History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c34.s6.12

v3.c34.s6.12

But fortunately for us, these facts are confirmed by the very important Sarnāth inscription of Kumāradevi queen of Govindchandra published in E. I. IX (p. 319). This inscription is extremely important as it furnishes valuable information about three Rajput families, the Pālas, the Rāṣṭrakūṭas and the Gāhadavālas. We will give it in detail in respect of these kingly families beginning with the Pālas. It is stated that Rāmapāla’s prosperity was secured by his maternal uncle Mathana, king (feudatory lord) of Anga, by conquering Devarakshita king of Pithī who had troubled him.* Where this Pithī was cannot be decided though Stein Konow who publishes this inscription thinks it is Pithāpura in Vengi country. Mahana is described as a fearless warrior in Gauda and therefore was a feudatory of Rāmapāla, king of Gauda and is also called Angapa or ruler of Anga or Mithila. Now he had a daughter named Śankaradevi whom he gave to Devarakshita after defeating him in the usual Rajput manner. From them was born the famous queen Kumāradevi who founded the Bauddha Vihāra commemorated by the inscription. It seems, therefore, that Devarakshita was a Buddhist and his daughter Kumāradevi was also Baudha. She was married to Govindachandra, though a staunch Hindu, whose family is described as Gāhadavāla family and whose father was Madanachandra and grand-father Chandra.† The word Kshatravamśa applied to the Gāhadavālas shows that they were then considered as good Kshatriyas. Similarly Mahana is also described as crest-jewel of Kshatriyas and hence was also a Rajput. In the Rāmacharita above noted he is stated to be a Rāshtrakūta or Rathod. His sister was Rāmapāla’s mother which shows that Rāmapāla was also a Kshatriya. Devarakshita to whom Mahana’s daughter was married must also have been a Rajput. It will be noted that this relation does not contradict the theory propounded by us that Rāshtrakūtas and Gāhadavālas were one clan; for here Devarakshita’s daughter by a Rāshtrakūta-born princess married a Gāhadavāla i. e. the daughter’s daughter of a Rāshtrakūta married a Gāhadavāla and thus there was no inter-marriage between Rāshtrakūtas and Gāhadavālas. An important fact, though not connected with the Pālas, may be noted here about