Political History of Northern India

SR No.: 001744
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gulabchandra Chaudhary
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 482
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Culture
File Size: 10 MB

Page 81

THE DYNASTIES OF MADHYADESA
51
Banaras."1 Though we do not accept the entire story as true without any independent corroboration, the date referred to in the Purātana Prabandha sangraha seems more probable or very near to the date assigned to the invasion of Sihābuddin against Jayacandra. According to the Taj-ul-Maasir, Sihābuddin marched against Jayacandra in 590 Hijri or 1194 A.D.2
Hariscandra: According to the Prabandha-kośa Meghacandra was Jayacandra's son, perhaps born from the chief queen Karpūradevi. He was killed in a battle with Moslems. But the name of Jayacandra's son found in the Gāhadavāla records is Hariscandra," who, it seems, ruled the kingdom for some time. Meghacandra of the prabandhas might be the second name of Hariscandra.
Capital: The Jain sources refer to Vārāṇasi as the only capital of the Gähadavālas and they do not mention Kānyakubja as one of their capitals. The reason behind this seems to be that the seat of the Gahadavālas was Vārānasi which did not lose its importance even after the occupation of Kānyakubja by them. The Jain writer had a special interest in Vārāṇasi on account of its religious importance for Jains. Even the Brāhmanical writer did not minimise the importance of Vārāṇasī, and they called the Gāhadavālas as the ruler of Vārāṇasī and Kanyakubja. Vārāṇasī really occupied a place of importance in the Gāhadavāla dominions which led even the Muslim writers sometimes to regard the Gāhadavālas as the 'Rai of Banaras'. According to the Purātana Prabandha sangraha, the length of Vārāṇasi at that time was twelve yojanas and breadth nine yojanas.? We are told in one place that the area of the territory over which Jayacandra
1 Ibid., pp. 89, 90: ETI U14: 491fa:... TRUTH:... Hayat महम्मद दलपतिश्च कृतः। संवत् १२४८ वर्षे चैत्रसुदि १० दिने वाराणसीमादाय सुरत्राणः प्रवेशं कर्तृ rea: 1
2 Elliot, History of India, II, p. 222. 3 (i) SJGM., VI, p. 54: 4977: PATTERI (ii) PPS., pp. 89, 90:
o: Frankie 4 Ibid. p. 90: is fait à fa79: 1 5 EI., X, pp. 94, 98-99.
6 Elliot, History of India, II, p. 223; from a recently discovered copper plate of King Vijayacandra, it appears, that Vārāṇasi at that time was one of the two capitals of the kings of this dynasty.
7 SJGM., II, 88: Frontent artroreitget augalaiturf aTE31137TATI