Following the fall of the Pratiharas, the Gahadavalas were able to establish themselves in the throne of Kanauj in the third quater of the 11th century CE. Chandradeva was the founder of the new dynasty. He conquered the place from Allahabad to Varanasi and kept the holy places of Kasi, Uttar koshala(Ayodhya) and Indrasthana (Delhi) from the foreign invaders. Chandradeva was succeeded by a number of kings till in 1194 CE Mohammad Ghori invaded the kingdom of the Gahadavalas and defeated and killed the king Jayachandra.
Govindachandra, one of the notable rulers of the Gahadavala dynasty, is well-documented for his encouragement of various academic fields. One significant intellectual effort during his reign was the commissioning of the text “Kṛtya-Kalpataru” by his courtier Lakshmidhara. This text is a comprehensive legal and ethical digest, covering a wide array of subjects, reflecting the scholarly environment promoted by the king.
Vijayachandra, another prominent Gahadavala king, extended his support to intellectuals and poets such as Shriharsha. Shriharsha is renowned for his literary works, including:
Naishadha Charita: An epic poem based on the love story of Nala and Damayanti, celebrated for its elaborate and sophisticated style.
Shri-Vijaya-Prashasti: Although this work is now lost, it was an important piece that praised King Vijayachandra and reflected the literary culture of the time.
Jayachandra, the last significant ruler of the Gahadavala dynasty, also patronized several poets and scholars. Notable among them were:
Bhatta Kedar: He composed the “Jaichand Prakash,” an eulogy dedicated to Jayachandra’s life. Although the original text of this eulogy, written in 1168, is not available today, it serves as a testament to the king’s patronage of literature.
Madhukar: Another poet who honored Jayachandra through his work was Madhukar, who wrote the “Jaya-Mayank-Jasha-Chandrika” around 1183. This tribute, like many others from the period, has unfortunately been lost over time.
In the Battle of Chandawar in 1194, Muhammad Ghori fought against Jaichand. This battle occurred at Chandawar. After achieving victory in this conflict, Muhammad Ghori gained control over most of northern India. He decisively defeated Jaichand’s army, and the battle continued until Jaichand was killed on the battlefield.
