Religious practices of Tais during the reign of Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha

Dr. Birendra Kumar Gohain 

(dr.gohain@gmail.com)

Whenever the name Tai is mentioned in the history of Assam, the name of Chaolung Siu Ka Pha, the great, comes to our mind. Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha, the founder of the Tai Ahom dynasty in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, was the adventurer who set his foot on the soils of Assam, then known as Kamrupa, to conquer it. The local population called them Ahom. 

The religious practices observed during the sojourn of Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha from Mung Maolung via Mungkhu-Mungja till his permanent stay in Mung Dun Sun Kham (the then Kamrup) enlighten us of the origin and development of the Tai Ahom religion. 

1. Ancestor worship is the common religious ritual performed by all Tai/Thai people of the world. It is written in Tai (Ms. No. 6A of DHAS) that Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha, having crossed the hills, came down to Namruk (Namrup) and collected and stored many things like pigs, hens, ducks, etc., at one place in Namrup of the Brahmaputra valley and decided to hold the most important and common ritual of Dam Phi (Me Dam Me Phi). He worshipped the spirits (dam) of mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, dam of the house, and the dams of the leading persons who accompanied him. The worshipping was done in a big way. It started the process of collectively worshipping the ancestors of the King, his nobles, and his subjects, which is called Me-Dam-Me-Phi. The King saluted by kneeling, bowing down. He worshipped the main dam of the house and prayed to his forefathers to bless him and to win over all the difficulties as was done in the powerful kingdom of Mung Kong. He prayed to the ancestors and God thus, “I desire to occupy countries, and I should be victorious in all cases. With this desire, I offer my prayers, O my Chao-pha phet-khan -kham Chao Nuru oi. (God Almighty).”

2. The second religious ritual observed by him in the hills (the Patkai range) when he and his companions faced difficulties in conquering a group of the non-Tai Hill people was the worship of the gods (HetPhi) and bowing before them. Sukapha thought that the great old god Langkuri was good to him. Then all the nobles and officers assembled there and informed the gods and the people that a group of the wild non-Tai did not cease fighting. The two priests, Mo’sam and Mo’sai, sent people to collect the leaves of the holy cheng’-phra (chingkara) tree. Water dipped with the flowers of the tree was given to drink.

Thus, god Langkuri was worshipped. A big tree, Tung Rang, was planted by the priests. Worshipping the gods, obligations were made. The ancestors were also worshipped.

3. While crossing the hills, Siu-Ka-Pha worshipped the jungle god Chao Phi-Theun. Pigs, ducks, and hens were killed and offered along with other things. Then the king saluted the jungle god and Phi Chao by laying prostrate before the jungle god, praying for the removal of all dangers and difficulties while travelling through the wilderness and for his victories over the new countries to be ensured. He also offered a red-coloured cock on the raised platter. 

4. After crossing the hills, he crossed the Namjin River (Buridihing) and worshipped the river god Khaokham (who is the god of waters).

5. There was the ceremonial eating of new rice wherever Siu-Ka-Pha stayed in the Brahmaputra valley for a couple of years. 

It is noteworthy that two priestly families were led by the noble priest Phu-tu-kai of the Mo’sam (Deodhai) family and Phu-chak-pang of the Mo’sai (Mohan or Mohung) family. It is clarified that no member of the Bailung family came with Siu-Ka-Pha. 

It is important to note that the divine idol Chumseng (Somdeo) was carried by Siu-Ka-Pha over his neck when he left his maternal uncle’s kingdom, Mungmaolung, for good. When he set up his permanent capital at Chekham (Charaideo), he was crowned with the Chumseng round his neck.

Before his crowning, preparations were to beautify the many-tiered hill Charaideo as the permanent capital, which was chosen by the king. The Mo’sam and Mo’sai entombed two dogs in the north and the south sides along with other animals. Gold coiled in a tree extending several rounds up to the roots of the tree (a banyan/Tung Rang). Some silver was put in a pot. Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha was ceremonially crowned in this big and beautiful city named Chelung Chekham. It is noteworthy that except for the king, nobody, not even the priests, could touch Chumseng. 

It is noteworthy that the great ritual of the Umpha festival was observed in a large way by the king. The Rik-khwan ceremony was also performed at the time of coronation for the Revitalisation of the King.

5. There was the ceremonial eating of new rice wherever Siu-Ka-Pha stayed in the Brahmaputra Valley for a couple of years. Revitalisation Ceremony (Rikkhwan) was performed on this occasion every time. 

It is noteworthy that the Phuralung ceremony was not performed during the rule of Siu-Ka-Pha.