Benares Plate of Govindacandra, King of Kanauj: (Vikrama‑) Samvat 1171

Summary

The article ‘Benares Plate of Govindacandra, King of Kanauj: (Vikrama‑) Samvat 1171’ publishes and analyses a copper‑plate charter issued by Govindacandra of the Gāhāda‑vala dynasty. The inscription, dated in the Vikrama era 1171 (c.1114–15 A.D.), records the grant of a village to Brāhmaṇas and provides valuable information on the royal genealogy, administrative divisions and religious patronage of the Kanauj kingdom. After transcribing the Sanskrit text and providing an English translation, the author discusses its palaeographic features and compares the script with other Gāhāḍavāla records to confirm authenticity. The charter mentions Govindacandra’s father, Madanacandra, and situates the lineage within the broader political context of north India, emphasising rivalry with the Palas and Chahamanas. The grant’s land descriptions illuminate patterns of agrarian expansion around Varanasi, including terms for boundaries, irrigation and tax exemptions. The article notes the prominence of Śiva and Viṣṇu temples in the donation formula, reflecting the dynasty’s eclectic religious support. It also examines the legal formulas used to threaten those who would contest the grant, linking them to earlier Gupta precedents. By comparing the date and content of this copper‑plate with other inscriptions and literary sources, the author argues that Govindacandra continued the administrative reforms of his predecessors while consolidating control over the middle Ganga valley. The study highlights the importance of epigraphic evidence for reconstructing regional history and contributes to our understanding of Gāhāḍavāla polity.