The Chakma Circle, Chakma Raj or Chakma Royal Family is one of the major Royal Houses of Buddhism in South Asia.
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Background
The Chakma people are predominantly followers of Theravada Buddhism since reforms and institutionalization by Chakma regnant Queen Rani Kalindi in 19th century Common Era.
Location
Today the Chakma people live in and around Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Region in southeast Bangladesh and northeast Indian states of Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
Influence
Some definitions of Chakma people also include Tanchangya and Daingnet people who live mostly in Bandarban, Cox's Bazar and Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Administration
The Chakma Raja is the titular and traditional head of the Chakma people who now live in over 50 countries.
The Raja is also the Chief of the Chakma Circle administrative unit which encompasses the entire Rangamati Hill District as well as includes Dighinala Upazila and Rajasthali Upazila of neighbouring Khagrachari District and Bandarban District respectively. This role is judicial, administrative, ceremonial, legal and social.
Origins
The Chakma Raj's origins are fabled to be from the Shakya Clan of Siddhartha Gautama the historical Buddha himself.
Raja Shakya (1st) was allegedly the first Raja and progenitor of the clan. It is he lived with his subjects at a place in the foothills of the Himalaya mountain range.
History
According to the official account of the Chakma Raj Office in Rajbari, Rangamati, in a "Changma Bijok" (Chakma History) compilation of the Chakma Raja Bhuvan Mohan Roy (1876-1934 CE) he was the 48th Raja which makes the current Raja Devasish Roy (b. 10 April 1959) the 51st Raja.
Middle Ages
After a few more legendary Rajas comes Raja Bijoy Giri (15th) who is a semi-historical Raja of the Chakma people. He is said to have conquered three areas - Teknaf, Indang Hills and Krindang Hills and lived in 6th-7th centuries CE.
The Chakma Rani Manikbi (17th) and husband are said to have sided with Bengali people and fought against the "Maghs" ca. 1118-1119 CE.
Early Modern Age
Raja Sathua (32nd), also known as "Pagala Raja" or "the Mad King" was a Chakma Raja from the Borbuo Goza (Clan or Sept) who was supposed able to clean his intestines and organs due to attaining supernatural abilities from meditation and tantric practices. He was assassinated.
Though no reliable sources exist he was probably the Chakma Raja during the early 16th century and may have met João de Barros a Portuguese explorer who drew a map of Bengal with a clear description of "Chacomas" i.e. Chakma people in the hills north-east of Chittagong Harbor. The map was published in 1615 but João de Barros had visited India from 1525-1528 CE.