The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c18.201.1

v1.c18.201.1

The above 42 inscriptions of Govindacandra range over a period of 40 years (A.D. 1114-1154). If we add to this the period of his father's reign during which he seems to have taken an active part in the government of the state, his association with the administration may well have spread over half a century. We have already seen how he waged successful wars against the Gauḍa prince and Hammīra during his father's reign. These conflicts with the Muslims probably continued even during his reign, for the Sarnath inscription of Kumāra-devī tells us that "Hari, who had been commissioned by Hara to protect Vārāṇasī from the wicked *Turuṣka* warrior, as the only one who was able to protect the earth, was again born from him, his name being renowned as Govindapāla.'¹ This statement may contain an otherwise un-recorded notice of a possible invasion of Benares by the later Yamīnīs.² In the east Govindacandra's marriage with Kumāra-devī, the grand-daughter of Mahana, a maternal uncle of Rāmapāla (*c.* 1084-1126 A.D.), may indicate a temporary truce between the Gāhaḍavālas and the Pālas. But the Maner (No. 18) and Lar. (No. 36) plates show that during the period 1124-1146 A.D., the arms of Govindacandra had crossed the Son and gradually advanced along the southern bank of the Ganges to Patna and Monghyr in the East. The date of the Maner grant (A.D. 1124) indicated that he captured part of Patna before Rāmapāla's death.