Maharaja Dakshin Ray - The Hindu Warrior of Bhati-Bangla who Crushed Delhi Sultanate Invaders & Worshipped as Tiger Deity in Sundarban
Maharaja Dakshin Ray - The Brahmin warrior of Atharo Bhati kingdoms who defeated Delhi Sultanate invader Bara Khan Ghazi & is worshipped as the Tiger Deity in Sundarbans
Maharaja Dakshin Ray (Bengali: মহারাজ দক্ষিণ রায়/ महाराज दक्षिण राय) was a Brahmin ruler of the Bhati kingdoms of Bengal who is worshipped as a revered deity in the Sundarbans who rules over Bengal Tigers, beasts and demons. He is regarded as the overall ruler of the Sundarbans honoured as "Atharo Bhatir Adhipati" (Lord of the Eighteen Bhatis). He was a Brāhmaṇa Dharmayōd'dhā & was the varputra of Sadāśhiva who resisted the attacks of the Ghazi invaders of the Delhi Sultanate in Bengal.
In the time of 1226 AD, when Maharaja
Arirājaniḥśaṅkaśaṅkara Sūrya Sēna ascended the throne of Bengal, the kingdom faced brutal Turkic invasion. The Sultan of Delhi, Giyasuddin Balban's son Shehzada Bograh Khan invaded Gauda & Eastern Bengal. In such situation, Pandit Prabhakar Ray, the Brahmin priest of Sena dynasty took charge of the administration of the Khāṛimanḍala the innermost part of the Punḍravardhanabhukti in Baṅgāl.
Due to his cunning war tactics, the Turkish forces were driven out of the Gulf. Pandit Prabhakar worships and pleases Lord Sadashiva and gets the gift of having a son. Its said that, Shiva himself took avatara and was born as his son Dakshin Ray.
"মুনিমুখে শুনিয়া নৃপতি প্রভাকর
সদাশিব সেবিয়া পাইল পুত্রবর"
The time is around 1248 AD Pandit Prabhakar took sannyasa by handing over the charge of the country to Dakshin Ray. This Prabhakar's son was called Maharaja Dakshin Ray, the Lord of Eighteen Bhatis (আঠারো ভাটির অধিপতি).
● Invasion of Delhi Sultanate :
Back in 1294, the commander of Delhi Sultanate, Zafar Khan Ghazi sent his son Bara Khan Gazi against the the kingdoms of Bhāṭi Baṅgāl. But due to the able resistance of Raja Dakshin Ray, Bara Khan Ghazi remained unsuccessful and offered an immediate treaty.
For this, there was a temporary coexistence between them. But within a few days, enmity started between the two over the rights of the lower region. As a Ghazi, Bara Khan was forcibly converting the local people. Rattled by this, the Hindu king Dakshin Ray declared for dharma yuddha against the mlecchas.
● Battle of Khaniya (1305 AD):
Maharaja Dakshin Ray & Bara Khan Ghazi's forces met head on at a place called Khaniya in Sundarban. This time the local tribal warlords of Sundarban area joined Dakshin Ray, tilting the balance in his favour. In this battle, Bara Khan Ghazi's were soundly defeated but he had the last liberty to retreat and leeway to maneuver, leaving the flight another day.
The first even Cannons were used for battle in 1294 in the 'Battle of Khaniya'. Maharaj Dakshin Ray of the Bhati-Bangla kingdom literally destroyed the invaders of Delhi Sultanate with frontal cannon bombing. The lines of 'Rāẏamaṅgala' is known to take -
"হীরা বাঘে সাজিয়া রায় হইল সওয়ার ।
পৃষ্ঠে ঢাল কাটারি কোমরে যমধার ।।৩৩৮
দুই তরকছ বাধা পরিপূর্ণ বাণ ।
কোপেতে কম্পিত রায় করেতে কামান ।।৩৩৯
That's where the story took an unexpected turn. Raja Bhudev Ray (Dakshin Ray's relative) invaded Triveni and joined forces with Dakshin Ray. Zafar Khan was caught off guard, his army including him was annihilated. Zafar Khan Ghazi was beheaded by Raja Bhudev Ray & his headless body was brought to Triveni.
Bara Khan Ghazi had to choice but to surrender, ceding all important Triveni to Dakshin Ray. Thus the Delhi Sultanate forces were annihilated & the victory of Hindus was prevailed in the strong arms of Maharaja Dakshin Ray.
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