To reconstruct the history of Assam between the 4th and 12th centuries CE, historians depend on a variety of authentic sources. These include inscriptions, literary texts, foreign travel accounts, and numismatic evidence.
Inscriptions (Copper Plates, Rock Inscriptions)
Inscriptions serve as the most direct and reliable evidence for understanding early Assam’s political history, administration, and land grants.
They are mainly of two types:
🔸 Copper Plate Inscriptions:
Issued by rulers of Kamarupa, especially from the Varman, Mlechchha, and Pala dynasties.
Commonly record land donations, genealogies, titles of kings, and religious affiliations.
Key examples:
Dubi and Nidhanpur Copper Plates of Bhaskaravarman
Guwakuchi and Subhankarapataka Plates of Indrapala and Dharmapala
🔸 Rock Inscriptions:
Found in strategic and religious locations like Nilachal Hills, Tezpur, and Ambari.
Often include eulogies, victory proclamations, and dedications to deities or temples.
Examples: Umachal Rock Inscription (Surendravarman), Tezpur Rock Inscription (Harjaravarman)
🔑 These inscriptions are crucial for identifying the dynastic succession, territorial control, and religious patronage.
Literary Sources (Harsacharita, Ramacharita, Rajatarangini, Chinese Accounts)
Sanskrit literary works and courtly biographies from other regions mention Assam (Kamarupa), offering external validation of its historical events.
🔸 Harsacharita (by Banabhatta):
Describes the diplomatic relations between Harshavardhana of Kanauj and Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa.
Highlights Assam’s prestige, power, and refinement in the 7th century CE.
🔸 Ramacharita (by Sandhyakar Nandi):
Mentions Kamarupa in the context of political turmoil and alliances involving the Pala Empire.
Offers clues about interstate warfare and political instability in eastern India.
🔸 Rajatarangini (by Kalhana):
Chronicles the dynastic history of Kashmir but mentions Kamarupa in connection with Kashmiri campaigns and royal marriages.
🔸 Chinese Accounts:
Early Chinese sources (e.g., by Wang Hsüan-ts’e) refer to Kamarupa as an important eastern kingdom during Harsha’s time.
🔑 These texts enrich our understanding of Assam’s interregional connections, reputation, and royal diplomacy.
Foreign Accounts (Hiuen Tsang)
The famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited India in the 7th century CE during the reign of Harshavardhana.
Although he did not personally visit Kamarupa, he recorded second-hand information about it.
He described Bhaskaravarman as a strong and just ruler, and his kingdom as well-administered and prosperous.
Hiuen Tsang’s account is valuable for understanding:
The geo-political standing of Assam.
Its integration into the wider Buddhist and political networks of the time.
The religious tolerance and cultural development of the Kamarupa kingdom.
Coinage and Numismatic Evidence (Absence of Early Coins)
One of the notable features of early Assam is the near-complete absence of indigenous coins during the 4th–12th centuries CE.
Unlike other Indian kingdoms, Kamarupa rulers did not issue metallic currency in any significant number.
This absence suggests:
A possibly non-monetized economy relying on barter or tribute systems.
Heavy reliance on land grants and natural resource redistribution as economic tools.
Later, during the Ahom period, minted coinage appears more prominently.
Despite the lack of coins, metallic artefacts and seals from this period are found, offering clues to economy and trade.
🔑 Numismatic silence is as telling as presence—it reveals distinct economic practices in early Assamese society.