History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c41.s2.8

v3.c41.s2.8

Such were the Ahoms by origin. But in the course of their stay in Assam, they began to change under the influence of Indian civilization and the Hindu religion. Ahom kings had married into the Kamata and Kuch Bihar families, and Hindu priests and artisans had entered Assam in the train of these queens. Victory in wars with the Pathan Sultans of Bengal had led to the Ahoms learning the use of fire-arms and (probably) of horses from their enemies, and to the settlement of large numbers of captive Bengalis (mostly Muhammadans) in the country. Lastly, the Vaishnav religion was preached by Shankardev and other saints, and it made great progress in the land, introducing a new element into the life of the people and dotting the country with Vaishnav monasteries (*satra*), whose abbots exercised great influence on many of the kings and vast numbers of the common people, though their wealth and Court favour were envied by the nobles. In short, by the end of the 16th century the Ahoms became Hinduized, and fifty years later we find their kings adopting Hindu names. Their old social system still remained, and spirit-worship was still the groundwork of their faith, though both continued to