View source for Moidam

{{short description|Tumuli of the Ahom Kingdom}}
{{distinguish|Maidan}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| WHS         =Moidam
|Official_name= Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty
|image=Charaideo_Maidam_of_Ahom_Kings_at_Charaideo_in_Sivasagar,_Assam_4.jpg
|caption=Royal maidam at [[Charaideo]], 2009
|Location=[[Assam]]
|Type=Cultural|Criteria=(iii) (iv)|year=2024|ID=1711}}

'''Frang-Mai-Dam''' or '''Moidam''' for short ([[Ahom language|Ahom]]:𑜉𑜩𑜓𑜝𑜪; meaning: Burial of the dead) is a traditional [[tumulus]] of the [[Ahom religion]].<ref name="gohain">{{cite book | title=Tai-ahom Janagosthi Aru Tai Parampara Ed. 1st| publisher=| author=Gohain, Dr. BK| year=2009| url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.452116/page/n298/mode/1up| pages=283}}</ref> The royal {{Transliteration|as|maidams}} of [[Charaideo]] are listed as [[UNESCO world heritage site]].<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ World Heritage List]</ref><ref>Kalita 2023, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/unesco-icomos-expert-arrives-at-assams-charaideo-district-vying-for-world-heritage-status/articleshow/104246759.cms Times of India, Unesco ICOMOS Expert Arrives At Assam's Charaideo District, Vying For World Heritage Status]</ref> Today, the people of the four clans namely Mo-Hung, Mo-Cham, Chaodang and Mo-Plong follow the tomb tradition of [[Ahom religion]].<ref name="gohain"/>

Structurally, a ''maidam'' consists of vaults with one or more chambers.<ref>{{Harvcol|ASI|2007}}</ref> The vaults have a domical superstructure that is covered by a hemispherical earthen mound that rises high above the ground with an open pavilion at the peak called ''chow chali''. An octagonal dwarf wall encloses the entire ''maidam''.

Burial is the predominant funeral rite of the [[Tai people]], to which the [[Ahom people]] originally belonged. This is opposed to the Hindu system of [[cremation]].  After the Ahom kings adopted Hinduism, they chose to bury the ashes in mounds after cremation.

The [[Ahom people|Ahom]] community in Assam consider the excavation as an affront to their tradition, because the {{Transliteration|as|maidams}} are associated with the Ahom ancestor worship and the festival of [[Me-Dam-Me-Phi]].
[[File:Charaideo_Moidams_,Assam.jpg|thumb|Charaideo Maidams - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Assam]]

==Etymology==
The word Moidam is shorter form of  Tai-Ahom word Phrang-Mai-Dam.<ref name="Brochure on moidams at Charaideo">[https://sivasagar.assam.gov.in/document/brochure Brochure on moidams at Charaideo], Sivasagar, Government of Assam p. 04</ref> Phrang-Mai means to bury and Dam means dead ones or Ancestral Spirit.<ref name="Brochure on moidams at Charaideo"/>

== Maidams ==
Inside the Maidams there are underground vaults or chambers for different purposes, one for keeping the body of the departed king with all the necessary things for afterlife, and others for the servants, care-takers, horses, and elephants.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} The present height of Maidams is reduced due to various natural calamities. In earlier times at least 10 living persons were buried alive with the departed king to take care of him in afterlife, however this custom was abolished by [[Rudra Singha]].
[[File:Charaideo Maidam of Ahom Kings at Charaideo in Sivasagar, Assam 1.jpg|thumb|Maidam no 1, unidentified maidam of an Ahom king, 265 meter in diameter]]
Height of the Maidams depended on the power of the kings, most of the Maidams were not designated by the name of kings, so most remain unidentified, except the Maidams of [[Gadadhar Singha]] and [[Rudra Singha]]. Most of the big Maidams belongs from the late 17th century and 18th century, earlier most of the Maidam chambers were built using solid wood poles and beams, it got replaced with bricks and stones since Gadadhar Singha and his successors.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} As a custom only the people of Gharphaliya and Lakhurakhan clans were permitted to bury the dead bodies of Kings and queens. There was a specified officer called Chang-Rung Phukan responsible for construction of Maidams. Chang-Rung Phukan was also the Chief-architect of Ahom kingdom.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |first= |date=2014 |title=Maidams at Charaideo |url=http://asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/publication/Chaaideo%20maidams.pdf }}</ref> Officers called Maidam Phukans and guards called Maidamiya were appointed to protect and maintain the Maidams.

The structural construction and the process of royal burials are explained in historical documents called ''Chang-Rung Phukanor [[Buranji]]'', which detail even the articles that were buried. Later excavations under the Archaeological Survey of India found some of the {{Transliteration|as|maidams}} previously defiled,<ref>{{Harvcol|Dutta|Das|2003}}</ref> with the articles mentioned in the Buranji missing. Many of the {{Transliteration|as|maidams}} were excavated and looted, most famously under the Mughal general [[Mir Jumla II|Mir Jumla]] who had occupied [[Garhgaon]] briefly in the 17th century, and by the British after 1826.

In the past, when any king or a warrior died in a battle, their severed heads were brought and buried here. When the [[Chutia kingdom]] fell to the Ahoms in 1524, the heads of the Chutia king and his son were also buried in the tomb of Charaideo.<ref>Barua, G.C, "Ahom Buranji, p. 57</ref>
[[File:Charaideo_Moidams_image_,Assam.jpg|thumb|Charaideo Maidams, Assam]]

== Excavation ==
[[File:Maidam's of Ahom Rulers.jpg|thumb|Maidam No.2 excavated between 2000 and 2002, it can either be said as the Maidam of [[Pramatta Singha]] or [[Rajeswar Singha]] according to the dating.]]
Being famous for its vault treasure Maidams also attracted many plunderers from Mughals, British to even local people, who have plundered the maidams multiple times. The earliest sketch of Maidam was made by 1848 by Serjeant C.Clayton who superintendent an excavation of a Maidam in the 1840s.

In 2000–02, [[Archaeological Survey of India]], Guwahati circle excavated Maidam No. 2. It retained the characteristics of a full-fledged Maidam. The Maidam vault and covering earthen mound was made out of burned bricks, and encircled by an octagonal boundary wall. There was a hole at the roof of the Maidam indicating it was robbed earlier. The arched-shaped door of the maidam was found on the western side after it was excavated, which was originally covered with bricks and stone masonry. Though already robbed it still yielded several artefacts including skeleton remains of 5 individuals, ivory decorative pieces, several pieces of wooden objects (including a [[Xorai]] designed at the shape of a pillar), an ivory panel depicting royal Ahom insignia,  carvings of elephants, peacock and floral motifs etc. The exact dating of this Maidam couldn't be done, but it is estimated at the first half of the 18th century.<ref name=":1" />

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gogoi |first1=Padmeswar |title=Tai-Ahom Religion and Customs |date=1976 |publisher=Publication Board, Gauhati, Assam |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.99476}}
* {{cite web
  | last = ASI
  | title = Group of Maidams, Charaideo
  | publisher = Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India
  | url = http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_assam_maidams.asp
  | year = 2007
  | accessdate = 2007-11-30
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090410124830/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_assam_maidams.asp
  | archive-date = 2009-04-10
  | url-status = dead
  }}
* {{cite news 
  | last1 = Dutta
  | first1 = Pullock
  | last2 = Das
  | first2 = Ripunjay
  | title = Bounty hunters beat ASI to tombs
  | publisher = [[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]]
  | date = 3 January 2003
  | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030301/asp/northeast/story_1720984.asp
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525195131/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030301/asp/northeast/story_1720984.asp
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = May 25, 2011
  | accessdate = 2007-12-06 }}
* {{cite news 
  | last = Das
  | first = Ripunjay
  | title = Saving Ahom kingdom - Local youths push for Unesco tag to protect Charaideo
  | publisher = [[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]]
  | date = 2006-01-19
  | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060119/asp/northeast/story_5737072.asp
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525195155/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060119/asp/northeast/story_5737072.asp
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = May 25, 2011
  | accessdate = 2007-12-06 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Terweil |first1=B J |title=Tai Funeral Customs: Towards a Reconstruction of Archaic-Tai Ceremonies |journal=Anthropos |volume=74 |number=3/4 |year=1979 |pages=393–432 |jstor=40460011}}
* {{cite book | last=Choudhury | first=Dr Satabdi Roy | title=Amazing Assam | publisher=BFC Publications | date=2022-03-26 | isbn=978-93-5509-778-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-URmEAAAQBAJ}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|𑜉𑜩𑜓𑜝𑜪}}
{{commons category|Group of four Maidams}}
* [http://dibrugarh.nic.in/imptplace.html#Barbarua%20Maidam Moidams in Dibrugarh District, Assam]
* [http://jorhat.gov.in/places_of_interest.htm#lachit Lachit Moidam] The Moidam of [[Lachit Borphukan]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100917210839/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060804/asp/guwahati/story_6568023.asp Multi-crore rupee project to give facelift to Ahom maidams] ''The Telegraph'', August 4, 2006.

{{World Heritage Sites in India}}

[[Category:Monuments and memorials in India]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]
[[Category:Tumuli]]
[[Category:Tai history]]
[[Category:Pyramids in Asia]]
[[Category:Tombs in India]]
[[Category:Tourism in India]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in India]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Assam]]