealed themselves in the neighbouring jungles. The Ahom soldiers seized with panic dispersed down the slope of the mountains. Large numbers were massacred by the Dafalas, some were carried off as slaves, and the rest were chased down to the plains. The Ahom officers Khaga Hazarika and Khragom were among the slain. The Borbarua then returned to his camp at Barchetia. The King attributed this reverse to neglect and mismanagement on the part of Ghorakonwar Borbarua. He instructed the chief of his personal body-guards, Papang Chaodang Barua, to arrest the Borbarua and kept him as a prisoner in the Hatisal or Elephant stalls. The king accused the Borbarua of dereliction of duty and ordered him to be stripped naked and put to death, but on the intercession of the Queen-mother, the life of Ghorakonwar Borbarua was spared. But the king had him dismissed and Charingia Pelan Phukan of Rangmahal fame was appointed as the new Borbarua. After some time, Ghorakonwar was readmitted into the good graces of the king, and was made Bhitarual Phukan or the Commander of the household troops. During the following dry season the Dafala leaders returned the goods and released the captured Assamese prisoners of their own accord.