A History of Assam c13.96

c13.96

Sib Singh was completely under the influence of Brāhman priests and astrologers; and in 1722 he was so alarmed by their prediction that his rule would shortly come to an end, that he not only made many and lavish presents for the support of temples and of Brāhmans, in the hope of conciliating the gods and averting the threatened calamity, but also endeavoured to satisfy the alleged decree of fate by a subterfuge which greatly diminished his prestige in the eyes of his people. He declared his chief queen Phulesvari, who assumed the name Pramatesvari (one of the names of Durgā), to be the “Bar Raja” or chief king; made over to her the royal umbrella, the Ahom emblem of sovereignty; and caused coins to be struck jointly in her name and his.*