Moiramora Doul or Moiramora Than is a historical site in India located at Khamtighat in the Dibrugarh district of Mancotta Mouza. It was constructed during the rule of Chutia kings. At present, only the ruins of the Moiramora Doul or Than remain, with the Moiramora Satra now standing at the site. The ruins are located on the banks of the Dihing River at Khamtighat. The site preserves a remarkable collection of stone sculptures depicting a variety of postures and expressions, dating from the early to late medieval period. The Archaeological Department of the Government of Assam has recognized the Moiramora Doul as a State Protected Monument.
History Early period The original stone temple at the site of Moimora can be stylistically dated to the early medieval period (9th-10th century). In later centuries, this structure was replaced by a brick temple. Thermoluminescence (TL) dating of bricks from the site places its construction in the 13th–14th century, when the region was ruled by the Chutia kingdom,"We find the earliest historical records of the valley after the coming of the Ahoms as the Buranjis or the Ahom chronicles mention about the conflict between the Ahoms and the Chutiyas on the bank of the river Dihing. The Satsari Asom Buranji refers to the Ahom-Chutiya conflict over the matter of fishing rights in the river Dihing, which ultimately led to the annexation of the entire Chutiya territory upto Sadiya by the Ahoms during the reign of Suhungmung (p.56). However, it was only in the second decade of the sixteenth century, the area was brought under the control of the Ahoms and before that the whole territory of present-day Dibrugarh was under the Chutiyas."Bhuyan, S.K., Satsari Buranji, p.56Assam Buranji(SM), p.9, “Dihing river formed the borders between Chutia and Ahom territories. North of the river was the Chutia kingdom while on the South, was the Ahom kingdom.” indicating that the temple was likely constructed under Chutia royal patronage. Studies of palaeochannels in Upper Assam based on satellite imagery suggest that during the medieval period the Dihing River followed a more southerly course away from the site, through the Sibsagar district"About 250 years ago the Dihing (present Burhi-Dihing) flowed westerly through Sivsagar district to meet the Brahmaputra at the extreme western point of Majuli island (Sarma and Goswami, 2007)." and likely joined the Disang River near Bakata.Sarma, J.N, A study on palaeochannels from satellite imagery in a part of Upper Assam, p.77-78 Assamese Buranji chronicles describe Bakata as being situated on the banks of the Dihing River, a view also noted by historian Edward Gait in his account of Assam’s historical geography.
Satra period
Bor Jadumoni, a prominent disciple of Gopal Ata of the Kaal-Sanghati Satra of Ekasarana Dharma founded by Srimanta Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhavdeva, established the Moiramora Satra at Kalaulwa on the banks of the Burhi Dihing River. During the reign of the Ahom king Sujinphaa (1675–77 AD), both the king and the premier Atan Burhagohain converted to Nam Dharma and became disciples of the Moiramora Satra. The satra and its pond were constructed under Ahom patronage. An earthquake and subsequent flooding and erosion by the Burhi Dihing caused the collapse of the satra, which was later repaired by the Ahom kings in the 17th–18th century.
The satra was later damaged by natural disasters and abandoned due to internal uprisings in the Ahom kingdom and the third Burmese invasion. It was subsequently re-established at Kujibali in Hahchara Mouza of Sivasagar district. After the Burhi Dihing changed its course, ruins of the original satra were rediscovered by later settlers, who built a Than Ghar for worship. The family of the satradhikar later re-established the satra at the site, continuing the propagation of Nam Dharma.
Description In 2010, the Government of Assam initiated a plan by the Archaeological Department to conserve and enhance the Moiramora Than. The archaeological department, along with the Dibrugarh district administration and local youth organisations, constructed a fence, a concrete museum, and an altar covering around 7 bighas of land. The site contains 13 rock-cut idols and fragments of several idols preserved in the gardens and local galleries of the Moiramora Than archaeological site. Excavations conducted in 2018 revealed evidence of two distinct periods of cultural civilisation. The museum showcases altars from ancient temples made of brick, copper coins from the British era, silver flowers, stone sculptures, and clay bricks of various shapes. Notably, the granite stone sculptures found here date back to the 8th to 9th centuries CE, while the sandstone sculptures are relatively more recent.
Location The Moiramora Daul is situated on the banks of the Burhidihing River, approximately two kilometres west of Khamati Ghat in Mancotta Mouza of Dibrugarh district. It is well connected to Dibrugarh city, with the Dibrugarh railway station around 20 km away and the Dibrugarh Airport about 27 km away. The Moiramora Satra is situated in the former Langeri Mouza, which is now known as "Jakai Napam Than Gaon."
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