HAJO ।। PANCHATIRTHA ।। Historical Place of Assam ।।

HAJO
Some thirty-two kilometres to the north-west of Guwahati across the river Brahmaputra is placed name HAJO. It is one of the most interresting places in Assam and perhapes the only place in the state where one may find shrines and Temples dedicated to Vishnu, Siva, Durga, The Buddha and a Muslim saint. Hajo was under the rule of different royal powers form early peroid of history to the late medievel period. It was an important seat of rule of three poerful royal camps of medievel Assam. i.e., the Koches, Mughals and the Ahoms. The religious and political iomportance of hajo brought people belonging to various and even conflicting faiths together so as to built up a magnificent social-cultural heritage in the area.

The name and boundaries of Hajo hajo have changed in different periods of history. The place was known by various names, such as, Apunarbhava, Vishnupuskara, Manikutagram, Sujabad and Hajo. In the early assamese literature we have found mention of the name Hajo from the 15th century A.D. There are more than one explanations regarding the origin of the name. It was in all probability, given after the name of Haj or Hajo, A Mech king who had build his capital here in the early medievel period. In the Kalika Purana (10th-11th century A.D) we get an idea of boundaries of Hajo for the first time. The Purana states that Hajo was bounded by the river Lauhitya in the east ans south. River varnasa was snaking its course through the northern boundary while the Lahutya sea was situated to the western boundary of it.

The population structure of Hajo may be devided mainly into two religious groups - Hindu and Muslim. The Hindu include a number of caste and communities. i.e., Brahmin, Kalita, Koch, Kaivarta, Namasudra etc. The Muslims are devided into two communities, Viz, Fakir or Garia and Maria. Almost all the people of Hajo were one time the ritual functionaries and officers attached to the shrines and temples here.