Madana-pala (IAST: Madanapāla, r. c. 1104-1113 CE), also known as Madana-chandra, was an Indian king from the Gahadavala dynasty. He ruled the Antarvedi country in present-day Uttar Pradesh, including Kanyakubja and Varanasi.
Madanapala was a son of the Gahadavala king Chandradeva. An 1107 CE inscription gives his titles and name as Parama-bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Parama-Maheshvara Shriman Madanapala-deva.[1]
Inscriptional evidence suggests that Madanapala married at least two women: Ralhadevi (IAST: Rālhadevi) and Prithvishrika (IAST: Pṛthvīśrīkā). Ralhadevi was the mother of his successor Govindachandra.[2]
Military career
Find-spots of inscriptions from Madanapala's reign
The Gahadavala inscriptions attribute grand military victories to Madanapala using conventional praises, but do not provide any specific details.[1] His son Govindachandra appears to have led the major wars that happened during his reign. These wars were of defensive nature, and did not lead to annexation of any enemy territory.[3]
Conflict with the Ghaznavids
Madanapala's 1104 CE Bashai inscription states that his father Chandradeva had made Kanyakubja his capital, which suggests that he continued to rule from the same city. However, his 1105 CE Kamauli inscription omits the verse about Kanyakubja, although it contains the other introductory verses from the Bashai inscription.[4] It appears that the Gahadavalas lost Kanyakubja somewhere between 1104 CE and 1105 CE.[5]
The enemy to whom they temporarily lost Kanyakubja was most probably a general of the Ghaznavid ruler Mas'ud III. Diwan-i-Salman by the contemporary Muslim historian Salman states that Mas'ud III launched a holy war against Hindustan (or Hind). According to Salman, the Hind was ruled by the "god-forsaken" chief Malhi, and its capital was Kanauj (Kanyakubja). Salman further states that Kannauj (Kanyakubja) was like the Qibla for the infidels (non-Muslims), and all the treasures of Hindustan were concentrated there. The 13th century text Tabaqat-i Nasiri also states that a general named Hajib Tughatigin invaded India during the reign of Mas'ud III. This general crossed the Ganga river, and reached places so far that no previous invader other than Mahmud of Ghazni had reached.[6]
The "Malhi" mentioned by Salman appears to be Madanapala, as he was the ruler of Kanyakubja during 1104-1105 CE. According to Salman, the Ghaznavids captured Malhi, and released him only after the payment of a ransom. The inscriptions issued by prince Govindachandra indicate that he managed to restore the Gahadavala power in Kanyakubja and its surrounding area by 1109 CE. A peace treaty was probably concluded between the two parties, as indicated by the 1109 CE Rahin inscription. According to this epigraph, Maharajaputra (prince) Govindachandra fought repeatedly against "Hammira", and made him lay aside his enmity. Hammira is the Sanskrit form of the Arabic title "Amir", which was used by the Ghaznavids.[5]
Subsequently, the Ghaznavids appear to have launched another attack on the Gahadavala kingdom, which was not successful. Kṛtya-Kalpataru, written by the Gahadavala courtier Lakshmidhara, states that Govindachandra killed the Hammira.[7] This incident may have happened during the reign of Madanapala, or early in the reign of Govindachandra.[8]
Conflict with the Palas
Sometime before 1109 CE, the Palas of eastern India invaded the Gahadavala kingdom, probably as a retaliation of Chandradeva's earlier invasion of their kingdom. The 1109 CE Rahin inscription boasts that prince Govindachandra subdued the elephants of Gauda (the Pala kingdom). The Kṛtya-Kalpataru declares that the mere sport of Govindachandra threatened the elephants of Gauda.[3] This war appears to have ended with a peace treaty concluded through a matrimonial alliance: Govindachandra married a relative of the Pala king Ramapala.[3]
Successor
Madanapala was succeeded by his son Govindachandra, who had played an important part in administration and military campaigns during his father's reign.[4] Even as a prince, Govindachandra issued multiple inscriptions, which record grants approved by what appears to be a regency council. Based on these inscriptions, the historians earlier speculated that Madanapala was only a nominal ruler, possibly because of an illness. However, in 1929, an inscription issued by Madanapala himself was discovered, which invalidated this theory.[1]
Coins
Some silver and copper coins featuring "bull-and-horseman" design have been attributed to Madanapala. Such coins were prevalent in the contemporary northern India. One side of the coins features the horseman, encircled by the king's short name (Madana, Mada or Shri-Ma). The other side features a humped bull with the legend Madha[va]-Shri-Sama[nta].[2]
However, numismatist P. C. Roy believes that these coins have been wrongly attributed to the Gahadavala king. According to him, these coins were issued by a Tomara king of same name. He points out that there is no epigraphic or literary evidence about the issue of coins by the Gahadavala ruler Madanapala.[9]
Inscriptions
The following inscriptions from Madanapala's reign have been discovered:[10]
P. C. Roy (1980). The Coinage of Northern India. Abhinav. ISBN9788170171225.
Roma Niyogi (1959). The History of the Gāhaḍavāla Dynasty. Oriental. OCLC 5386449.
March 08, 2023
madanapala, gahadavala, dynasty, madana, pala, iast, madanapāla, 1104, 1113, also, known, madana, chandra, indian, king, from, gahadavala, dynasty, ruled, antarvedi, country, present, uttar, pradesh, including, kanyakubja, varanasi, madanapalaparama, bhattarak. Madana pala IAST Madanapala r c 1104 1113 CE also known as Madana chandra was an Indian king from the Gahadavala dynasty He ruled the Antarvedi country in present day Uttar Pradesh including Kanyakubja and Varanasi MadanapalaParama bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Parama MaheshvaraGahadavala kingReignc 1104 1113 CEPredecessorChandradevaSuccessorGovindachandraSpouseRalhadevi PrithvishrikaIssueGovindachandraDynastyGahadavalaFatherChandradevaMadanapala s son Govindachandra played an active role in his administration and repulsed the Ghaznavid and Pala invasions Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 2 1 Conflict with the Ghaznavids 2 2 Conflict with the Palas 3 Successor 4 Coins 5 Inscriptions 6 References 6 1 BibliographyEarly life EditMadanapala was a son of the Gahadavala king Chandradeva An 1107 CE inscription gives his titles and name as Parama bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Parama Maheshvara Shriman Madanapala deva 1 Inscriptional evidence suggests that Madanapala married at least two women Ralhadevi IAST Ralhadevi and Prithvishrika IAST Pṛthvisrika Ralhadevi was the mother of his successor Govindachandra 2 Military career Edit Find spots of inscriptions from Madanapala s reign The Gahadavala inscriptions attribute grand military victories to Madanapala using conventional praises but do not provide any specific details 1 His son Govindachandra appears to have led the major wars that happened during his reign These wars were of defensive nature and did not lead to annexation of any enemy territory 3 Conflict with the Ghaznavids Edit Madanapala s 1104 CE Bashai inscription states that his father Chandradeva had made Kanyakubja his capital which suggests that he continued to rule from the same city However his 1105 CE Kamauli inscription omits the verse about Kanyakubja although it contains the other introductory verses from the Bashai inscription 4 It appears that the Gahadavalas lost Kanyakubja somewhere between 1104 CE and 1105 CE 5 The enemy to whom they temporarily lost Kanyakubja was most probably a general of the Ghaznavid ruler Mas ud III Diwan i Salman by the contemporary Muslim historian Salman states that Mas ud III launched a holy war against Hindustan or Hind According to Salman the Hind was ruled by the god forsaken chief Malhi and its capital was Kanauj Kanyakubja Salman further states that Kannauj Kanyakubja was like the Qibla for the infidels non Muslims and all the treasures of Hindustan were concentrated there The 13th century text Tabaqat i Nasiri also states that a general named Hajib Tughatigin invaded India during the reign of Mas ud III This general crossed the Ganga river and reached places so far that no previous invader other than Mahmud of Ghazni had reached 6 The Malhi mentioned by Salman appears to be Madanapala as he was the ruler of Kanyakubja during 1104 1105 CE According to Salman the Ghaznavids captured Malhi and released him only after the payment of a ransom The inscriptions issued by prince Govindachandra indicate that he managed to restore the Gahadavala power in Kanyakubja and its surrounding area by 1109 CE A peace treaty was probably concluded between the two parties as indicated by the 1109 CE Rahin inscription According to this epigraph Maharajaputra prince Govindachandra fought repeatedly against Hammira and made him lay aside his enmity Hammira is the Sanskrit form of the Arabic title Amir which was used by the Ghaznavids 5 Subsequently the Ghaznavids appear to have launched another attack on the Gahadavala kingdom which was not successful Kṛtya Kalpataru written by the Gahadavala courtier Lakshmidhara states that Govindachandra killed the Hammira 7 This incident may have happened during the reign of Madanapala or early in the reign of Govindachandra 8 Conflict with the Palas Edit Sometime before 1109 CE the Palas of eastern India invaded the Gahadavala kingdom probably as a retaliation of Chandradeva s earlier invasion of their kingdom The 1109 CE Rahin inscription boasts that prince Govindachandra subdued the elephants of Gauda the Pala kingdom The Kṛtya Kalpataru declares that the mere sport of Govindachandra threatened the elephants of Gauda 3 This war appears to have ended with a peace treaty concluded through a matrimonial alliance Govindachandra married a relative of the Pala king Ramapala 3 Successor EditMadanapala was succeeded by his son Govindachandra who had played an important part in administration and military campaigns during his father s reign 4 Even as a prince Govindachandra issued multiple inscriptions which record grants approved by what appears to be a regency council Based on these inscriptions the historians earlier speculated that Madanapala was only a nominal ruler possibly because of an illness However in 1929 an inscription issued by Madanapala himself was discovered which invalidated this theory 1 Coins EditSome silver and copper coins featuring bull and horseman design have been attributed to Madanapala Such coins were prevalent in the contemporary northern India One side of the coins features the horseman encircled by the king s short name Madana Mada or Shri Ma The other side features a humped bull with the legend Madha va Shri Sama nta 2 However numismatist P C Roy believes that these coins have been wrongly attributed to the Gahadavala king According to him these coins were issued by a Tomara king of same name He points out that there is no epigraphic or literary evidence about the issue of coins by the Gahadavala ruler Madanapala 9 Inscriptions EditThe following inscriptions from Madanapala s reign have been discovered 10 Date of issue CE Place of discovery Issued at Issued by Purpose25 December 1104 Etawah district Bashai Basahi Asatika on Yamuna Govindachandra prince Village grant issued with the consent of Purohita Jaguka Mahattaka Balhana and Pratihara Gautama 11 24 October 1105 Varanasi district Kamauli Vishnupura on Ganga Govindachandra prince Village grant issued with the consent of Queen Ralhadevi Purohita Jaguka Mahattaka Balhana and Pratihara Gautama 11 1107 Pratapgarh district Barera or Badera Varanasi Madanapala Village grant16 December 1109 Unknown Varanasi Adikeshava Ghatta Prithvishrika Maharajni or queen Village grant3 January 1109 Etawah district Rahin or Rahan Asatika on Yamuna Lavanapravaha ranaka or feudatory approved by Govindachandra prince Village grant issued with the consent of Mahattaka Gangeya 1 References Edit a b c d Roma Niyogi 1959 p 55 a b Roma Niyogi 1959 p 64 a b c Roma Niyogi 1959 p 63 a b Roma Niyogi 1959 p 56 a b Roma Niyogi 1959 p 57 Roma Niyogi 1959 p 58 Roma Niyogi 1959 p 60 Roma Niyogi 1959 p 61 P C Roy 1980 p 97 99 Roma Niyogi 1959 pp 246 247 a b Roma Niyogi 1959 p 54 Bibliography Edit P C Roy 1980 The Coinage of Northern India Abhinav ISBN 9788170171225 Roma Niyogi 1959 The History of the Gahaḍavala Dynasty Oriental OCLC 5386449 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Madanapala Gahadavala dynasty amp oldid 1093222531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
