A History of Assam c13.141

c13.141

He was never a strong prince, and his nerves were completely shattered by the Moāmariā rising. After his restoration the Deodhāis endeavoured to regain their former influence by ascribing the misfortunes into which the country had fallen to the adoption of Hindu beliefs and practices and the abandonment of the old tribal observances of their forefathers. They pointed out that many projects had miscarried, owing to their having been commenced on days selected by the Ganaks as auspicious, whereas, according to the calculations of the Ahom astrologers, they were the very reverse. They laid special stress on the fact that the late king’s body had been cremated, instead of being buried as those of his ancestors had been. To undo the mischief, they made an effigy of Rājesvar in clay and, having performed with it the Rikkhvān ceremony for the restoration of life, and offered sacrifice to the gods, they buried it with the rites usually observed at the interment of an Ahom king. For some time after this, Lakshmi Singh seems to have been favourably disposed towards the Deodhāis, and their prognostications were again attended to. The Hindus, however, soon regained their influence, and it is recorded that, at the suggestion of the Na Gosāin, the Goddess Tārā was worshipped with great ceremony, and an immense amount of money was distributed to the Brāhmans. The Deodhāis refused to take any part in these proceedings.