A History of Assam c15.6

c15.6

The ceremony of installation was a very elaborate one. The king, wearing the *Somdeo*, or image of his tutelary deity, and carrying in his hand the *Hengdān* or ancestral sword, proceeded on a male elephant to Charāideo,* where he planted a *pipal* tree (*ficus religiosa*). He next entered the *Pātghar*, where the presiding priest poured a libation of water over him and his chief queen, after which the royal couple took their seats in the *Solongghar*, on a bamboo platform, under which were placed a man and a specimen of every procurable animal. Consecrated water was poured over the royal couple and fell on the animals below. Then, having been bathed, they entered the *Singarighar* and took their seats on a throne of gold, and the leading nobles came up and offered their presents. New money was coined, and gratuities were given to the principal officers of State and to religious mendicants. In the evening, there was a splendid entertainment at which the king presided. During the next thirty days the various tributary Rajas and State officials who had not been present at the installation were expected to come in and do homage and tender their presents to the new king. Before the reign of Rudra Singh, it had been the custom for the new king, before entering the *Singarighar*, to kill a man with his ancestral sword, but that monarch caused a buffalo to be substituted, and the example thus set was followed by all his successors.