Celebration of Rajasuya Sacrifice by Jayacandra Gahadavala & Fresh Evidence
By V. S. Pathak
Summary
Addressing a historiographical debate, the article evaluates whether Gahadavala king Jayacandra performed the imperial Rajasuya sacrifice. The author examines a recently discovered copper‑plate grant of Candella king Paramardideva, issued from Varanasi in 1191 A.D., which records that Paramardi took ablutions there before making a land grant. He argues that Paramardi was in Varanasi as an ally of Jayacandra to participate in the Rajasuya. Reviewing narratives from Puratana Prabandha, Rambha‑manjari, Prithviraja Raso and other sources, the author contends that evidence for a Candella–Gahadavala conflict is weak and that the two kings allied against Prithviraja III. He dates the Rajasuya to 1190–91 A.D., correlating it with the abduction of Jayacandra’s daughter by Prithviraja and subsequent political events. The article concludes that the Candella grant provides indirect evidence that Jayacandra celebrated the Rajasuya and that his alliance with Paramardi reflects broader political dynamics in late‑12th‑century north India.
Conclusion
By combining epigraphic and literary sources, the author argues that Jayacandra did perform the Rajasuya, probably in 1190–91 A.D., with Paramardi of the Candellas as an ally. The newly discovered grant shows Paramardi in Varanasi just before the ceremony, while narratives suggest that the two kings opposed Prithviraja III rather than each other. This synthesis offers a plausible resolution to debates over the Rajasuya and highlights the value of integrating inscriptions with traditional histories.