ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Saivism Tradition in the Koch Kingdom

The religious history of ancient Assam reveals a continuous process of cultural interaction, transformation, and assimilation between indigenous non-Aryan communities and incoming Aryan traditions. Known in different historical phases as Pragjyotisha and Kamarupa, the region once encompassed extensive areas of present-day Assam and its adjoining regions. In the earliest period, the religious life of indigenous communities was predominantly shaped by the worship of natural elements and forces of nature. With the gradual spread of Aryan religious ideology, these indigenous belief systems underwent reinterpretation and were gradually incorporated into the broader framework of Hinduism. Vedic concepts of nature worship subsequently evolved into the organized worship of gods and goddesses, giving rise to Shaiva, Shakta, Tantric and Vaishnava traditions in Assam. Among these religious streams, Saivism emerged as a prominent and influential tradition, gaining wide acceptance among both tribal societies and ruling elites, particularly under the Koch dynasty. Through sustained royal patronage and the synthesis of Brahmanical and tribal ritual practices, the worship of Śiva became deeply embedded in the social and religious fabric of the region. Nevertheless, certain ritual practices associated with Saivism also gave rise to social tensions, which gradually contributed to a decline in its dominant position.