Territory Gahadavala

the gahadavala territory, indicated find spots of inscriptions reign (map of india)

the gahadavala power concentrated in eastern uttar pradesh. @ times, rule extended western parts of bihar. 1090 ce chandrawati inscription of chandradeva states protected sacred places of kashi (varanasi), kushika (kannauj), uttara koshala (the area around ayodhya) , indrasthaniyaka.

the identity of indrasthaniyaka unknown, because of similarity word indraprastha , scholars have identified modern delhi. based on this, historians such roma niyogi have proposed tomara rulers of delhi might have been gahadavala feudatories. if assumption true, gahadavala kingdom extended delhi in north-west. however, historical evidence suggests delhi under control of chahamanas since vigraharaja iv (r. c. 1150-1164 ce), , before under tomara sovereigns. no historical records indicate gahadavalas ever ruled delhi. rahin (or rahan) village in etawah district furthest point in north-west gahadavala inscriptions have been discovered. coins attributed madanapala associated delhi, according numismatist p. c. roy these coins issued tomara king of same name. according roy, indrasthaniyaka should identified place other delhi.

capital








kanyakubja , varanasi, 2 important cities associated gahadavalas

the gahadavalas associated 2 ancient cities: kanyakubja , varanasi. according medieval legends, kanyakubja (kannauj) capital. however, according al-biruni, of kanyakubja city in ruins 1030 ce, half century before dynasty s founder chandradeva ascended throne.

the vast majority of gahadavala inscriptions have been discovered in , around varanasi; 1 has been found in kanyakubja area. majority of these inscriptions state king made grant after bathing in ganga river @ varanasi. suggests gahadavala kings lived in , around varanasi, favoured capital. considered kanyakubja capital of honour , since had been seat of reputed kingdoms since maukhari period.

a verse in 1104 ce basahi inscription of madanapala states father chandradeva had made kanyakubja capital. however, madanapala s 1105 ce kamauli grant omits verse, although repeats other introductory verses basahi grant. other 1104 ce basahi inscription, no other inscription describes kanyakubja gahadavala capital.

historian roma niyogi theorized chandradeva temporarily moved seat varanasi kanyakubja, because kanyakubja reputed capital of earlier imperial powers. however, gahadavalas lost kanyakubja ghaznavids somewhere between 1104 ce , 1105 ce, , madanapala s son govindachandra had wage war recover it. result, gahadavalas moved capital varanasi after chandradeva s reign.