Ancient Assam holds a fascinating place in the history of the Indian subcontinent. The region was historically known as Pragjyotishpura and later as the Kamarupa Kingdom. Pragjyotishpura finds mention in the great Indian epics like the Mahabharata and various Puranas. According to mythology, the kingdom was founded by the demon king Narakasura and later ruled by his son Bhagadatta, who participated in the Kurukshetra war on the side of the Kauravas. The city of Pragjyotishpura served as the capital of this ancient kingdom. It is believed to be located near the present-day city of Guwahati in Assam.
The Kamarupa Kingdom emerged as a powerful historical entity during the 4th century AD under the Varman dynasty. Pushyavarman is regarded as the founder of the Varman dynasty and the first historical ruler of Kamarupa. The kingdom extended across a vast territory covering present-day Assam, North Bengal, parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh. Three major dynasties ruled Kamarupa — the Varman dynasty, the Mlechchha dynasty, and the Pala dynasty of Kamarupa (different from the Pala dynasty of Bengal). The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited the court of King Bhaskaravarman in the 7th century AD and left detailed accounts about the kingdom. Bhaskaravarman was a contemporary and ally of Emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj. The Kamarupa Kingdom lasted until the 12th century AD before it fragmented into smaller kingdoms. The Kamarupa Kingdom made remarkable contributions to art, religion, literature, and architecture. The region was an important center for Tantric Buddhism and Shaivism. Ancient inscriptions like the Nidhanpur Copper Plate and the Dubi Copper Plate provide valuable historical information about the rulers and administration of Kamarupa.
30 MCQs on Ancient Assam (Pragjyotishpura and Kamarupa Kingdom) – History of Assam
Q1. What was the ancient name of the region that is now known as Assam?
A) Magadha
B) Pragjyotishpura
C) Vaishali
D) Gandhara
Q2. According to Indian mythology, who founded the kingdom of Pragjyotishpura?
A) Bhagadatta
B) Banasura
C) Narakasura
D) Pushyavarman
Q3. In which Indian epic does the kingdom of Pragjyotishpura find a prominent mention?
A) Ramayana only
B) Mahabharata
C) Arthashastra
D) Vedas only
Q4. King Bhagadatta of Pragjyotishpura fought in the Kurukshetra war on whose side?
A) Pandavas
B) Kauravas
C) He remained neutral
D) He fought independently
Q5. The ancient city of Pragjyotishpura is believed to be located near which modern city?
A) Tezpur
B) Dibrugarh
C) Guwahati
D) Jorhat
Q6. Who is regarded as the founder of the Varman dynasty and the first historical ruler of the Kamarupa Kingdom?
A) Bhaskaravarman
B) Pushyavarman
C) Mahendravarman
D) Narayanvarman
Q7. During which century did the Kamarupa Kingdom emerge as a historical entity?
A) 2nd century AD
B) 3rd century AD
C) 4th century AD
D) 6th century AD
Q8. How many major dynasties ruled over the Kamarupa Kingdom?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
Q9. Which of the following was NOT one of the ruling dynasties of the Kamarupa Kingdom?
A) Varman dynasty
B) Mlechchha dynasty
C) Pala dynasty of Kamarupa
D) Gupta dynasty
Q10. Which famous Chinese traveler visited the Kamarupa Kingdom in the 7th century AD?
A) Fa-Hien
B) I-Tsing
C) Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
D) Marco Polo
Q11. Hiuen Tsang visited the court of which Kamarupa king?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Bhaskaravarman
C) Dharmapala
D) Gopala
Q12. King Bhaskaravarman was a contemporary and ally of which North Indian emperor?
A) Samudragupta
B) Chandragupta II
C) Harshavardhana
D) Ashoka
Q13. The Kamarupa Kingdom lasted until approximately which century?
A) 8th century AD
B) 10th century AD
C) 12th century AD
D) 14th century AD
Q14. Which copper plate inscription provides valuable historical information about the Kamarupa rulers?
A) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B) Nidhanpur Copper Plate
C) Aihole Inscription
D) Junagarh Inscription
Q15. The Nidhanpur Copper Plate inscription was issued by which Kamarupa ruler?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Bhaskaravarman
C) Dharmapala
D) Vanamala
Q16. The Kamarupa Kingdom was an important center for which religious practices?
A) Jainism and Christianity
B) Tantric Buddhism and Shaivism
C) Zoroastrianism
D) Judaism
Q17. The Varman dynasty of Kamarupa ruled from which capital city?
A) Tezpur
B) Pragjyotishpura
C) Pataliputra
D) Kanauj
Q18. Which dynasty succeeded the Varman dynasty in ruling the Kamarupa Kingdom?
A) Pala dynasty of Kamarupa
B) Gupta dynasty
C) Mlechchha dynasty
D) Chola dynasty
Q19. The territory of the Kamarupa Kingdom extended over which of the following regions?
A) Only present-day Assam
B) Assam, North Bengal, parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh
C) Only present-day Meghalaya
D) Only present-day Manipur and Nagaland
Q20. King Bhaskaravarman belonged to which dynasty of the Kamarupa Kingdom?
A) Mlechchha dynasty
B) Pala dynasty
C) Varman dynasty
D) Ahom dynasty
Q21. The Dubi Copper Plate inscription is associated with which ancient kingdom?
A) Magadha
B) Kamarupa
C) Kalinga
D) Chera
Q22. According to the Mahabharata, Bhagadatta was the son of which mythical king?
A) Banasura
B) Narakasura
C) Ravana
D) Hiranyakashipu
Q23. Which Kamarupa ruler is said to have attended the assembly of Harshavardhana at Kanauj?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Supratisthitavarman
C) Bhaskaravarman
D) Sthitavarman
Q24. The Pala dynasty of Kamarupa is different from the Pala dynasty of which region?
A) Gujarat
B) Bengal
C) Rajasthan
D) Odisha
Q25. What was the name of the famous temple associated with ancient Kamarupa located near Guwahati?
A) Jagannath Temple
B) Kamakhya Temple
C) Konark Temple
D) Lingaraj Temple
Q26. The Kamakhya Temple is situated on which hill near Guwahati?
A) Hajo Hill
B) Nilachal Hill
C) Chitrasal Hill
D) Navagraha Hill
Q27. Which of the following literary works provides information about the geography of ancient Kamarupa?
A) Arthashastra
B) Kalika Purana
C) Manusmriti
D) Indica
Q28. Hiuen Tsang described Kamarupa as a region where people practiced which form of worship extensively?
A) Sun worship
B) Fire worship
C) Goddess worship and Tantric practices
D) Moon worship
Q29. After the decline of the Kamarupa Kingdom in the 12th century, the region was eventually conquered by which dynasty in the 13th century?
A) Mughal dynasty
B) Ahom dynasty
C) Delhi Sultanate
D) Maratha dynasty
Q30. The word “Kamarupa” is derived from which mythological story?
A) Birth of Brahma
B) Restoration of Kamadeva (God of Love) by Shiva
C) Churning of the ocean
D) Descent of River Ganga
Correct Answers
- B) Pragjyotishpura
- C) Narakasura
- B) Mahabharata
- B) Kauravas
- C) Guwahati
- B) Pushyavarman
- C) 4th century AD
- B) Three
- D) Gupta dynasty
- C) Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
- B) Bhaskaravarman
- C) Harshavardhana
- C) 12th century AD
- B) Nidhanpur Copper Plate
- B) Bhaskaravarman
- B) Tantric Buddhism and Shaivism
- B) Pragjyotishpura
- C) Mlechchha dynasty
- B) Assam, North Bengal, parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh
- C) Varman dynasty
- B) Kamarupa
- B) Narakasura
- C) Bhaskaravarman
- B) Bengal
- B) Kamakhya Temple
- B) Nilachal Hill
- B) Kalika Purana
- C) Goddess worship and Tantric practices
- B) Ahom dynasty
- B) Restoration of Kamadeva (God of Love) by Shiva
Conclusion
Ancient Assam, known as Pragjyotishpura and later the Kamarupa Kingdom, was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. From the mythological rule of Narakasura and Bhagadatta to the historical reign of Pushyavarman and Bhaskaravarman, the kingdom left a lasting mark on Indian history. The visit of Hiuen Tsang and the numerous copper plate inscriptions provide a rich account of the political and cultural life of this ancient kingdom. The Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill remains a living testimony to the spiritual heritage of the region.
For students preparing for UPSC, APSC, SSC, State PSC, and other competitive examinations, the history of Pragjyotishpura and Kamarupa is a frequently tested area. These 30 MCQs cover the dynasties, rulers, inscriptions, and cultural aspects of ancient Assam. Regular practice with these questions will help you build a strong base in ancient Indian History.