Moidams

GS Paper I Art and Culture

The Mound-Burial System of Ahom Dynasty Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as India’s 43rd Entry

About: The Moidams are burial grounds for Tai Ahom kings and queens. They house the mortal remains of Ahom royalty along with cherished objects.
Word Origin: The term ‘Moidam’ comes from the Tai words Phrang-Mai-Dam or Mai-Tam. “Phrang-Mai” means “to bury” and “Dam” refers to “the spirit of the dead.”
Location: The Moidams are located in Charaideo district, Assam, serving as the resting place for royal families.
Structure: Moidams are hemispherical burial mounds of varying sizes, reflecting the deceased’s status. They consist of a chamber, an earthen mound with a brick structure for offerings, and an octagonal boundary wall with an arched gateway facing west.
- Smaller Moidams may lack some features.
Comparable to: Moidams are similar to the pyramids of Egypt.
Practice Adopted From: After the 18th century, Ahom rulers adopted Hindu cremation methods and began entombing the cremated remains in Moidams at Charaideo.
Practice Ceased: The burial practice ended when Tai Ahom rulers converted to other religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Factors Affecting the Property: Heavy rainfall, soil erosion, and vegetation growth pose challenges to the preservation and maintenance of Moidams.
Cultural Significance: The Ahom Moidams are a remarkable example of a Tai-Ahom necropolis, illustrating their funerary traditions and cosmologies.

About: The Ahom Dynasty (1228–1826), also known as the Kingdom of Assam in mediaeval times, was a prominent kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam.
Control: It remained sovereign for nearly 600 years and effectively resisted Mughal expansion into North-East India.
- The dynasty established control over the Brahmaputra valley and had a significant impact on the region’s political and social life.
Background: Founded by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince from Mong Mao who crossed the Patkai Mountains into Assam, the dynasty is commonly referred to as the Ahom kingdom in colonial and later periods.
- However, it was a multi-ethnic kingdom, with Ahom people constituting less than 10% of the population by the end of its reign.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

About: A World Heritage site is a landmark or area granted legal protection under an international convention managed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Designated By: UNESCO designates these sites for their cultural, historical, scientific, or other significant values.
Backed By: This designation is supported by the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, established by UNESCO in 1972.
Tentative List: Countries identify sites with “outstanding universal value” for potential inclusion on the World Heritage List. This list is published by the World Heritage Centre.

Must Read
UPSC Daily Editorials	UPSC Daily Current Affairs
Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store	Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store
Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store	UPSC Test Series 2024
Daily Current Affairs Quiz	Daily Main Answer Writing
Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store