The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c18.14.1

v1.c18.14.1

The origin of the Gāhaḍavālas, like that of many other dynasties of Northern India, is shrouded in mystery. The genealogical lists in their grants trace their pedigree to one Yaśovigraha, who is said to have come to this earth when the kings of the solar race had gone to heaven.¹ This statement may contain a hint that Yaśovigraha flourished after the downfall of the Gurjara-Pratīhāra kings, who traced their descent from the sun.² There is however nothing to indicate that Yaśovigraha was a royal personage. None of the numerous Gāhaḍavāla grants ever give him any royal titles. We are only told that he was 'a noble (personage) …(who) by his plentiful splendour (was) as it were the sun incarnate.'³ The next person who is mentioned in the genealogical lists is Mahīcandra.⁴ In some grants his name stands at the head of the pedigree with the additional information that he was born in the Gāhaḍavāla lineage.⁵ We are told that he ‘defeated the host of his enemies, and by entrusting to his arm the whole burden of the earth, Śeṣa enjoyed permanent comfort.’ Though Mahīcandra also is not given any royal titles, the above passage probably indicates that he became a petty chief by dint of his military prowess. But the person who really founded the fortunes of the family was Candradeva,⁶ the son of Mahīcandra. In most of the grants of the Gāhaḍavālas Candradeva is said to have acquired sovereignty over Kānyakubja⁷ or Gādhipura ‘by the prowess of his own arms’ (*nija-bhujopār-* *jita*).