Indian Antiquary Vol 25

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 63

MARCH, 1896.)
ASSAMESE LITERATURE.
Bista Hari Akhyan. Brahma Vaivarta Purán, by Shâbhanath ("Sobhânáth). Dharma Purán. Bamana Puran. Utkal Khanda. Markandeya Purán. Itihús Purán. Bhavishyat Purdn, by Sharobhanma Bhatacharjya. Náradiya Puran. Brahmanda Purán, by Ramgovinda. Vishnu Puran, by Ramgovinda. Káliká Purán, by Brajanath. Karma Purán. ddhyátmá Rámáyan. Harisandra (Harichandra) Akhyán.
History:
In no department of literature do the Assamese appear to have been more successful than in history. Remnants of historical works that treat of the times of Bhagadatta, & contemporary with Râjâ Yudhishthira, are still in existence. The chains of historical events, however, since the last 600 years, has been carefully preserved, and their authenticity can be relied upon. It would be difficult to name all the historical works, or as they are styled by the Assamese, Baranjis. They are numerous and voluminous. According to the customs of the country, a knowledge of the Búrañjis was an indispensable qualification in an Assamese gentleman; and every family of distinction, and especially the Government and the public officers, kept the most minate records of historical events prepared by the learned Pandits of the country.
These histories were therefore, very namerous, and generally agree with each other in their relation of events. A large number is still to be found in the possession of the ancient families.
In 1829, Haliram Dhekial Phukan printed and published, in the Bengali language, a brief compilation from the Barañjis ; and in 1844, Rådhânâth Bor Barua and Kasinath Tâmůli Phukan published at the American Mission Press, a somewhat more comprehensive work on the history of Assam in Assamese. A portion of the History of Kåmrüp has been also since published by the Missionaries in the Orunudoi (Arunodaya) Magazine.
Medicine. The Hindu system of medicine was professionally studied in Assam by numerous families of distinction; and many of the officers in the courts of the Ahom kings were professed physicians. Some knowledge of medicine constituted one of the chief accomplishments of a well-bred Assamese gentleman. The learned physicians translated into plain Assamese almost all the principal Sanskțit works on medicine, as they were known in Assam. The Sanskrit Medical Dictionary, the Chikitsárnada and the Nidán have been rendered into Assamese. In fact, the text books of learned physicians were often translated into their mother tongue for the use of beginners as a preparatory course for entering into the study of the original works. We have seen several works of the kind, though we cannot now quote their names from memory.
Dramatic Works. The Assamese seem to be zealously devoted to theatrical amusements; and scarcely & month passes in the villages in which some of the dramas composed in Assamese are not performed in the public Namghors. The dramatic works having for their subjects chiefly some