Mahamanikya

For the ruler of Tripura, see Maha Manikya.

Mahamanikya (also Manikpha) was a Kachari king of Barāha[1][2] who ruled parts of Assam in the 14th-15th century. At the time, his kingdom centered on present-day Nagaon, Morigoan and Hojai districts. At his behest and patronage Madhava Kandali translated the Sanskrit epic Ramayana to Assamese verse called Saptakanda Ramayana.[2] Some historians suggest that he was also involved—along with Indranarayana of Kamata kingdom and Baro-Bhuyans—in resisting Sikandar Shah's invasion into the Brahmaputra valley around 1362.[3]

  1. ^ (Bez 2012:5)The poet himself mentions in Lankākānda that he composed the Rāmāyana at the behest of Mahamanikya, Barāha Rājā.
  2. ^ a b Sharma (2006), p. 4: "It may also be noted that the Assamese rendition of the Ramayana (next only to Kampana’s Tamil to be rendered to a modern Indian language) by Madhab Kandali in the 14th century was also achieved under the patronage of Borahi-Kachari king Manikpha (sanskritized as Mahamanikya)."
  3. ^ (Sarkar 1992:43)