History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c18.s1.t3.30

c18.s1.t3.30

Govindacandra also extended the sphere of his influence by forming alliances with contemporary kings like Jayasiṃha (1128-49 A. D.), who, as the *Rājatarangiṇī* puts it, “made the rulers in Kānyakubja and elsewhere who were powerful owing to the possession of excellent territories, proud by his friendship.”³ Moreover, we are told in the *Śrīkaṇṭhacarita* of Maṅkha or Maṅkhaka that Govindacandra deputed one Suhala to attend the assembly of Kashmirian scholars and officials, convoked at the instance of Alaṃkāra, the minister of king Jayasiṃha.⁴ This mission was no doubt non-political, but it must have materially contributed to cementing good relations between Kanauj and Kashmir. Perhaps Govindacandra had diplomatic intercourse with another monarch named Siddharāja Jayasiṃha, who, according to the *Prabandha-Cintāmaṇi*, sent a messenger to the lord of Kaśi.¹ This must surely have happened during the time of Govindacandra (*circa* 1112-1155 A. D.), and not Jayacandra, as stated in the *Prabandha-Cintāmaṇi*, for the latter's reign-period being 1170-94 A. D. he was never a contemporary of Jayasiṃha Cālukya, who ruled from *circa* 1095 to 1143 A. D. We may further refer here to an inscription, found as far south as Gangai-Koṇḍa-Colapuram, the ancient Cola capital in the Trichinopoly district of the Madras Presidency, which forms part of a document of the 41st regnal year of Kulottuṅga I, equivalent to 1110-11 A. D., and thus belongs to the interval between the earliest known date of Govindacandra and the last of Madanapāla. The record is in a very damaged condition, but Mr. Venkayya assures us that "what is actually found on the stone may be taken to show that some sort of relationship or connection existed between the Gāhaḍavālas of Kanauj and the Colas of Tanjore."² Does it allude to a friendly visit paid by a Gāhaḍavāla prince to the distant south and his benefactions to local Brahmans and temples?