Literary sources provide narrative evidence for reconstructing the political, cultural, and religious history of ancient Assam. They include both religious texts, secular writings, and accounts by foreign travellers.
9.1 Religious Literature: Kalika Purana, Yogini Tantra
The Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra are two important mythological and religious texts composed in Assam.
These texts are rich in legends, rituals, cosmology, and genealogies of rulers.
They offer insights into the religious landscape of early Assam, especially the worship of Shakti (the goddess) at the Kamakhya temple.
Kalika Purana:
Composed around the 10th century CE.
Emphasizes the importance of Nilachala (Kamakhya) as a powerful Shakti Peetha.
Includes myths of Narakasura, Bhagadatta, and other ancient rulers.
Yogini Tantra:
Later text, composed around the 16th century.
Focuses on Tantric rituals, goddess worship, and esoteric practices.
Though rich in content, these sources often mix mythology with history, requiring critical analysis for extracting reliable historical facts.
9.2 Secular Literature
Secular literature in Assam includes chronicles, grants, and official records that provide information beyond religious context.
🔹 Key Highlights:
The Ahom Buranjis are chronicles written in Ahom and later in Assamese that record political events, wars, genealogies, and diplomatic affairs.
Epigraphic texts (though also archaeological) have literary value as they are composed in refined poetic or prose Sanskrit, often containing eulogies and donative records.
Some copperplate grants and royal charters are written in well-structured literary style, combining administrative and cultural elements.
Government reports, such as Gait’s 1891 Census, though British in origin, also serve as literary documents for studying demographic and ethnic details.
9.3 Accounts of Foreign Travelers
Though not abundant, foreign travellers’ accounts add an external perspective on ancient Assam.
Their observations help validate internal sources and provide insight into Assam’s interactions with neighbouring regions.
🔹 Key Points:
Some mentions of Pragjyotisha (Assam) and its rulers are found in Chinese, Tibetan, and early Muslim texts, indicating early international awareness.
Foreign sources occasionally refer to Assamese military strength, religious practices, and geographical descriptions.
These accounts help bridge the gaps in indigenous texts, especially regarding trade, migration, and diplomacy.