Gosanimari

One cowherd young boy who used to take his cows in the fields and invariably he used to be unmindful about the cows where they go. So what used to happen was cows entered into a Brahmin family’s paddy fields nearby and crops were destroyed. Everyone in that village used to be scared about this Brahmin because he used to be famous astrologer and known to be angry man. That cowherd used to spend time in playing and sleeping under tree. And almost every day these cows destructing crops were going on. That Brahmin was furious one day and called this cowherd boy who was so irresponsible and he wanted to punish that boy so that he takes care his cows. That young boy was nervous and went to the brahmin with a sorry face, that Brahmin when looked at this boys face realized its not a simple boy, he has royal symbol on his forehead! This story is about Niladhwaj, who was that young boy and became king of Kamtapur as first king of Khen dynasty.

This Khen dynasty was in Kamtapur, Eastern part of India in North Bengal, where today is Coochbehar, some part of Assam and some part of Bangladesh. This dynasty ruled about 75 years from 1440, and during this time three generation of Khen Kings who ruled. Lot of research happens on Khens, Buchanon report said probably Khen came from Tripura where other history said they came from Bhutan, my grandma said they are dependent of Sen Royal family. This Khens used to be artistic, advanced in agriculture compared to other local people.

I got interested in Khen dynasty and more to know about them when I visited Gosanimari. Its my cousin sister (my own masis daughter) and we are same age and carry lovely memories from our childhood. She is married to a very caring person was from Gosanimari. Her husband recently has passed away and she stays with her young daughter in that big family. I visited her, spent time and that time I again went to see Gosanimari Rajpat, which is very close by from her house. Gosanimari is in Coochbehar, its around 36 km from Coochbehar district and around 15 km from Dinhata.

Archelogy of India team is working for years for excavation of this place and so far they found a well settled Kings settlement. It’s a big little hilly ground where this rajpat is excavated partially. Complete ground is surrounded by a wall which is made by <>. the place which is escavated there lot of interesting things are discovered as different shapes of potteries, cooking materials which are made of stones, Shivlinga and some artistic statues where different male and female bodies are sculptured. Some coins of Muslim time period and East India Company are also there. I felt excited to see so historical place and forgotten past stories when my guide was my little niece who is brought up in this place only. There is a big well, its dry now but construction is intact. Suddenly it brought memory of stories of Mahenjodaro where a big place for bath was found. Experts say there is evidences of Buddhism found.

During Khen dynasty actually Vaishnav and worshipping Vishnu started in 1400 era. I also visited Kamteswari temple which is a age old temple from 1600 era which is 2-3 km from Gosanimari Rajpat. Kamteswari original temple was destructed over the time and some story said while Muslims tried to destruct this temple the Goddess hide under the river. During 1665, when King Pran Narayan was ruling Coochbehar, one day some fishermen found a big heavy weight thing in their fishing net which they could not bring up from the water. King saw adream that devi has come in that water and next day King sent his elephants and people to bring devi from water and he made this beautiful temple of Kamteswari. Deities inside the temple are two Shiva lingas, an idol of Brahma, a Shalagram/ Narayan shila, an idol of Gopal made of ashtadhatu (alloy of eight metals) and a bronze idol of Surya. Within the temple there are also small two temples of Shiva are there. Still one question was haunting me was where from this Gosanimari name originated. There are different opinions, During King Kanteswar’s time he spread worshippig Goddess Chandi and She used to be worshipped almost very home.

People say ‘ghar-gosani’ name started from there and later Gosanimari originates. Another theory said while Husen Sah invaded Gosanimari after King Kanteswar, that time lot of ‘gosai’ (gurus) who worshipped Vishnu were killed, probably from there this Gosanimari came. wherever the name came from I was thrilled to see a place where Khen and later Koch kings ruled and worshipped the same God and Godesses.

From 1200 when Muslim invasion started in India there was huge lot of change in socio political situation of the country. When muslims attacked Kamrup (that time part of Asam, Coochbehar and Bangladesh), one king SondhyaRay shifted the kingdom to Kamtapur, a few miles away from present day Coochbehar. This current Gosanimari was probably that new kingdom. King Mriganka who did not have children and its heard that’s the time that young cowherd boy was discovered and he was made king. This King Niladhwaj established Khen dynasty where capital was Gosanimari. After his death, his son Chakradhwaj became the king and last king of Khen was King Nilambor. This King was very powerful and expanded his kingdom, he made good roads, forts and big houses. This king is known as Kanteswar as well. History says during this time there some dissatisfaction among common people etc also started. King Kantewars daughter got married to one Chandan, cousin brother of King Vishya Singha (who established famous Narayan dynasty of Coochbehar).

There is a story of King Kanteswar which probably accelerates this Khen dynasty to end. King Kanteswar discovered that there is extramarital affair happening between his most favourite youngest queen and his dear Minster’s Sachipatra’s son. He was furious and could not control his anger. Soon he killed that lover and what he did was pathetic. He invited Sachipatra in a lunch and offered him flesh of his own son! This incident terribly hurt this minister and he left the Kingdon and went to Gaur where Muslim King was rulling. Its heard that Muslims became powerful as this minster told all internal matter to them and it became easy for Husen Shah to defeat the Khens.

While I went to bank of Torsa which very close by here, and spend some time there. My little guide was talking about her excitement about this place, how much she loves the people here who are very dear ones. I was thinking about excavation which is still happening and may be many more discoveries from long past history is waiting for us.