The Moidams associated with the Ahom Dynasty in the Northeastern state of Assam got the status of 43rd World Heritage Site on Friday in the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi. These are tombs of the Ahom kings, queens and nobilities translated from the Tai words ‘Phrang-Mai-Dam’ or ‘Mai-Tam’ meaning bury and the spirit of the dead.
Structure of Ahom Moidams
Each Moidam consists of three main parts:
- A room or a separate compartment of a tomb in which the body is placed.
- A hemispherical earthen mound over the chamber.
- Unlike other temples, there is a Chaw-chali on top of a brick structure for the annual offering and an octagonal boundary wall with an arch gateway.
The conical structure of the Moidams is also different; some are small, while others are large hillocks, depending on the status and the resources the deceased had before he died. And first, the pits mentioned contained only wood poles and beams. But, in the kingdom of King Rudra Singha, like 1696-1714 CE, there was an improvement in the materials used were stone and bricks. Everyone was furnished with their attire, other adornments, and armour, and sometimes slaves, living or dead, accompanied them. Still, as mentioned, King Rudra Singha did away with the custom of burying slaves with the dead.
History and Legacy
The making of the Moidams as a World Heritage Site has pointed towards the history and culture of the Ahom Dynasty in Assam. The AHM lying to the south and east of the river not only testifies to the architectural progress of the age but can also shed light on the burial patterns and other institutions of the Ahom society. Inferring from the fact that the Ahom society accorded high regard to the dead, Moidam’s designs and construction are complex.
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