Early History of Kamrupa: From the Earliest Times to the End of the Sixteenth Century

The present temple was rebuilt by Naranarayan, one of the illustrious kings of the Koc kingdom, in 1565 A.D. How the temple came to be reconstructed is narrated in the following story. When the Koc King Naranarayan invaded Bengal, the Koc army suffered serious reverses in which the brother of Naranarayan, Chilarai, was taken prisoner by the Sultan of Bengal. It is stated that while Chilarai was sleeping in the prison cell, he dreamt a dream in which he was told that his capture was due to the fact that he entered into war with the Sultan of Bengal without rebuilding the ruined temple of Kamakhya. He was assured that lie would be released soon when he cured the mother of the Sultan who would be bitten by a snake. The dream became true. The mother of the Sultan was bitten by a snake and all the frantic efforts made by the Sultan to save her life were of no avail. At last he sent for Chilaraj who cured her of the snake bite. The Sultan was immensely pleased and ordered his release.

After his release from prison, Chilarai set him self to the task of the reconstruction of the Kamakhya temple. He deputed his general Megha Mukudum for this work and the shrine was rebuilt in about six months’ time. It is said that as the stone work collapsed, it was built by bricks that were baked in ghee. Both the brothers, Naranarayan and Chilarai, took part in the dedicatory ceremony of the temple and according to the Vamsavali the king offered three lakhs of hom and one lakh sacrifices and dedicated to the temple the families of 140 paiks, for service in the temple. Besides giving lands, fisheries, musical instruments, utensils of gold, silver, copper and bell-metal, mace throne and white chameri, the King gave as shebaits or paiks, families of Brahmanas, Ganaks, Nats, Bhats, Tantis, Malis, Kamars, Kahars, Barhoi (carpenters), washermen, oil-pressers, sweet-meat makers, gold smiths, potters, leather workers, fishermen and sea vengers."19 King Naranarayan also caused the statues of himself and his brother, Chilarai, to be engraved inside the temple. These statues are still seen inside the Kamakhya temple.