Sri Jyotishman Sarkar
In the previous articles we talked about the military achievement and expansion of Deva dynasty. Now we will talk about the economic and structural reforms of Deva dynasty.
The period from 1373 to 1427 is called Deva era . An orderly system of governance was established in Bengal under the Deva Dynasty. From the first half of the 14th century, the cultural, economic and political development of Bengal reached its peak under Deva rule. Deva rule was indeed the pinnacle of prosperity and creativity. Therefore, this period can be called the ‘Golden Age’ of medieval Bengal.
The terracotta art at Chandradwip and the sculptured plaques found on the foundation walls of the Vishnu temple highlight the excellence of Deva age’s divine majesty. It is universally accepted that these ruins belong to a single cultural period, that of the Deva dynasty, and that they do exemplify the advanced style of folk art prevalent in Bengal. Apparently, during this period it originated and flourished in this region and gradually spread to the rest of the country and neighboring regions.
Prosperity in Trade:
Under the rule of the Deva dynasty, Bengali trade flourished again with renewed vigour. In the second half of the 14th century, Suvarnagram developed into a prosperous trading center. By sea, trade from West Asian and Southeast Asian countries could easily reach Sonargaon. Ibn Battuta (1346) in his travelogue ‘Tarikh al Hind’ describes Suvarnagram as an important port-city and also of its direct commercial relations to China, Indonesia (Java) and the Malay Archipelago. [8]
The Chinese traveler Ma Huan (1406) saw Sonargaon as a great commercial city. [3] Hou-Hien (1415) mentions Sonargaon as a fortified walled city and trading center consisting a good number of ponds, paved roads and markets, where all kinds of goods were stored and sold. The muslins produced in Sonargaon, especially the finest muslins known as ‘Khas’, are famous throughout the world. [8] At that time, the production of cotton cultivation in a large area adjacent to Jessore, Khulna, Kushtia, Jhenaidah increased greatly, Dhaka region produced high quality long and fine fiber cotton. Along the banks of the Brahmaputra-Meghna and their tributaries, copious amounts of carpus were grown, which greatly enhanced the textile industry of Suvarnagram.[8]
Suvarnagram, Dumrore, Titvadi, Jangalbari, Kapasia etc. were the main centers of carapace industry in Bengal. [8] It was from Dhaka that the export of muslin spread across the world by sea route, which was considered the most desirable fabric in the world at that time. With the patronage of conch merchants, conch craft and conch furniture making flourished in Bikrampur and Panam Nagar. Bamboo-cane, wood carving, clay, jamdani, nakshikantha, ektara, jute, conch, pottery and oyster products started to be made by skilled artisans.[8]
30 types of cloth were prepared by mixing “muga” and “silk” in Maldah region on the banks of Mahananda river. [8] As Malda was a constantly attacked area, textile artisans of Malda took refuge in Dhaka. Every household in Chandradwip had karpus land, two types of cultivation were ‘voot karpus’ and ‘lowot karpus’.[16]
In Dhaka, this new type of mixed material textile system is commonly known as “Maldahi”. Maldah’s ‘Elachi’ (two-pith equal) and ‘Mashroor’ (Sadar Andarpith Wala) were very popular in Gaurnagar, which added to the fame of Dhaka. The economy of Bengal was strengthened by the improvement of the foreign trade of the merchants, the value of the Bengal currency improved and the use of silver coins denominated by the ‘Bangal’ emperor as a medium of exchange began.[8][16]
Deva Age sculptural style and temple architecture and governance:
If one observes the style of Deva Age idols in depth, it is easily surmised that the modern Hindu idolatry style of present day Bengal started in the Deva Age. In the Sena and Pala period idol styles, the upper part of the body was not covered. This influence is first seen in Deva Yuga sculptures.[13]
Chandicharanaparayan Paramshakta King Danujmardandev made extensive renovations to the Ugratara temple in Phuliya and the Chandimura or Lalmai Chandi temple in Comilla. He built two large Mahakala Shiva Mandirs at Agradwip and Navadwip . In the Navadwip (Nabahatta) region, the Sanatan culture continued to develop into a new culture through the patronage of the Brahmins in various ‘Tolas and Gurukuls’.
Deva Rule & Ramrajjya:
Dhanujmardandev Ramnath Dev wanted to form the Dev Empire as an embodiment of Rama Rajya. As per a number of scholars, Krittivas Ojha wrote Ram Panchali under his inspiration. He dug a lake named Ramsagar dedicated to Lord Ramachandra . During the rule of Devas, many temples were built in the capital Chandradwip. Only the temple of ‘Devi Katyayani’ survives till now.[16]
He built the two famous temples of Barisal, Katyayani and Madangopal temples, and entrusted his friend Chandrasekhar with the task of worshiping these two monasteries.[16]
Hindu Educational & Social Reforms & the literatures of Deva Era:
Kulguru Acharya Padmanabh of Shikharbhum state, Pandit Brihaspati Misra, known as ‘Padachandika’, poet Krittivas Ojha etc. received the patronage of King Danujmardandev at Navadwip . Under patronage of the Brahmins in various ‘Tolas and Gurukul’s tradition revived in Navadwip-Nabahatta region.
At this time Advaita Acharya’s father Kuber Pandit also started living at Navagatm Village in Srihatta.[2]
বঙ্গদেশে শ্রীহট্ট নিকট নবগ্রাম।
‘কুবের পণ্ডিত’ তথা নৃসিংহসন্তান \
কুবের পণ্ডিত ভক্তিপথে মহাধন্য।
কৃষ্ণপাদপদ্ম বিনা না জানয়ে অন্য \
তৈছে তাঁর পত্নী ‘নাভাদেবী’ পতিব্রতা।
জগতের পূজ্যা, যেঁহো অদ্বৈতের মাতা \
(ভক্তিরত্নাকর ৫/২০৪১-৪৩)
The above Lines testifies that Pandit Kuber settled in Shrihatta during the period of Deva Era[8] Kuber pandit was grandson of Narasimha Narial ( minister of Raja Ganesh)[10] after Jadunarayan converted he took shelter in Deva Territory.[2]
Advaita Acharya’s descendants also became feudatory kings under the Tripura kingdom during Mughal rule long after the fall of the Deva Empire.
A Kshatriya dynasty of Suryavanshiya ruled Srihatta for a long time. But they were obliged to pay tribute to the King of Tripura and the King of Assam from time to time.
Digindra Deva, the last king of this dynasty, extended the kingdom to the Brahmaputra. Digindra Deva had no children. Dwarkanatha Goswami, a descendant of Advaita Goswami, was the guru of him .
The king had donated his kingdom to the Guru at the end of his life. Gonsai became the king and brought many Barendra Brahmins from Bangladesh and established them in this state.
After Dwarkanatha, his son Shyamsundar Goswami became the king and severely oppressed the Shaktadigs. At that time Shah Jehan was the Emperor of Delhi and his son Suja was the Subedar of Bengal. Some Shakta Brahmins went to Suja to complain against Shyamsundar, and Suja conquered the kingdom of Srihatta and annexed it to Bengal. Shuja at that time occupied the western part of the Tripura kingdom.Which is now known as Comilla. Fourteen lakh rupees of revenue was earned annually from this newly acquired province.[17]
“বিহার গুণিশেখরঃ শিখরভূমি বাসস্পৃহাৎ
স্ফুবৎসুবতরঙ্গিনী — তটীনবাস পর্যৎসুকঃ ॥
ততো দনুজমর্দন ক্ষিতি পুজ্যপাদঃ ক্রমা
দুবাস নবহট্টকে স কিল পদ্মনাভ কৃতীঃ ॥”‘
লঘু বৈষ্ণবতোষণী। [12][11]
Kulguru Acharya Padmanabh of Shikharbhum state, Pandit Brihaspati Misra known as ‘Padachandika’, poet Krittivas Ojha etc. received the patronage of King Danujmardandev at Navahatta.[12]
“পূৰ্ব্বেতে আছিল বেদানুজ মহারাজা ।
তাঁহার পাত্র আছিল নরসিংহ ওঝা।
বঙ্গদেশে প্রমাদ হইল সকলে অস্থির।
বঙ্গদেশ ছাড়ি ওঝা আইল গঙ্গাতীর ”[5]
Here Vedanuj is referred to as Ganesha Narayan or the Deva dynasty Danujmardan.Perhaps here Krittivasa meant that he first sought the shelter of King Ganesha. Later he was favored by King Danujmardan in Bangadesh . (Chandradwip area This area is referred to as Bangal in many places.)[8]
Later, many more literatures were written with the encouragement of this dynasty. The ancient poet Vijay Gupta, resident of Phullashree, wrote Padma Purana in 1406 (15 th century). At that time he wrote-
পশ্চিমে ঘাঘর নদী পূর্বে ঘণ্টেম্বর,
মধ্যে ফুল্যশ্রী গ্রাম পন্ডিত নগর ।[9][16][15]
The system of governance of the Deva Empire:
During the Middle Ages, Sayana, the Vedic scholar, guided two brothers Harihara and Bukka to build the Vijaynagara Empire . In Bengal, this was done by Chandrasekhar Bhattacharya who ordered his disciple Danujmardana to built the capital of Deva Empire in Chandradwip.[7] king Danuj named this kingdom after his Guru and started to rule .[16]
Capital:
There are various legends about the origin of Chandradwip. The Sanskrit book called “Bhavishya Brahmakhanda” says – all the lands here were watery; That water is dried up by the heat Mahadeva’s forehead & by his burning fire. This island was drenched in the rays of the moon on the head of the moon; That is why it was named Chandradwip. namely–
চন্দ্রদ্বীপে পূরা বিপ্রাস্তোয় পূর্ণা চ ভূমিকা ৷
মহাদেব প্রসাদেন শুষ্কা ভূতাহি মৃত্তিকা ৷৷
ললাটানল দাহেন বিলীনং হি জলং বহু।
স্থালী ভূতা চ পৃথিবী শৈবালাং সুখকারিকা |
মহাদেবং মৃড়ানীচ পপ্চ্ছ সাদরান্বিতা ।
পূর্ণচন্দ্রং বিহায়ৈবধাৰ্য্যতে শশিনঃ কলা ৷
কিং নিমিত্তং ত্বয়া ধার্য্যং কিং সুখং জায়তে ততঃ ।[16]
In the Sanskrit geographical book called “Dvigvijay Prakash Bibriti ,
(দ্বিগ্বিজয় প্রকাশ বিবৃতি)”, the description of Bakla, the capital of
Chandradwip, is described in the place-
মেঘ্নানদী পূৰ্ব্বভাগে পশ্চিমে চ বলেশ্বরী।
ইন্দিলপুরী যক্ষ সীমা দক্ষিণে সুন্দরং বনং ।।
ত্রিংশৎ যোজন বিমিতো সোম কাস্তাদ্রি বঞ্চিতঃ।
সোমকান্তে চ দ্বৌ দেশৌ বিখ্যাতো নৃপশেখরঃ ।।
জম্বুদ্বীপ পশ্চিমে চ স্ত্রীকারোহি তথোত্তরে ।
বাকলাখ্যো মধ্যভাগে রাজধানী সমীপতঃ ।।[16]
Meghna river in the east, Baleshwari river in the west, Idilpur in the north, Sundarbans in the south; Giri-deprived Somkast in it. Its amount is 30 yojanas. There are two towns within Somkast;— Jambudvip in the west, Strikar in the north, Bakla in the central part.[16]
According to Bhavishya Brahmakhanda (ভবিষ্য ব্রহ্মখন্ড) Danujmardan ( দনুজমর্দনদেব ) Established many cities & Janapads like Brahmapur, Baranasipur, sahyasal, kumudgram, kotali, kakini, kanthasthali, benubati, dambur, chedinagar,jadavpur, betragram, teligram, dhulgram, kakulgram, suragram, madhab pasha, pingalgram .He excavated Ramsagar and Sukhsagar to the west and east of Capital Bakla .[16] The king sat in the dining room, the 4 kulins used to saton his four sides, followed by theCapitalbs, followed by ‘Madhyalyas’ and ‘Mahapatras’.[17]
Army:
According to Ain-i-Akbari, the Bakla king had 15000 foot soldiers, and 320 war-elephants.At the time of Danujmardan, it is estimated that the army numbered more than 1 lakh.[16][4]
Taluk System- The Deva Dynasty used to collect tax through Taluk System. [16]The part where the Council of Ministers used to dine with the king in Rajpuri was called ‘Chilchhatra’.[14]
Governing Body:
The Kulins invited by the king would dictate who should sit to the right or left of the king during the meal by looking at the Kulagrantha. Danujmardan created two positions among Brahmins, Kulacharya or Ghatak and Sarnamtya to protect the purity of the Koulinya[16][15] .He granted Brahmamottara lands to the Kulacharyas at Idilpur. The king used to write letters to Brahmins with the text ‘Namskara Nivedananch Visesh ‘‘নমস্কারা নিবেদনঞ্চ বিশেষ’’ and to nobles ‘Sanugraha Patramidang’ (‘সানুগ্রহ পত্রমিদং’ )etc. A Brahmin had to write to king ‘Ardhan Sri’/‘আর্দ্দান শ্রী’ like this. [16][14]
After the fall of the Sen dynasty, the Vikrampur-centered Kaulinya system collapsed. and the fate of ‘Bikrampur Samaj’ proved to be the same also. The Deva kings formed ‘Bakla Samaj’ to re-establish that social system to a large extent. This group was formed by the Central Kayastha Samaj of Chandradwip.It is clearly written here that the society/organization reported directly to the king.[14]
Source:
1.শ্রীহট্টের ইতিবৃত্ত উত্তরাংশ Vol5 pp 147
2.Tamonashchandra Das Gupta (1933):- University of Calcutta: Journal of the Department of Letters. Calcutta University Press. XXIII pp-7-8
3. Ray, Haraprasad (1997). Sino-Indian Commercial and Diplomatic Relations. The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies. Vol. 37. Calcutta: Institute of Historical Studies. p. 114
4.Ain-e-Akbari
5.ঢাকার ইতিহাস যতীন্দ্রমোহন রায় Vol 2 pp 430-434-437
6. Pravasi (Vol II,Part 35) pp 761
7. History of Jessore Khulna Satishchandra Mitra Vol 1 , Pp 139-40,281-82,403
8.History of Gaur by Rajinikanth Chakraborty
9.History of Vikrampur – Volume I – Jogindra nath Gupta pp 323,324,326
10. অদ্বৈত প্রকাশ, chapter -1 pp 3
11.History of Burdwan Vol2 – Yageswar Choudhury , In 1556-8 pp 77-78
12) Purulia Tarundev Bhattacharya 127 p
13) জটার দেউল DeviShankar Middya
14)Siraj Uddin Ahmed. History of Barisal Division (Volume 1). Bhaskar Publications, Dhaka. 2010
15. সুন্দর বনের ইতিহাস মোঃ আব্দুল জলিল pp 239
16.চন্দ্রদ্বীপের ইতিহাস [সংস্করণ-১] | শ্রী বৃন্দাবন চন্দ্র পুততুন্ড pp 5-6,18,22,25,41,79-81,94-95,122,125
17. বাংলার বারোভূঁইয়া ও মহারাজ প্রতাপাদিত্য কমল চৌধুরী pp 24-25, 47-348
(Sri Sarkar is B. Tech in Ceramic Technology)
